20 Best Small-Town Business Ideas 2024
August 22, 2023
August 22, 2023
Think you live in a big city? Think again.
Most Americans live in small towns. Curiously, many who think they live in big cities actually reside in one of many incorporated locations that blend together—that’s what a big city is, after all!
That’s why you should get to know the best small-town business ideas. You won’t believe how few people you need for some of these small-town business ideas to take off. Surprisingly, a cleaning company, for example, can survive with less than 300 people in a town.
We used IBIS World and the U.S. population to easily compare the best small-town business ideas. We even share experiences from small-town business owners who have already succeeded in their small businesses.
Use the links below to jump to any section in the article.
Lucrative small-town business ideas normally fall into a few categories:
It should be noted that many small-town business ideas face steep competition from major players like Walmart.
Nationwide, there’s a Walmart for every 63,000 people (calculated using U.S. population divided by number of Walmarts), but many small towns are losing their Walmarts—so you may be able to sustain your small-town business idea even if it has to compete with Walmart.
Small-town business ideas can be harder to choose than businesses in major cities. You may need to be more creative about choosing your business idea because the population can only sustain a certain number of similar businesses.
One of the easiest ways to compare small-town business ideas is to follow this process:
Part 1: Calculate the businesses per capita in the small town.
Part 2: Calculate the businesses per capita in the U.S.
Part 3: Compare values using the table below.
We’ve done the calculations for you for each of the entries in our list.
Now that you know how to determine the potential success of your small-town business, let’s dig right into the best small-town business ideas!
U.S. Population Per Store: 5,239 people/store
Medium Success: 5,763 people/store
High Success: 7,859 people/store
Average Annual Revenue: $9,338,000
Average Profit Margins: 1.8%
Startup Costs: $100K-$3.5M
Time To Revenue: 6-18 months
Annual Market Growth Rate: 0.8%
Best for: Organized entrepreneurs with excellent customer service skills, effective team builders and managers, supply chain pros
Even through the disruptions of the pandemic, the grocery store market grew by 15% from 2019 to 2021. And it makes sense. Food is a basic necessity that people will keep in their budget regardless of what’s going on in the economy, and that makes a local grocery store a perfect small-town business idea.
If your local community is already saturated with standard grocery store options, consider whether a niche market could be a profitable business—for example, a store that focuses on locally grown ingredients or a specialty food shop that sells vegan, ethnic, or other specialty products people can’t find at the typical grocer.
U.S. Population Per Store: 4,601 people/cafe
Medium Success: 5,061 people/cafe
High Success: 6,902 people/cafe
Average Annual Revenue: $865,800
Average Profit Margins: 5.8%
Startup Costs: $1K-$3.5M
Time To Revenue: 3+ months
Annual Market Growth Rate: 1.2%
Best for: Baristas and food service professionals, morning people, customer service and team building pros, artists, writers, musicians, and other creative folks
A neighborhood coffee shop is more than just a place to get a cup of joe. Especially in small towns, a coffee shop is often a gathering place for the local community. They give small-town residents a spot to socialize and often serve as a venue for local artists and musicians working to build their own businesses.
These factors together give a coffee shop the potential to be a successful small-town business, even in a small community. It can also be a fairly inexpensive business idea if you approach it the right way.
Maxwell Mooney started a coffee cart with just $1,800 then invested those profits to expand into a brick-and-mortar store. Hear how he did it in this interview:
U.S. Population Per Truck: 9,137 people/truck
Medium Success: 10,051 people/truck
High Success: 13,706 people/truck
Average Annual Revenue: $41,040
Average Profit Margins: 6.4%
Startup Costs: $1K-$100K
Time To Revenue: 3+ months
Annual Market Growth Rate: 1.2%
Best for: Cooks, chefs, food service professionals with customer service and marketing expertise
One of the advantages of a food truck business over a restaurant is that you don’t need to make customers come to you—you can meet them where they are.
This flexibility puts food trucks among the top small-town business ideas, letting you serve small-town residents at festivals and local community events. You can also partner with another small-town shop like a bar, cafe, or entertainment venue to help each other attract customers.
Since it’s mobile, a taco or food truck can thrive even in rural areas. A solid business plan involves seeking out fairs, markets, and other small community events where people from across the area will gather (and need something to eat while they’re there).
Strong marketing is key to making a food truck a profitable business idea in a small town. If you want more advice, hear how Jen Gustin started her food truck, Boss Mama’s Kitchen, in this interview:
U.S. Population Per Store: 19,892 people/store
Medium Success: 21,881 people/store
High Success: 29,838 people/store
Average Annual Revenue: $279,590
Average Profit Margins: 3.7%
Startup Costs: $1K-$3.5M
Time To Revenue: 6-18 months
Annual Market Growth Rate: 0.7%
Best for: Friendly, creative, fun-loving, and detail-oriented entrepreneurs focused on customer service
Everybody loves a sweet treat now and then. A trip to the ice cream shop is an iconic small-town summer experience, and providing that experience can be a solid business idea.
One thing to keep in mind with ice cream shops is that they’re prone to wide seasonal shifts. In most of the U.S., an ice cream shop will get most of its customers from May through August.
For some people, a seasonal business model is ideal, giving them winters off to travel or spend time with family. If you want to stay open year-round, consider other ways to attract customers during the winter.
For example, you can integrate other business ideas, like a seasonal market for the holidays or selling hot chocolate and similar warm treats when it’s cold out.
U.S. Population Per Store: 5,147 people/bar
Medium Success: 5,662 people/bar
High Success: 7,721 people/bar
Average Annual Revenue: $515,304
Average Profit Margins: 6.3%
Startup Costs: $100K-$3.5M
Time To Revenue: 6-18 months
Annual Market Growth Rate: 0.9%
Best for: Bartenders, sports fans, social and community-focused entrepreneurs
Similar to a coffee shop, a sports bar is more than just a place to enjoy a drink. It’s a social hub for rural areas and small-town communities, and this added draw can make it the best business to start in a small town.
While sports fans represent a niche market, they’re passionate about the home team. You can draw on that passion to grow your small-town business. There are other revenue streams you can add to a sports bar small business. The most obvious is to operate as a bar/restaurant.
If there are already a few good restaurants in your area, another option is to focus on entertainment. You can offer things like pool tables and dart boards or host local bands and other live entertainment when there aren’t big games to watch.
U.S. Population Per Business: 277 people/business
Medium Success: 305 people/business
High Success: 416 people/business
Average Annual Revenue: $74,880
Average Profit Margins: 6.7%
Startup Costs: $1K-$30K
Time To Revenue: 1-6 months
Annual Market Growth Rate: 1.2%
Best for: People who like physical work and have a sharp eye for detail, system- and team-focused entrepreneurs with strong marketing skills
A cleaning service is one of those rare business ideas that’s equally viable in rural areas, small towns, large towns, and big cities.
Not only is a cleaning service a lucrative business, it’s also a fairly inexpensive business idea to start. To start a successful business as a cleaning service, all you need are basic tools like a vacuum, broom, and mop, and some way to get to your customers.
You don’t need a storefront to run this kind of small business. Just set up your own website and list your services on sites like Craigslist, Yelp, and Nextdoor. Fliers and other traditional marketing can also be effective ways to get customers for a small-town cleaning service.
The UpFlip 7-Figure Cleaning Business Blueprint is a great way to learn how to start a cleaning business. Watch this video to hear how course instructor Chris Mondragon started his small business, Queen Bee Cleaning, and grew it to $1.5 million a year:
U.S. Population Per Store: 11,113 people/store
Medium Success: 12,227 people/store
High Success: 16,670 people/store
Average Annual Revenue: $2,305,520
Average Profit Margins: 5.5%
Startup Costs: $500-$250K
Time To Revenue: 3+ months
Annual Market Growth Rate: 0.6%
Best for: Electronics, technology, and repair pros, detail-oriented and mechanically minded entrepreneurs
The average U.S. household owned 22 connected devices in 2022. Those devices are more critical to our lives than ever before, too, with 45% of households including at least one person working from home and 23% with someone who attends school from home.
It’s no surprise, then, that computer services are among the most in-demand small-town business ideas. Small-town residents need someone to fix their devices and are less likely to have easy access to a large electronics retailer that offers these services.
