A scrap agent or broker has a small problem that sounds big: nobody knows you exist. You have no yard with a sign out the front. Your shopfront is a conversation, a listing and a reputation. This guide is about how to start those conversations in Australia, what to say, how to keep track of what is working, and the legal line you must not cross when you talk about what you can do or what people can earn. It is practical, not magic. We have no data on which channel works best, so we offer them as things to try and measure, and we say so where we are guessing.
Work out who you are talking to
Your message depends on your role.
- An agent helps a seller or a buyer who is short of time or unsure how to deal with buyers. The people who need that are small businesses with a regular supply of scrap, tradies who clear jobs, and buyers who want a specific grade but not the search. ScrapTrade's hire a scrap agent page describes what you can take over: describing and photographing material, creating listings, answering buyers, negotiating and keeping the client informed.
- A broker sources scrap from an original seller and resells it as the seller on the platform, with the margin agreed privately [1]. Your conversations are with people who have material, and your proof is a good, honest listing. See Who Is Who in Scrap.
Five places to find your first clients
We found no data on which of these performs best. Treat them as five tests.
1. People you already know. Past colleagues, tradies, neighbours, a strata manager, a landlord. Tell them in one sentence what you do. Most first clients come from people who already trust you.
2. Businesses that produce scrap. Workshops, small factories, building firms and demolition crews have material and often little time. A short visit or phone call beats an email. Say what you do, not what you will earn them.
3. People who carry or clear scrap. Skip-bin operators, removalists and cleaners see scrap and are asked what to do with it. Ask if you could be their "go to" person for metal.
4. Your listings. For an agent or broker, a well-written listing is the best advertisement you have. It shows a buyer or a seller exactly how you work. Describe material accurately, add clear photos and weights, and keep the sale on the platform. ScrapTrade's marketplace is where they appear.
5. A simple online presence. A short post on a personal or business profile, a line in a local business group, or a one-page sheet you can send. Keep it plain: who you are, what you handle, where you work and how to contact you.
What to say: a short script
Here is an example for an agent, written so you can adapt it. It is a template, not a testimonial, and nobody said it.
Hi, I'm [name]. I help businesses sell their scrap metal online so they don't have to deal with listings and buyers themselves. I describe and photograph the material, create the listing on ScrapTrade and handle the questions. My commission is set in a written agreement before we start, and you can see it in the payment breakdown. I'm not promising a price, because that depends on the metal, the grade and the day. Would you like me to look at what you've got?
Notice the parts: who you are, what you do, how you are paid, what you are not promising, and one small ask. For a broker, change the second and third sentences to describe sourcing and resale, and say clearly that you are the seller.
What you must not say
This is the part many people skip. Australian consumer law applies to how you describe your service.
The ACCC says any information or claim a business gives about its products or services must be accurate, truthful and based on reasonable grounds, and that it makes no difference whether the business intends to mislead [2]. The rule covers advertising, quotations, information from staff, social media, testimonials and websites [2]. The ACCC says businesses should not make promises they cannot keep, or make predictions without solid evidence, and that silence can be misleading when a business leaves out important details relevant to a decision [2].
For you, that means:
- No income promises. "Earn A$X a week as a scrap agent" needs proof you will not have. ScrapTrade itself says no income is guaranteed.
- No promised prices. Metal prices move every day, as our benchmark guide shows.
- No invented or borrowed testimonials. Use only real ones, with permission.
- Say how you are paid. A client who finds out about your commission late has been misled by silence.
- Say who you work for. An agent should tell a client if they act for the other side of the deal.
- Do not claim to be ScrapTrade. You work on the platform. You do not speak for it.
If you promote the agent opportunity to other people, the same rule applies, and it is even more important. Describe what the role is, what it costs you in time and phone and travel, and what is not guaranteed. This is general information, not legal advice. If you are unsure, ask an adviser.
Keep a simple tracking sheet
You do not need software. A sheet with four columns will tell you what is worth repeating.
| Who I contacted | How (channel) | What happened | What I will do next |
|---|---|---|---|
| Small builder, referred by a friend | Phone | Interested, has scrap in two weeks | Call on the 20th |
| Skip-bin operator | Visit | Asked for a leaflet | Drop one off |
After ten conversations, look at three things: which channel gave the most replies, which gave the first job, and what questions people asked that you could not answer. Fix the gaps in your knowledge first. We cannot say what ten conversations will produce. That is why you test.
Build your reputation the slow way
- Start with one lot. ScrapTrade's own advice to hirers is to start with a single listing or deal, so expect that of yours.
- Report back. Tell clients what is happening, even when nothing is.
- Keep records. Keep your own copy of the hiring agreement, the listing and the final breakdown. See the hiring agreement checklist.
- Ask for permission before sharing a client's listing as an example of your work.
For a broker, a clean, honest listing and prompt payment to the original seller are your best references. ScrapTrade's broker responsibilities page lists what a broker should and should not do.
Where ScrapTrade fits
ScrapTrade is where the listing and the deal happen. Agents and brokers use the same platform as sellers and buyers, and the Trust & Safety page says payment is held in escrow from the moment a deal is confirmed and released once pickup or delivery is confirmed. If you are ready to try the role, see become a scrap agent or become a scrap broker, and create a free account. For a four-week start plan, read Who Makes a Good Scrap Agent?. ScrapTrade has a commercial interest in the scrap trade.
What we could not verify
- Which promotion channel works best for agents or brokers in Australia.
- How many conversations lead to a first job.
- The current ACCC guidance specific to business opportunity claims. We relied on its general guidance on false or misleading claims.
Frequently asked questions
How do I find clients as a scrap agent?
Start with people you know and businesses that produce scrap, then use your listings as proof of how you work. Track what you try.
Can I promise clients a price?
No. Prices move daily, and the ACCC says predictions need solid evidence and promises must be ones you can keep [2].
Can I use testimonials?
Only real ones, with permission. The ACCC says the rule applies to testimonials as well as advertising and social media [2].
Can I advertise that people can earn money as a scrap agent?
Be careful. Any earnings claim must be accurate, truthful and based on reasonable grounds [2]. ScrapTrade does not guarantee income, and neither should you.
Sources
- ScrapTrade Australia, Scrap broker, as published in October 2026.
- ACCC, False or misleading claims.
The conversation sheet and script are examples. This is general information, not legal advice. ScrapTrade operates a scrap marketplace and has a commercial interest in the scrap trade.