Starting a Service Business

One of the easiest businesses to get off the ground is a service type business. The startup capital is generally low and experience isn't always necessary in order to get the job done. Of course, this doesn't include actual "trade" businesses such as carpenter, electrician, plumber, and so forth. These occupations require extensive experience and, generally, an apprenticeship and licensing requirements. For the purposes of this blog, 99% of the ventures I'll be talking about will be providing less skilled services to homeowners and some commercial clients.

Of course, the fact that you don't need a five-year apprenticeship and/or invest in thousands of dollars worth of equipment is extremely attractive to most budding entrepreneurs. Essentially, the businesses mentioned in this blog will fit the bill of the person that has little startup money but an incredible desire to succeed. Although the following occupations may not be highly skilled, they can't produce some very serious income for their owners.

Included in this category are:

Window cleaning

Gutter cleaning

Carpet cleaning

Pressure washing

Deck refinishing

Maid service

Janitorial service

Automotive detailing

Scratch repair

Residential painting

Handyman services

And the list goes on...

As you can see, one of the more general themes with all these businesses is cleaning. A cleaning business can be started by just about anyone for very little money. Customers will hire you if they're under time constraints or they simply have the extra money and don't want to do the job themselves. In some cases, the homeowner may be physically incapable of performing a certain task.

So whether you're looking for a full-time income or a part-time supplement to your job, getting into any of the residential services is quite often as straightforward as it gets. The startup costs are minimal and many can be run single-handedly by the owner with little or no experience.

Now, having said that, there are some businesses that require a level of skill that can only be obtained through experience. And you would be well advised to get that experience before you do anything. Some examples are painting, carpet cleaning, handyman services, and window cleaning. The good news is that it can be learned in a relatively short period of time if you work in the industry before you decide to go out on your own.