Another reason a computer services business is among the best small shop ideas is that it doesn’t cost much to start or run. Joe’s Electronics Repair was started with just a few hundred dollars and in five years grew to a seven-figure business. Hear how Joe Pilat did it in this interview:
U.S. Population Per Store: 2,112 people/store
Medium Success: 2,323 people/store
High Success: 3,168 people/store
Average Annual Revenue: $73,533
Average Profit Margins: 11.5%
Startup Costs: $1K-$100K
Time To Revenue: 3+ months
Annual Market Growth Rate: 1.1%
Best for: Pet owners, lovers, and experts, entrepreneurs who are patient and empathetic with strong communication skills
Pet ownership is on the rise across the United States. There were about five million more pets in 2023 than there were in 2019, and the amount people spend on these furry family members is expected to increase by 134% over the next decade.
A pet grooming shop is the perfect business idea to capitalize on this trend. It’s among the best small-town business ideas because, even though people all over the country own pets, groomers often aren’t easy to find outside of urban areas.
Other pet services can be sparse in rural areas and small towns, too. This means there are many other revenue streams you can add to your pet grooming business to boost its profits. For example, you can also have a pet store or pet supply shop or offer both grooming and boarding services for animals in the same small business.
U.S. Population Per Store: 348 people/store
Medium Success: 383 people/store
High Success: 522 people/store
Average Annual Revenue: $51,380
Average Profit Margins: 5%
Startup Costs: $1K-$100K
Time To Revenue: 3+ months
Annual Market Growth Rate: 0.9%
Best for: Beauticians, barbers, and hair stylists with excellent customer service, communication, and organization skills
Hair salons and barber shops can be profitable businesses for small towns for the same reason as the ideas above: They provide a service everybody needs that can be tricky to find in smaller markets.
You don’t need a giant market to make money with a hair salon. The average salon works with 6 to 20 customers daily. If there are just a few salons in town (or especially if you’re the only option), those aren’t difficult numbers to reach.
Most states require hair salon owners to have a cosmetology license. If you don’t already have one, that’s something you’ll want to look into before you take any steps to open your business.
On the plus side, the start-up costs of a salon or barber shop are reasonable. Bernard Franklin opened Busy B’s Barbershop with around $15,000. Hear how he got started in this interview:
U.S. Population Per Business: 2,048 people/business
Medium Success: 2,253 people/business
High Success: 3,072 people/business
Average Annual Revenue: $204,700 per employee
Average Profit Margins: 5.4%
Startup Costs: $500-$5K
Time To Revenue: 3+ months
Annual Market Growth Rate: 0.7%
Best for: Construction and repair professionals, people who like physical work, fixers and makers
If you’re looking for good business ideas for small towns that you can start from home, a handyman business can be a great choice. Since you’ll be working on-site at customers’ homes, you don’t need a storefront or other commercial space.
In fact, all you really need to get started are some basic tools and knowledge of how to use them. If you have that, this is one business idea guaranteed to be in demand just about anywhere.
Wondering how much you can make? Caleb Ingraham earns around $1,000 a day as a handyman. While he operates in the larger market of Seattle, the same principles can be used to open a home improvement business anywhere. Hear his advice in this interview:
U.S. Population Per Business: 5,846 people/business
Medium Success: 6,431 people/business
High Success: 8,769 people/business
Average Annual Revenue: $73,100
Average Profit Margins: 16.1%
Startup Costs: $500-$5K
Time To Revenue: 3+ months
Annual Market Growth Rate: 1.0%
Best for: Car lovers, cleaning pros, system-oriented entrepreneurs with high attention to detail and strong customer service skills
There are a few different ways to start a car wash business. One option is to open a brick-and-mortar car wash that customers can drive through to clean their vehicles.
Another option is to open a mobile detailing or car wash business. Under this model, you go to customers and clean their cars at their homes or workplaces. That’s the model Abu Waggeh uses to bring in an average of $40,000 a month in revenue:
Either option can be a great business idea for small towns, and each approach has its advantages. A brick-and-mortar car wash can be automated to generate passive income, though that will take a large up-front investment.
A mobile detailing business, on the other hand, can be started for just a few hundred bucks, as we discovered in the interview above. Along with a low barrier to entry, the mobile model can expand your potential customer base in a small-town market.
U.S. Population Per Business: 511 people/business
Medium Success: 562 people/business
High Success: 767 people/business
Average Annual Revenue: $272,790
Average Profit Margins: 8.7%
Startup Costs: $2K-$10K
Time To Revenue: 1-3 months
Annual Market Growth Rate: 8.1%
Best for: Entrepreneurs with a green thumb, landscape architects and gardening pros, people who love physical work and being outside
Lawns tend to be larger in small towns than in large cities, but that doesn’t mean small-town residents have more time to care for their outdoor spaces.
It also means ample opportunities for entrepreneurs who offer lawn and gardening services. This is another small-town business idea with a low barrier to entry.
Legends Lawn Care Services founder Russell was only 19 when he started, without any spare cash or industry experience. He grew to more than 300 customers and $100,000 in revenue by the end of his first year. Hear his advice in this interview:
U.S. Population Per Store: 31,932 people/store
Medium Success: 35,125 people/store
High Success: 47,898 people/store
Average Annual Revenue: $2,098,550
Average Profit Margins: 3.9%
Startup Costs: $100K-$3.5M
Time To Revenue: 6-18 months
Annual Market Growth Rate: -0.4%
Best for: Makers, construction pros, and DIYers with strong communication and customer service skills
If you’re looking for retail store ideas for a small town, a hardware store is a solid choice. It is a profitable small-town business idea because it sells things people need in a hurry to get the job done. Filling an unmet need is always a smart move when starting a new small business.
One pro of opening a hardware store is that they tend to be recession-resistant businesses. In fact, their revenue can actually see a spike during down economies since they sell supplies for DIY projects and home repairs.
This is likely why hardware stores saw an increase in revenue in 2020. The industry saw total sales of $59.2 billion that year and has continued to grow steadily since.
U.S. Population Per Store: 11,505 people/store
Medium Success: 12,655 people/store
High Success: 17,258 people/store
Average Annual Revenue: $453,257
Average Profit Margins: 6.7%
Startup Costs: $100K-$3.5M
Time To Revenue: 6-18 months
Annual Market Growth Rate: 1.5%
Best for: People with retail experience, customer- and community-focused entrepreneurs, fashion-lovers, collectors, and antiquers
A thrift store is a win-win for communities. It gives people a place to sell or donate things they don’t need as well as a place to buy second-hand clothes, household goods, and other items at affordable prices.
Thrift stores and second-hand shops can sell a variety of goods. Some focus on basic clothing necessities, while others are stocked mostly with toys, collectibles, or vintage and antique items.
There are a range of ways thrift stores get their inventory. Some sell items on consignment, while others source their own inventory from storage unit auctions and estate sales.
Deciding what you’ll sell (and how you’ll get it) will depend both on your interests and the needs of your area. Do some research into your local market to identify the right niche for your thrift shop.
U.S. Population Per Store: 2,065 people/store
Medium Success: 2,272 people/store
High Success: 3,098 people/store
Average Annual Revenue: $141,492
Average Profit Margins: 5.3%
Startup Costs: $1K-$100K
Time To Revenue: 3+ months
Annual Market Growth Rate: 0.5%
Best for: Stylists, designers, graphic and visual artists, fashionable entrepreneurs who excel at identifying trends
In some small towns, people need to drive for miles just to get basic clothing items—and even further if they want things that are fashionable, trendy, or unique.
A clothing boutique is among the top small-town business ideas because you won’t just get customers from your own neighborhood but can also become a convenient destination for stylish residents in surrounding communities.
Another advantage of opening a clothing boutique is that you can easily operate as both a brick-and-mortar store and an online business. Adding an eCommerce shop expands your brand and potential customer base beyond your small community.
Lee Smith used both an eCommerce store and a brick-and-mortar location to grow the revenue of his clothing boutique Urbanity to over $100,000 a month. Hear his advice in this interview:
U.S. Population Per Store: 9,931 people/store
Medium Success: 10,924 people/store
High Success: 14,897 people/store
Average Annual Revenue: $262,690
Average Profit Margins: 5.4%
Startup Costs: $100K-$3.5M
Time To Revenue: 6-18 months
Annual Market Growth Rate: 2.8%
Best for: Gardeners and plant care pros, creative entrepreneurs with strong communication skills
A flower arrangement is a beautiful, fresh-smelling way to show someone you love them or send your well wishes. Unfortunately, many small towns don’t have a place that sells fresh flowers, aside from the few bouquets sold at the supermarket. Filling that niche with a flower shop is the perfect business idea for entrepreneurs who have a green thumb or an eye for design.
One consistent challenge for a small town flower shop is inventory and waste control. Partnering with a local nursery, or starting a flower farm or greenhouse of your own, can help you to cut down on storage and shipping costs and reduce wasted product.
