What a skip bin business costs to start in Australia
Skip bins are one of the few waste businesses you can enter with one truck, and the search data says plenty of people are pricing exactly that. Here are the real numbers.
The equipment, priced
| Item | Price | Financed, per week |
|---|---|---|
| Marrel skip bins, 2m3 | $800 to $1,300 | 25 to 30 bin fleet: $125 to $250 |
| Marrel skip bins, 4m3 | $1,300 to $1,800 | |
| Marrel skip bins, 6m3 | $1,450 to $2,200 | |
| Hook bins, 8 to 12m3 | $3,000 to $7,000 | |
| Skip loader truck, used | $60,000 to $170,000 | $300 to $845 |
| Skip loader truck, new | $200,000 to $310,000 | $990 to $1540 |
| Heavy 8x4 hook lift, new | $360,000 to $395,000 | from $1785 |
How much fleet you actually need
The industry ratio is one truck to 25 or 30 bins in circulation: bins sit on driveways earning while the truck rotates them. A mixed 2m3 to 6m3 fleet of 25 to 30 new bins runs $25,000 to $50,000. Published entry estimates say $50,000 to $100,000 gets a small operation started; our own arithmetic from the components, a solid used truck plus a new bin fleet plus licensing and insurance, lands a more realistic $110,000 to $210,000 for a business that is not borrowing its reliability from a 20 year old truck.
Financing the setup
The truck and the bin fleet finance as one package with one repayment: the truck is standard chattel mortgage territory and the bins go with it. Property-backed borrowers generally price around 6% to 9% p.a. and non-property-backed deals around 9% to 13%, with approvals commonly back in 24 to 48 hours. Established route purchases with documented earnings are also financeable. Run the package through the repayment calculator, or see truck finance for the vehicle side.
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to start a skip bin business in Australia?
Published estimates say $50,000 to $100,000 for a small entry. Realistically, a dependable used skip loader ($60,000 to $170,000) plus 25 to 30 new bins ($25,000 to $50,000) plus licensing puts a durable start at $110,000 to $210,000.
How many skip bins do I need per truck?
The industry ratio is 25 to 30 bins per truck: most bins are out earning on sites while the truck rotates deliveries and collections.
How much is a skip bin truck?
Used skip loaders run $60,000 to $170,000 depending on age. New marrel skip loaders run $200,000 to $310,000, and heavy 8x4 hook lifts reach $395,000.
Can the truck and bins be financed together?
Yes. The truck writes as a chattel mortgage and the bin fleet wraps into the same facility, so the whole setup carries one weekly repayment.
One facility for the truck and the fleet
Tell us the truck and bin count and we will come back with one weekly number for the whole setup, usually within a day.
This article is general information only and not financial, credit, or tax advice. Ventas Asset Lending is a finance broker, not a lender. Approvals are subject to lender assessment. Consider your own circumstances and speak to a qualified professional, including your accountant for any tax questions.