There are other ways to diversify your flower shop revenue streams, too. When Dylan Capshaw turned his online flower shop Stemistry into a brick-and-mortar, he added a coffee shop, giving customers more reasons to visit. Hear how he started his business in this podcast interview:
U.S. Population Per Store: 36,878 people/store
Medium Success: 40,566 people/store
High Success: 55,317 people/store
Average Annual Revenue: $130,133
Average Profit Margins: 5.4%
Startup Costs: $100K-$3.5M
Time To Revenue: 6-18 months
Annual Market Growth Rate: 0.4%
Best for: Wellness and nutrition professionals, athletes and fitness experts, entrepreneurs who excel at organization, sales, and customer service
People who live in large cities aren’t the only ones who want to eat healthily. Unfortunately, the organic food and nutrition supplement options at the typical small-town grocery store are limited.
A health food store is a small-town business opportunity that will provide a needed service to the community while you make a profit. It also pairs nicely with other business ideas, like a gym or other fitness business, since those are likely to appeal to the same customers.
U.S. Population Per Store: 8,089 people/store
Medium Success: 8,897 people/store
High Success: 12,134 people/store
Average Annual Revenue: $1,747,080
Average Profit Margins: 3.8%
Startup Costs: $100K-$3.5M
Time To Revenue: 6-18 months
Annual Market Growth Rate: 0.9%
Best for: Foodies, chefs, and sommeliers, retail and customer service professionals, entrepreneurs who excel at marketing and community building
A specialty food shop can add a touch of luxury to the food options in a small town. Like other shops on this list, it fills an often-neglected niche, giving people a place to buy high-end, unique ingredients they can’t find at other local stores.
A wine or cheese shop can become a destination store for surrounding communities that also lack this option, expanding your potential customer base beyond the town where you’re located.
Since wine and cheese aren’t essentials, you’ll need to be active in promoting your brand. Planning events like wine and cheese tastings or hosting booths and pop-ups at farmers markets and fairs can be great ways to build your customer community.
U.S. Population Per Business: 22,743 people/business
Medium Success: 25,017 people/business
High Success: 34,115 people/business
Average Annual Revenue: $201K
Average Profit Margins: 8.1%
Startup Costs: $100K-$3.5M
Time To Revenue: 6-18 months
Annual Market Growth Rate: 2.2%
Best for: People with hospitality and customer service experience, outgoing and community-oriented entrepreneurs
Many people don’t think of investing in tourist-oriented business ideas in small towns or rural areas. This is part of what can make a bed and breakfast a very lucrative small-town business model.
One target market for a bed and breakfast are small-town ambiance patrons—in other words, people from larger cities who travel to rural areas to escape the hustle and bustle.
Bed and breakfast owners don’t only cater to travelers, either. You can attract customers who live nearby and want a spot for weekend getaways or a romantic night out. These same customers can also be regular patrons of other revenue streams you add to the business.
U.S. Population Per Business: 7,833 people/business
Medium Success: 8,616 people/business
High Success: 11,750 people/business
Average Annual Revenue: $733,200
Average Profit Margins: 10.7%
Startup Costs: $500-$5K
Time To Revenue: 1-3 months
Annual Market Growth Rate: 2.2%
Best for: Data scientists and analysts, marketing and advertising pros, entrepreneurs with strong communication, problem-solving, and analytical skills
Odds are you’re not the only person with small-town development ideas. Other people want to start small retail stores or have neighborhood business ideas. They’ll need data and advice to build a successful business, and providing that can be a great business idea.
The volume of data available to businesses has exploded over the past decade, and the need for people to make sense of it has grown, too. The market research industry more than doubled from 2008 to 2022, reaching a value of over $81 billion.
Starting a market research firm is also a fairly inexpensive business idea. While you’ll likely want to invest in some analytic tools and software, these costs are minimal compared to starting businesses that require lots of equipment, space, or inventory.
Every small town needs things to do for fun. When I was living in Michigan in a small town, some of my favorite things to do were:
If there aren’t small-town businesses already providing these services, you might want to look into how you can provide them.
There are some services and products that people will always need no matter where they live. These include things like:
Even if these already exist, having a new option in a more convenient location, or one that offers a different array of goods or services, can fill an unmet need for local residents.
Online shopping gives residents of rural areas and small towns access to goods they can’t find in local stores. When it comes to service businesses, though, they need to find someone nearby.
We highlighted a few profitable service business ideas in the list above, like cleaning services, lawn care, handyman services, and computer repair. Other services that are often lacking in smaller markets include:
If these are lacking in your area, starting a business in one of these niches can be a successful venture.
There are plenty of great small-town business ideas. You just have to be more careful about selecting which to start. We’ve given you an easy way to make that decision with the calculations above, and now it’s up to you.
What are some good business ideas for a small town that you’d like to know more about?
Brandon Boushy
Did you know there are nearly 50K food trucks in the U.S.?
From Asian street food to burgers, sweet treats, and pizza, there’s a food truck for everything. So for those who want to open a food truck, unique food truck names help them stand out from the pack.
We’ll share what makes a good food truck business name, provide lots of food truck name ideas, and show you how to register your food truck name after you choose one.
[su_note note_color="#dbeafc"] Get ready to find the perfect business name for your new food truck.
When choosing a name for your food truck business, there are a few things you'll want to keep in mind:
With that in mind, take a look at the following food truck names. Consider them food for thought.
Consider the following list to name your own food truck business.
1. Culinary Voyage
2. Roving Refreshments
3. Fry Hard
4. Cookin' & Cruisin'
5. Motor Munches
6. Gourmet Odyssey
7. Grill Seekers
8. Chow Down
9. Parked Pita
10. World Plate
11. Brownie Points
12. Smoothie Operator
13. The Juice Box
14. Latte Da
15. Lemon Aid
16. Pop Up
17. Seoul Food Seduction
18. Nomadic Noodles
19. The Journeyman’s Feast
20. Burnout Burgers
21. Fastlane Food Co.
22. License to Grill
23. Curbside Cookin’
24. Stove on the Street
Pro Tip: Describe what your food truck serves in your business name. This will help people find you when they're searching online. Many of the food truck name ideas in this list focus on common searches.
Some of the funniest food truck names are ones that are a play on words. Consider some of these fun food truck names:
1. The Codfather
2. Lord of the Fries
3. It’s Hot in Here
4. Wok & Roll
5. Wok & Stroll
6. Bun Voyage
7. Nacho Average Truck
8. Curry On
9. Buns N’ Roses
10. Pho Sho
11. Pasta La Vista
12. The Grillenium Falcon
13. Frying Nemo
14. Crepe Expectations
15. Muffin Top
16. Donut Worry
17. Pizza My Heart
18. Pho-verload
19. The Souper Hero
20. Seoul Mates
21. Forking Awesome Food Truck
22. Gas Money Grill
23. The Flat Tire
24. Haulin’ Oats
Other food trucks will have difficulty competing with these clever food truck business name ideas.
1. Drury Lane Muffin Co.
2. The Wandering Wok
3. Wanderlust Wok
4. Bun & Run Burgers
5. Whisk World Cuisine
6. Sushi Shuffle
7. Bite-Sized Bliss
8. Ramen Renegades
9. Seoul Searching Korean Delights
10. Global Grubbin'
11. Cheesus Crust
12. Dumpling Dynasty
13. Truck Yeah!
14. Spice & Dice: World on a Plate
15. Sushi Seishin
16. Soupercalifragilisticexpialidocious
17. Curry in a Hurry
18. Muffin to Lose
Pro tip: Don't be afraid to be creative and original with your food truck names. Funny business tames tend to help make your food truck stand out.
Good names for food trucks are abundant. Consider some of these names for your truck.
1. Falafel Freakout
2. Fork Yeah It's Flavorful
3. Spice & Dice Dice Baby
4. Burly Burgers & Beyond
5. Naan-believable Flavors
6. Forking Awesome Food Truck
7. The Wandering Wok Warrior
8. Sushi Shuffle
9. Bite-Sized Bliss
10. Queso-lution
11. Curry Up & Eat
12. The Bao Bunch
13. The Wandering Grill
14. Spice Up Your Life
15. The Wandering Pizzaiolo
16. Bite Squad
17. Dumpling Dynasty
18. Spice & Dice
19. Food Truck Follies
20. Where East Meets West
Pro Tip: Once you have a few food truck name ideas, test them out on your friends, family, and potential customers. Get their feedback and see what they think is the perfect food truck name.
Let’s taco bout some taco truck names. Whether you prefer a crunchy taco, soft taco, or enchilada, you need a great name for when you sell out of a taco trailer or truck. Check out some of these ideas.
1. El Guacahólico
2. Taco 'Bout Delicious
3. Taco 'Bout a Fiesta
4. Island Hoppin' Habanero
5. The Cheesy Grinner
6. Aloha Avocado
7. Taco the Town
8. Mac Daddy Machaca
9. Baja Fiesta
10. Taco Loco
11. Mole Mole Mole!
12. Condor Carnitas
13. Taco Fuego
14. The Black Bean
15. Taco Twist
16. Machaca Madness
17. Tofu Tango
18. Taco Samurai
19. Kickstart Fiesta
20. Taco Hero
21. Tacos on Wheels
22. Taco Space
Looking for a juicy name for your food truck? Try some of these food truck name ideas.
1. Spice It Up & Go!
2. The Hungry Hippie
3. Bite Me Burger Company
4. The Wandering Waffle Shop
5. Sizzle & Chill Grill
6. Pho Real, Folks! Food Truck
7. The Rolling Ravioli Company
8. Spice & Dice Cuisine
9. Wok This Way
10. Fork Yeah! Food Truck
11. The Burger Brigade
12. Pizza My Heart Truck
13. Dumpling Dynasty
14. Bao Buns & Beyond
15. Falafel Frenzy Food Truck
16. Curry Up, Sunshine!
17. Wok 'n' Wander Eats
18. Fork in the Road
19. Sizzle & Spice Streetside Cuisine
20. The Wandering Whisk
21. The Burger Brigade
22. Streetside Sensations
Pro Tip: Once you've chosen a food truck’s name, you need to protect it. Make sure to register it with the appropriate government agencies. This will protect your name from being used by other businesses.
1. Burrito Bae
2. Guac and Roll
3. Salsa and Spice
4. Fajita Fiesta Company
5. Elote of Love
6. Tamale Time
7. Enchilada Express
8. Cilantro and Lime Shop
9. Tortilla Thrills
10. Mexi-Go
11. Flan-tastic
12. Empanada Emporium
13. Margarita Madness
14. Nacho Mama’s Truck
15. Quesadilla Queen Shop
16. Burrito Bandito Company
17. Tostada Truck
18. Salsa Verde Shop
19. El Nopal Truck
20. Mexi-Melt Company
21. The Parked Piñata
22. El Diablo Truck
Pro Tip: This list is just the start. Your food truck name could even be in Spanish—just make sure it’s clear to all customers what you’re offering.
1. Rocky Road Trip
2. Cone with the Wind
3. Scoop Dreams
4. The Ice Cream Team
5. Sundae Funday
6. Chilly Vanilly
7. Frozen Assets
8. Lickety Split
9. The Cone Zone
10. Ice Ice Baby
11. The Chill Grill
12. Cream of the Crop
13. The Dairy Godmother
14. The Scoop Troop
15. Cone Appetit
16. Freeze the Day
17. The Sweet Spot
18. Frosty Bites
19. The Cream Machine
20. The Cone Ranger
21. The Iceberg
22. The Big Chill
23. The Frosty Fox
24. The Whipper Snapper
25. The Cold Case
26. The Ice Breaker
27. The Sugar Rush
28. The Frost Bite
29. The Ice Cap
30. The Sherbet Shop
31. The Cream Dream
32. The Slush Puppy
33. The Cone Head
34. The Ice Palace
35. The Scoop of the Century
36. The Chill Factor
37. The Cone-ucopia
38. The Ice Cream Station
1. Bite Co.
2. Bun Appetit Shop
3. Sauceome Company
4. Cheese Louise Co.
5. Bake It Easy
6. Brew Ha Ha
7. Souper Star
8. Pizza My Heart Co.
9. Rice and Shine
10. Chili Out
11. Muffin to Lose Co.
12. Falafel in Love
13. Wrap Star Shop
14. Fork It Over LLC
15. Pancake Break
16. Bread Zeppelin
17. Croissant Moon Co.
18. Noodle Around
Pro Tip: Food trucks normally cost between one-sixteenth and one-third of what it costs to start a restaurant. That makes a food truck a great way to become a food entrepreneur.
1. The Fry Guys
2. Wok This Way
3. Taco 'Bout It
4. Curbside Bites
5. Fries Before Guys
6. The Rolling Scones
7. Pita Pan
8. Souper Heroes
9. Buns on the Run
10. The Cheesy Rider
11. The Meatballer
12. The Spice Girls
13. The Crust Crusader
14. The Wrap Pack
15. The Crepe Escape
16. The Pie Hole
17. The Salad Bar
18. The Mac Attack
19. The Hummus Among Us
20. The Gyro Hero
21. The Rice Guys
22. The Pizza Cutter
23. Kebab King
24. The Noodle Bowl
25. The Sushi Bus
26. The Cookie Monster
27. The Pancake Stack
28. The Muffin Man
29. The Cupcake Factory
30. The Candy Crush
31. The Chocolate Bar
32. The Sweet Tooth
1. Crave Crafts
2. Flavor Wagon
3. Taste Trip
4. Yum Rush Express
5. Munch Master
6. Flavor Frenzy
7. Naan of Your Business
8. GourmetGo
9. Chow Chaser
10. Meatballin’
11. Kebabylon
12. Chili Con Carnage
13. The Breakfast Club
14. Banh Mi and You
15. Rice Rice Baby
16. Hot Dogma
17. Pie Hard
18. The Falafel Tower
19. The Hummuside
20. Nacho Problem
21. Sushi and the Banshees
22. Bacon and Legs
23. The Spud Stud
24. The Wingman
25. The Ramen Empire
26. Gyro Hero
27. The Sandwich Witch
28. The Pasta Point
29. The Burrito Bandito
30. The Donut Hole
31. The Pancake Stack
32. The Bagel Boss
Pro Tip: If you can’t think of a show stopping name, the simpler the better. Let potential customers know what to expect.
1. Wok n' Stroll
2. Cheesy Does It
3. Forklore Fusion
4. Patty Paradise
5. Taco 'Bout Tasty
6. The Crepe Escapee
7. Poke a Hole in Hunger
8. Quesadilla Craze
9. Grillin' & Chillin'
10. Wafflicious Treats
11. Gyro Giro Gyro
12. Bao Down Bliss
13. Arepa Allure
14. Ramen Rhapsody
15. Pizza My Slice
16. Wrap It Real Good
17. Smoothie Showdown
18. Donut Delight
19. Burrito Bonanza
20. Noodle Nirvana
21. Curry Up Already!
22. Wok with Wisdom
23. Naan-stop Munching
24. The Patty Playground
25. Wok a Wonder
26. Arepa Aficionado
27. The Ramen Renegade
28. Gyro-matic Flavors
29. Wok Wonders
30. Bun Bonanza
31. Cheesy Dreamland
32. Forklore Fantasia
33. Batter Blastoff
34. The Sandwich Stand
1. Batter Believe It
2. Flippin' Awesome
3. Breakfast of Champions
4. Caffeinated Caravan
5. Bacon Me Smile
6. Oattitude Adjustment
7. Morning Mantra
8. Sunny Smoothie Stand
9. Sunrise Sippers & Snacks
10. Burrito Sunrise
11. Bagelicious
12. Fritter Fanatics
13. Flapjack Fiesta
14. Scrambled
15. Muffin Monarchy
16. French Toast Frenzy
17. Sconehenge
18. Sunrise Snacks & Sips
19. Griddle Galaxy
20. Yolked & Loaded Express
21. Pancake Playground
22. Caffeinated Creations
23. Donut Disruption
24. Croissant Conquest
25. Scrambled Sunshine
26. Rise & Shine Smoothies
27. Muffin Menagerie
28. French Toast Fairytale
29. Donut Delights & Dreams
30. Smoothie Shack Sensation
31. Oatventure Awaits
32. Scrambled Sensations
33. Donut Den
34. Croissant Crusaders
You’ll have to go through some extra steps to register your food truck’s name because food establishments commonly need health inspections. This goes for a brick-and-mortar restaurant, too.
We’ve talked with a lot of food truck business owners about how to get started in the food truck industry. Check out some of our other resources for food truck owners:
You finished the naming process, but there is still plenty of work to do in your culinary adventure. Start by checking out our step-by-step guide on how to start a small business.
Ever wondered what cleaning franchise opportunities are out there? We reviewed the cleaning industry to help you find commercial cleaning services that will help you build a company faster.
Neel Parekh started MaidThis in 2013 when he realized that cleaning companies were operating like they were pre-internet companies. Requests for Airbnb cleaning led him to focus on this niche of the cleaning industry and earned him recognition on the 2022 Top 500 New & Emerging Franchise list.
We’ll discuss the following cleaning franchises to help you decide which one is best for you.
[su_note note_color="#dbeafc"]
Get ready to find out more about how to get a cleaning franchise.
According to IBIS World, cleaning services is a growing industry. There are three main areas that cleaners operate under:
That means cleaning is a nearly $130 billion industry. You should also be aware that customers expect green cleaning services to be offered in all types of buildings.
Office space, retail stores, medical facilities, and even homeowners are becoming more aware of hospital-grade disinfectants and HEPA vacuums. So there are a lot of evolving industry trends.
Despite all the changes, Queen Bee Cleaning Services Owner Cristobal Mondragon told us:
[su_quote] There’s no better time to get into the cleaning business![/su_quote]
Check out our interview with him below.
[su_youtube url="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d4Iip7BHXwg"]
Cleaning franchises can make up to $3.25 million annually based on the information disclosed on their various websites. Merry Maids disclosed the highest revenue statistic. Every franchise for cleaning business operations is different, but some share their numbers on their websites.
All cleaning companies should disclose how much their franchises make in their Financial Disclosure Document. If they don’t, run! That means they don’t have a proven track record (and are breaking franchising laws). Next, we’ll answer how much a cleaning franchise costs.
Cleaning companies franchise their business operations to small business owners for an initial franchise fee ranging from about $1,000 to $100K. The differences are impacted by:
In addition, you’ll have initial costs to other suppliers that may bring the total cost to buy franchise cleaning businesses up to $250,000. I know that’s a huge range, but many cleaning franchises are less than $100K for a recognized brand.
No, you can’t start a cleaning franchise for under $1,000 in most locations. That said, if you are considering franchising a cleaning business for under $1,000, there are some companies that will allow a down payment of as little as $1,000 to start your own business using their brand recognition. Options include:
We’ll cover all of these and more before you finish this article. First, we want to introduce you to the MaidThis cleaning franchise.
As a franchise owner, you’ll be operating a cleaning franchise that focuses on residential and Airbnb cleaning. You’ll mostly be focused on growing the business and supporting your team using the best processes in the cleaning industry.
• Initial License Fee: $35K
• Other Startup Costs: $12.6K to $31.6K
• Total Expenses: $47.6K to $66.55K
• Royalty Fees: 6%
• Advertising: 2%
This cleaning franchise opportunity is relatively rare. Finding a franchise where you can work completely remotely is amazing. Given most states don’t already have a franchise, it’s even better.
Hear Neel’s story below.
[su_youtube url="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kVyLriqFVdc"]
We’ve partnered with Neel to provide you a unique opportunity to start a remote cleaning company. He’ll even give you $6,000 off the marketing when you sign up through our link. Request information from MaidThis.
Neel explained the most important thing he does to grow his business answering the phone:
[su_quote]Our close rate when we answer the phone is over 60%, but if we don’t it drops down to 16.7%. That’s why we use an AI text messaging system to make sure we close as many clients as possible.[/su_quote]
Next, we introduce another completely unique option: the Upflip Cleaning Business Blueprint.
The UpFlip Cleaning Business BluePrint is a comprehensive program developed in collaboration with Cristobal Mondragon.
With a history of founding Queen Bee Cleaning Services and achieving an impressive annual revenue exceeding $1 million, Chris shares his proven strategies for entrepreneurial triumph. This exceptional package encompasses:
In essence, we provide you with the full spectrum of resources synonymous with a cleaning business franchise, all without the burden of royalties. This translates to substantial cost savings, enabling you to embrace entrepreneurship and become the master of your own enterprise.
We’ve broken the rest of this blog into sections based on the three major cleaning segments. We’ll start with residential cleaners.
Want to know how to start a cleaning franchise? Start by considering a residential cleaning company like these:
The Maids, an official partner of Mr. Clean, offers residential and small business cleaning services. Franchise operators who want to join this proven business model need to pay:
• Initial License Fee: $12.5K
• Additional Fees at Signing: $32K to $80K
• Other Startup Costs: $10K to $33K
• 3 Months Operating Expenses: $22K to $39K
• Total Expenses: $76K to $165K
• Royalty Fees: 3.9% to 6.9%
• Advertising: 2%
Learn more about cleaning franchise opportunities on The Maids website.
Another residential cleaning company franchise is Two Maids, which compares to other cleaning franchise opportunities by offering:
Starting a cleaning business franchise with Two Maids will require a business owner to have the following financial considerations:
• Initial Franchise Fee: $19,950
• Initial Investment: $83,140 to $123,890
• Net Worth Requirement: $200,000
• Cash Requirement: $51,140
• Royalty Fees: 4-7%
• Ad Royalty: 2%
Check out the Two Maids Franchise website to learn more about being your own boss.
You’ve Got Maids franchise cleaning company might be right for you if you want to clean people’s homes. They offer weekly and biweekly cleaning, move-in/move-out cleaning, spring cleaning, and full-time residential cleaner placements. You’ve Got Maids Cleaning franchises require:
• Initial Franchise Fee: $7,000
• Initial Investment: $36K to $108K
• Net Worth Requirement: $200,000
• Cash Requirement: $40K to $100K
• Royalty Fees: 2.99% to 5.99%
• Ad Royalty: $75/week
Note that there’s been a 29% decline in You’ve Got Maids franchises over the last three years and don’t be afraid to ask questions about what that means for you if you want to become one of these franchise owners.
Another residential cleaning franchise opportunity is Molly Maid. You’ll need to meet the following qualifications to start your own business under Molly Maid cleaning franchises:
• Initial Franchise Fee: $14,900
• Initial Investment: $127K to $185K
• Net Worth Requirement: $250,000
• Cash Requirement: $65,000
• Royalty Fees: 3% to 6.5%
• Ad Royalty: $104/week
Molly Maid’s weekly ad royalty might distract new franchisees from focusing on getting cleaning clients. Personally I’d prefer paying franchise fees less routinely.
Neighborly is the parent company of Molly Maids and offers other cleaning franchise opportunities including window washing, junk removal, lawn care, and carpet cleaning for franchise owners.
Merry Maids is one of the most well-known cleaning franchise brands in the cleaning industry. Twenty-five percent of Merry Maids franchises make over $3 million annually.
• Initial Franchise Fee: $37,500 to $51,500
• Initial Investment: $50K to $100K
• Net Worth Requirement: $250,000
• Cash Requirement: $65,000
• Royalty Fees: 5% to 7%
• Ad Royalty: 1.3%
Data is according to Entrepreneur.
For those wondering how to start a franchise cleaning business with Maid Right, you’ll need:
• Initial Franchise Fee: $65,000
• Initial Investment: $103K to $148K
• Net Worth Requirement: $200,000
• Cash Requirement: $50K
• Royalty Fee: 6%
• Ad Royalty: 2%
Go to the Maid Right website to learn more about their franchise fees, cleaning standards, and processes.
Now that you know about home cleaning services, want to learn about commercial cleaning franchises?
These commercial cleaning franchises perform office cleaning and other janitorial work :
• Jan-Pro
• Jani-King
• Coverall
• Stratus Building Solutions
• Vanguard Cleaning Systems
• Anago Cleaning Systems
One of the top commercial cleaning industry franchises is JanPro, which ranks at the top of multiple Entrepreneur categories.
Work with commercial clients as a Jan-Pro franchise for as little as $3,150, which includes the down payment, $1,000 for emergency expenses, and the Franchise Development Starter Kit.
Jan-Pro cleaning systems helps book commercial facilities that need commercial cleaners, and you choose your hours or client count each month. Expect the following startup costs when cleaning commercial businesses:
• Initial Franchise Fee: $2K to $4.5K
• Initial Investment: $4.8K to $58K
• Royalty: 10%
• Ad Royalty: 1%
With over 7,000 global franchises, Jani-King is the largest cleaning franchise for sale. This janitorial franchise opportunity is losing franchises, but Franchise Times shows that they have rising revenue.
Be careful when considering buying this cleaning franchise for sale. Audit the prior business owners’ books carefully before buying.
• Initial Franchise Fee: Not Disclosed
• Initial Investment: $20K to $52K
• Net Worth Requirement: Not Disclosed
• Cash Requirement: Not Disclosed
• Royalty Fees: Not Disclosed
• Ad Royalty: Not Disclosed
If you’re wondering how to start your own cleaning business, consider Coverall. Coverall cleaning franchises are marketed as janitorial cleaners focused on helping friends and families build wealth.
You should expect the following costs for these cleaning business franchises:
• Initial Franchise Fee: $16K to $41K
• Initial Investment: $18K to $52K
• Royalty Fee: 5%
• Net Worth Requirement: Not Disclosed
• Cash Requirement: Not Disclosed
• Ad Royalty: Not Disclosed
Next, find out how to start a cleaning business with Stratus.
Would you rather focus on booking janitorial services or cleaning and managing a crew?
Stratus offers two ways of franchising:
Their janitorial franchises are some of the lowest-cost franchises in the cleaning industry. They start at just $1,000 for an owner-operator without employees. This commercial cleaning franchise opportunity requires that you focus on the manual labor.
Meanwhile, the Stratus master franchise opportunity is a 9-to-5 admin, invoicing, and business consulting service for the janitorial services franchises. Master franchising requires:
• Initial Franchise Fee: $3,600 to $69,000
• Initial Investment: $4,600 to $79,000
• Net Worth Requirement: $5K to $40K
• Cash Requirement: $2K to $20K
• Royalty Fees: 5%
• Ad Royalty: 1%
This franchise opportunity lets you focus on the parts of a janitorial services business that most interest you.
Commercial cleaning business Vanguard Cleaning Systems operates a lot like Stratus Building Solutions. You can either perform daily janitorial services or perform admin tasks for the other cleaning franchises.
• Initial Franchise Fee: $5K
• Initial Investment: $6K to $37K
• Net Worth Requirement: $50K and $250K
• Cash Requirement: $7K and $45K
• Royalty Fees: 11.5%
• Ad Royalty: N/A
Check out Vanguard Cleaning Systems’ franchise opportunities.
Anago Cleaning Systems franchises have low net worth and cash requirements for commercial cleaning services franchises. Anago Cleaning Systems uses the same franchise business model as the other commercial cleaning franchise opportunities on the list, where you have master franchise and unit franchise options.
The master franchise gets an exclusive territory where they book clients and sell unit franchises.
• Initial Franchise Fee: $5K to $31K for Units; $98K for Master franchises
• Initial Investment: $11K to 61K for Units; $219K to $339K for Master
• Net Worth Requirement: $31K
• Cash Requirement: $1K
• Royalty Fees: 10%
• Ad Royalty: 2%
Learn more about Anago Cleaning Systems franchising.
Haven’t found a cleaning service you like yet?
Specialized services like window washing, green cleaning, and junk hauling are all options to consider when deciding how to start a cleaning company.
Check out some unique cleaning franchises like:
If you want to offer air cleaning services, this company franchise is a good one to consider. Aire-Master of America provides fragrances, equipment, and servicing to commercial buildings, enhancing their workspaces and creating environments that help employees and customers feel better.
According to Entrepreneur, you should expect:
• Initial Franchise Fee: $30K to $100K
• Initial Investment: $45K to $170K
• Net Worth Requirement: $20K
• Cash Requirement: $50K
• Royalty Fees: 5%
• Ad Royalty: N/A
Find out more about Aire-Master of America franchises.
If you want to start a carpet cleaning franchise, consider Oxi Fresh.
• Initial Franchise Fee: $42,000
• Initial Investment: $48K to $78K
• Net Worth Requirement: $20K
• Cash Requirement: $50K
• Royalty Fees: $395 monthly
• Ad Royalty: 3%
Oxi Fresh has franchises across the U.S. and Canada and offers the opportunity to become a master franchise in other countries.
College HUNKS Hauling Junk performs junk removal and moving services for homeowners and businesses. These junk removal businesses also donate junk and meals and emphasize their recycling efforts. It gets better though. They average $1.63 million revenue and you’ll need:
• Initial Franchise Fee: $45K to $75K
• Initial Investment: Not Disclosed
• Net Worth Requirement: $200K
• Cash Requirement: $75K
• Royalty Fees: 7%
• Ad Royalty: 2%
I just wish the uniforms were superhero costumes!
Want to operate a floor cleaning business? Consider ServiceMaster Clean, which is a residential and commercial cleaning business offering cleaning franchises for:
• Initial Franchise Fee: $32,500
• Initial Investment: $90K
• Net Worth Requirement: $100K
• Cash Requirement: $50K
• Royalty Fees: 7%
• Ad Royalty: 2%
Their top franchises average over $3.2 million in revenue annually, while 25% of single-zone franchises average $1.85 million in revenue.
Find out more about ServiceMaster Clean franchises.
Offer building remediation with these cleaning franchise opportunities. You’ll clean after property damage from water, fire, mold, and other hazardous materials.
PuroClean lists what you need to start a cleaning franchise business directly on their site and offers financing for up to 50% of the total franchise cost.
TruBlue is a combination cleaning, handyman, and landscaping franchise, and they also offer accessibility remodeling services. This might be the franchise cleaning business for you if you want to build an empire because of all the additional services you can offer.
You’ll need:
• Total Investment: $65,050 to $91,400
• Franchise Fee: $44,900
• Minimum Liquid Capital: $50,000
Find out more about TruBlue Total House Care cleaning franchises.
Once you’ve determined your ideal cleaning franchise based on your location, skill set, and budget, the next step involves initiating contact with them to kickstart your franchise journey.
I’m considering Neel’s MaidThis franchise opportunity because it is available in Las Vegas and I know lots of people who work in the cleaning industry. The estimated total initial investment is comparable to many companies, they offer comprehensive training, and you’ll be one of the earliest cleaning franchise owners in your area.
That means you’ll get more personalized support than those who join later and you’ll have the ability to be on the forefront of cleaning strategies.
Don’t hesitate to explore one or more of the providers that boast more than a decade of industry experience, too.
Which pathway aligns with your preference for embarking on the journey of starting a cleaning business?
Have you ever considered starting a business with your spouse? If so, check out these fantastic business ideas tailor-made for couples!
The concept of husband and wife business ideas has been around for a long time, and the prospect of building your dream life together is undoubtedly appealing. Let's explore some great business ideas for couples!
[su_note note_color="#dbeafc"]Click a link below to skip to the idea that interests you (and your partner!) most.
There are numerous considerations when couples decide to start a small business together. You’ll want to:
You’ll also want to find ways to make sure that both partners feel fulfilled by the business. That means you should:
• Average Annual Revenue: $46K
• Average Profit Margins: 14.6%
• Startup Costs: Under $100-$200
• Time To Revenue: 1 month to 3 Years
• Annual Market Growth Rate: -1.50%
• Best for: Couples with writing, graphic design, and other content creation skills, strong marketers
A blog can be a great business venture on its own or in combination with other business ideas like a podcast, vlog, or online education business. It’s easy to get started but can take a while to build an audience and generate regular and recurring income.
One of you can write, while the other does design, or work together on everything.
Kevin Espiritu used a blog to turn his passion for gardening into a $7.3 million-a-year business. Hear his story in this podcast interview:
• Average Annual Revenue: $50K
• Average Profit Margins: 7.3%
• Startup Costs: $1K-$10K
• Time To Revenue: 1-6 months
• Annual Market Growth Rate: 0.3%
• Best for: Photographers, visual artists, people who want flexibility and passive income
A photography business can be a highly profitable business, and it is among the best couple business ideas to run from the side at home. There are tons of sites to sell stock photographs, including:
• Average Annual Revenue: $46K
• Average Profit Margins: 14.6%
• Startup Costs: $100-$200
• Time To Revenue: 1 month to 3 Years
• Annual Market Growth Rate: -1.50%
• Best for: Writers, editors, SEO and digital marketing experts
Writing content is a great business idea for couples who want to start their own business quickly out of their home. Just set up a profile on a freelance platform like Upwork or Fiverr and you can begin accepting clients in minutes.
• Average Annual Revenue: $61K+
• Average Profit Margins: 10.8%
• Startup Cost: $300-$5K
• Time To Revenue: 3+ months
• Annual Market Growth Rate: 2.4%
• Best for: Detail-oriented people with strong customer service skills, people who like physical work and don’t mind getting their hands dirty
The low investment to start a cleaning business is one thing that draws people to this niche. Demand is also strong and growing, at a rate of 6.6% each year for the last decade.
Chris Mondragon grew Queen Bee Cleaning Services to $120,000 a month in revenue from an initial investment of just $5,000. He teaches how to follow his model in his 7-Figure Cleaning Business Blueprint. You can also watch this interview with Chris to hear how he started:
[su_youtube url="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d4Iip7BHXwg"]
You can even start a remote cleaning business.
• Average Annual Revenue: $1.6M
• Average Profit Margins: 4.3%
• Startup Cost: $500-$250K
• Time To Revenue: 3+ months
• Annual Market Growth Rate: -5.6%
• Best for: Graphic designers and visual artists, marketing experts
An online store selling custom-printed items is among the best business ideas for creative entrepreneurs who want a passive income stream.
People buy customizable printables for a lot of reasons, from marketing swag and business gifts to favors for weddings and parties. All of those niches mean lots of potential customers for your eCommerce business.
[su_youtube url="https://youtu.be/BmYCYMAsQ8Y"]
• Average Annual Revenue: $239K+
• Average Profit Margins: 5.3%
• Startup Cost: $100-$1K
• Time To Revenue: 1-3 months
• Annual Market Growth Rate: 1.4%
• Best for: Web developers, programmers, graphic designers, SEO experts
Every business needs a website but not all business owners can make one. If graphic design, visual layout, or coding are among your or your partner’s interests, website design is a good business idea with a low investment up-front and a lot of growth potential.
• Average Annual Revenue: $35K-$50K
• Average Profit Margins: 10.5%
• Startup Costs: $100-$200
• Time To Revenue: 1-3 months
• Annual Market Growth Rate: 1.9%
• Best for: Highly-organized people, excellent communicators with strong time management and problem-solving skills
Virtual assistants (VA) help busy professionals take care of day-to-day tasks, like scheduling appointments, booking travel, and similar administrative things.
Being a VA is a great online business idea because it has a low investment to start and doesn’t require any special skills. The hours are usually flexible, too, making it ideal for parents looking for business opportunities they can fit around other commitments.
• Average Annual Revenue: $817K
• Average Profit Margins: 6.9%
• Startup Costs: $1.8K-$16K
• Time To Revenue: 1-6 months
• Annual Market Growth Rate: 1.3%
• Best for: Marketing experts, writers, visual artists, graphic designers, people skilled in SEO, SEM, and other digital marketing techniques
Similar to web design, creating compelling advertisements requires a unique set of skills that not all business owners have. This makes it a profitable business idea with a lot of growth potential, especially for a two-person team.
• Average Annual Revenue: $182K+
• Average Profit Margins: 4.3%
• Startup Cost: $2K-$10K
• Time To Revenue: 3+ months
• Annual Market Growth Rate: 0.5%
• Best for: People who want flexibility and passive income potential, system-driven entrepreneurs
Do you ever wonder who makes money from the vending machines in workplaces, schools, and other businesses? It could be you if you start a vending business!
Vending has a high profit potential without needing a huge time investment. UpFlip’s Vending Bootcamp teaches you how to get started step-by-step. You can also watch this interview with Hill Vending founder Adam Hill to learn how he got started:
[su_youtube url="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-s_Y-O1nosw"]
• Average Annual Revenue: $234K+
• Average Profit Margins: 5.8%
• Startup Cost: $100-$1K
• Time To Revenue: 1-3 months
• Annual Market Growth Rate: 1.1%
• Best for: Teachers and educators, people with in-demand skills and knowledge, writers and content creators
Selling online courses lets you make a living sharing your knowledge. Creating the course takes the most work. Once you’ve made online educational resources, you can run a profitable business with little time investment.
It’s also a cheap business to start. Jacques Hopkins started his online course business with a $ 150-a-month budget, and he’s grown it to more than $40,000 a month in revenue. Hear his advice in this interview:
• Average Annual Revenue: $18K+
• Average Profit Margins: 13.10%
• Startup Cost: $100-$1K
• Time To Revenue: 1-3 months
• Annual Market Growth Rate: 8.5%
• Best for: Teachers and educators, excellent communicators and motivators, experts in academic subjects or test prep
Speaking of an online education business, tutoring is another of the best business ideas for couples who are educators. You can run a completely online business with virtual tutoring sessions or set up an online portal to connect with in-person students.
There are a number of tutoring platforms where you can begin accepting clients to get your business up and running. Some of the most popular include:
• Average Annual Revenue: $1.8M+
• Average Profit Margins: 36.1%
• Startup Cost: $500-$5K
• Time To Revenue: 1-3 months
• Annual Market Growth Rate: 8.2%
• Best for: financial advisors and money experts, investors and stock traders
For business partners with a background in finance, investment management is a highly profitable business idea. The people who have investments to manage tend to be high-earners, so you can easily build a client list of people willing to pay top dollar.
Bear in mind that investment advisors need to be registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and may also need to register with their state in order to operate legally. The SEC explains how to register on its website.
• Average Annual Revenue: $364K
• Average Profit Margins: 6.4%
• Startup Costs: $1K-$3.5M
• Time To Revenue: 6-18 months
• Annual Market Growth Rate: 2.2%
• Best for: Creative problem solvers, excellent communicators and motivators, experts in in-demand areas like marketing, human resources, and leadership
Entrepreneurs will pay top dollar for business development advice that helps them grow revenue, become better leaders, master their digital marketing, or hone other necessary skills. A couple with that expertise can make excellent business partners for a consultancy business.
The key to success is finding the right niche market. For example, Ryan Gromfin turned his experience managing five-star restaurants into a $ 35,000-a-month restaurant consulting business. Hear his advice here:
• Average Annual Revenue: $63K+
• Average Profit Margins: 10.5%
• Startup Costs: $500-$5K
• Time To Revenue: 1-3 months
• Annual Market Growth Rate: 1.5%
• Best for: Empathetic entrepreneurs, active listeners and great communicators, people with strong organization, time management, and creative problem-solving skills
Coaching can be a very profitable business to start with a business partner because you can accelerate your growth and build your client list twice as fast. You can be a coach in any area where you’re an expert, from personal organization to parenting to being a landscape and gardening consultant.
• Average Annual Revenue: $817K
• Average Profit Margins: 6.9%
• Startup Costs: $100-$10K
• Time To Revenue: 1-6 months
• Annual Market Growth Rate: 1.3%
• Best for: social media experts, designers and content creators, data analysts, people with SEM, SEO, and similar digital marketing skills
A digital marketing agency is one of the top business ideas for couples who want high-profit potential as well as schedule flexibility. Most businesses today need an online presence, and that puts digital marketing skills in high demand.
The digital marketing firm Socialistics has grown to $500,000 a year in revenue by attracting big-name clients like the Air Force and Habitat for Humanity. Find out how they got started in this interview:
[su_youtube url="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kb1czTEK8f8"]
• Average Annual Revenue: $712K
• Average Profit Margins: 14.6%
• Startup Costs: $100-$200
• Time To Revenue: 1 month to 3 years
• Annual Market Growth Rate: -1.5%
• Best for: Writers and editors, strong online marketers, couples seeking a passive income stream
Selling e-books is a very flexible business. You create the books on your own schedule then list them in an online store, which you can manage any time and from anywhere.
The tricky part about starting an e-book business is that there are a lot of them out there, so you’ll need strategies to get customer attention in a crowded market. It can help to focus on a niche market, or if you have other ways to build an audience, like through a podcast, YouTube channel, or large social media following.
• Average Annual Revenue: $147K
• Average Profit Margins: 3.2%
• Startup Costs: $1K-$200K
• Time To Revenue: 30-90 days
• Annual Market Growth Rate: 3.3%
• Best for: Artists and graphic designers, strong marketers and networkers
One particularly popular custom printables niche is a print-on-demand t-shirt business. This is among the best business ideas for couples who are creative and need flexibility.
Artem Ionitsa makes $2,000,000 a year with his Logo Unlimited that prints clothing for major businesses. Find out how he started and grew his business in this interview:
[su_youtube url="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CJRWc1ZPCpQ"]
• Average Annual Revenue: $60K-$120K
• Average Profit Margins: 5-15%
• Startup Costs: $100-$1K
• Time To Revenue: 30-90 days
• Annual Market Growth Rate: -9.3%
• Best for: Makers, designers, and crafters, artists and creators, fashion and shopping lovers
You can sell just about anything with an eCommerce business. Vlad Kuksenko started TagPup with a low investment of just $500 and in two years made more than $1 million in sales. Hear how he became the #1 pet products store on Etsy in this interview:
[su_youtube url="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7dqHBHA4AmU"]
• Average Annual Revenue: $239K
• Average Profit Margins: 5.30%
• Startup Costs: $100-$1K
• Time To Revenue: 1-3 months
• Annual Market Growth Rate: 1.40%
• Best for: Web designers and developers, experts in SEO, web traffic, data analysis, or automation
Domain flipping is like a digital version of a real estate business. You purchase a website at a low price, then improve its design, functionality, and search rankings to increase its value and sell it for a profit.
After starting OneHourProfessor.com in 2014, Ron Stefanski has built a portfolio of websites that bring in $30,000 a month in revenue on average. Hear his advice on how to start a website business in this interview:
• Average Annual Revenue: $4M+
• Average Profit Margins: 27.1%
• Startup Costs: $500-$5K
• Time To Revenue: 1-3 months
• Annual Market Growth Rate: 6.4%
• Best for: Entertainers, skilled communicators, teachers, presenters, and content creators
Podcasting was an $18.5 billion industry in 2022, and it’s expected to grow another 27.6% by 2030. Like a blog, podcasting can be a successful business idea on its own or in tandem with other online educational resources.
Building an audience is the most challenging part of starting a podcast. Listen to this interview to learn how Entrepreneurs on Fire became one of the top business podcasts with more than 142 million listeners:
• Average Annual Revenue: $5.7M+
• Average Profit Margins: 2.9%
• Startup Costs: $100K-$3.5M
• Time To Revenue: 6-18 months
• Annual Market Growth Rate: 1.9%
• Best for: Construction pros, couples who like physical work
Many people don’t know how to dispose of large junk like appliances and construction trash—and they don’t want to deal with it even if they do. That’s what makes junk removal a $10 billion-a-year industry and a profitable, unique business idea for couples.
• Average Annual Revenue: $34K+
• Average Profit Margins: 16%
• Startup Costs: $500-$5K
• Time To Revenue: 3+ months
• Annual Market Growth Rate: 1.7%
• Best for: Pet owners, animal lovers, people with high physical stamina who like working outdoors
Nearly 20% of American households adopted a dog during the pandemic. Now that people are being called back to the office, dog walkers are in increasingly high demand.
That demand has driven up prices. In large markets like New York, dog walkers can charge $600 or more a month per client. This gives it potential to be a highly profitable business even as a part-time venture.
Starting with a partner makes it where you can walk twice as many dogs.
• Average Annual Revenue: $124K+
• Average Profit Margins: 5.5%
• Startup Costs: $1K-$100K
• Time To Revenue: 6-18 months
• Annual Market Growth Rate: 1.0%
• Best for: Cooks, bakers, and foodies with strong customer service and time management skills
One drawback to most food industry businesses is the high startup cost. Starting your own catering business is one way around this issue. You can rent a commercial kitchen when you need it instead of buying your own equipment, and that means a much lower up-front investment.
A catering company also gives you more scheduling flexibility than a restaurant. You can book events only during the times you’re available, and how much work you take on is completely in your court, too.
• Average Annual Revenue: $16K+
• Average Profit Margins: 10.9%
• Startup Costs: $500-$5K
• Time To Revenue: 1-6 months
• Annual Market Growth Rate: 0.6%
• Best for: Health and fitness experts, great motivators with strong communication skills and empathy
A personal trainer helps their clients meet their fitness goals, and you don’t need your own gym to open a fitness business. You could offer sessions from your home, at clients’ homes, or partner with a local athletics and fitness association to use their facilities.
There are also affordable opportunities to become a franchise business partner as a personal trainer or fitness business. Jazzercise franchises start at $2,500, for example, and Anytime Fitness franchises have a similarly low investment.
• Average Annual Revenue: $73K+
• Average Profit Margins: 16.1%
• Startup Cost: $500-$5K
• Time To Revenue: 3+ months
• Annual Market Growth Rate: 1.0%
• Best for: Car lovers, detail-oriented entrepreneurs who like working with their hands
More than 91% of households in the United States own a car, and about 22% own three or more. This makes businesses related to car maintenance a smart move.
A mobile business is often a better side hustle than a brick-and-mortar, with both a lower upfront cost and more schedule flexibility. Seattle Mobile Detailing was started by business partners with just $300 and now grosses $40,000 a month. Learn how they got started in this interview:
[su_youtube url="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rk4L1O2b84Q"]
• Average Annual Revenue: $262K+
• Average Profit Margins: 5.4%
• Startup Costs: $100K-$3.5M
• Time To Revenue: 6-18 months
• Annual Market Growth Rate: 2.8%
• Best for: Gardeners and plant experts, people who love working outside
You don’t need a huge plot of land to start a flower or herb farm. A rose, sunflower, or lavender farming business are outstanding couple business ideas for those with unused yard space and green thumbs.
• Average Annual Revenue: $46K
• Average Profit Margins: 5.8%
• Startup Cost: $500-$5K
• Time To Revenue: 1-3 months
• Annual Market Growth Rate: 1.1%
• Best for: Human resources professionals, writers and editors, people with recruiting or hiring experience
A well-written resume is key to a successful job search, and a strong LinkedIn profile can be just as important. It’s typical to charge $200-$400 for a mid-career resume, while executive resumes command prices of $700 or more.
That’s not bad for a one-to-two-page document and makes a very lucrative part-time business for a couple with career expertise.
• Average Annual Revenue: $37K+
• Average Profit Margins: 1.9%
• Startup Cost: $100-$1K
• Time To Revenue: 3+ months
• Annual Market Growth Rate: 10.5%
• Best for: Strong communicators, people who are patient, organized, and empathetic with a sharp eye for detail and good decision-making skills
As a personal shopper, you get clients the things they need—even when they’re not quite sure what those are. The guidance personal shoppers give is what differentiates them from a virtual assistant or delivery service and makes it a more profitable business.
• Average Annual Revenue: $204K+
• Average Profit Margins: 5.4%
• Startup Costs: $500-$5K
• Time To Revenue: 3+ months
• Annual Market Growth Rate: 0.7%
• Best for: Contractors and skilled trade workers, people who like working with their hands and have good communication and customer service skills
Every homeowner needs repairs now and then, and they don’t always have the time or skills to make them. This is a great business idea for a two-person team because you can do more work faster, making for happy customers and higher profits.
It doesn’t take much to start a handyperson business. Find out how Caleb Ingraham started his $ 25,000-a-month business in this interview:
[su_youtube url="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=leUta_q_MPQ"]
• Average Annual Revenue: $76K+
• Average Profit Margins: 7.2%
• Startup Costs: $1K-$100K
• Time To Revenue: 6-18 months
• Annual Market Growth Rate: -2%
• Best for: Construction and home repair professionals, painters and designers, people who like physical work, detail-oriented and process-driven entrepreneurs
Painting and wallpapering are among the best business ideas for couples who want to stay active and make money together. The mess and labor involved in painting houses is why many customers pay for a service.
It takes a surprisingly low investment to start a house painting business. Joshua Douglass only invested about $6,000 to start A Painter’s Touch, and today it makes around $25,000 a month. Hear his story in this interview:
• Average Annual Revenue: $34K+
• Average Profit Margins: 12.2%
• Startup Costs: $500-$5K
• Time To Revenue: 3+ months
• Annual Market Growth Rate: 1%
• Best for: Organized and outgoing people with strong creative problem-solving, time management, and customer service skills
A wedding planning business is the best-known niche in event planning, but that’s far from the only option. From family reunions and celebrations to corporate events, there are a lot of ways to profit from your party planning skills.
• Average Annual Revenue: $76K+
• Average Profit Margins: 7.20%
• Startup Costs: $1K-$100K
• Time To Revenue: 6-18 months
• Annual Market Growth Rate: -2.00%
• Best for: Painters and visual artists, designers, creative people who like physical work
An eye-catching mural can be a great draw for customers to a business, or bring a unique touch to a home. Mural artists typically charge $10-$20 per square foot, which can put this among the most profitable business ideas for a creative side hustle.
With the right equipment, you don’t need to be an artist to make money from murals. Paul Baron started a business in vertical printing with The Wall Printer. Find out more in his podcast interview.
• Average Annual Revenue: $42K to $208K
• Average Profit Margins: 6.9%
• Startup Costs: $1.8K-$16K
• Time To Revenue: 1-6 months
• Annual Market Growth Rate: 1.3%
• Best for: Social media experts, photographers and graphic designers, organized and creative entrepreneurs
Pinterest is a popular platform for anyone running a food business, clothing shop, or cosmetic line as well as others who have visually compelling products to sell. The average Pinterest Virtual Assistant makes about $500 a month per client or up to $100 per hour, but you can certainly make more than that as a skilled Pinterest manager.
One of you can find clients while the other one manages the Pinterest accounts.
• Average Annual Revenue: $60K to $120K
• Average Profit Margins: 5-15%
• Startup Costs: $100-$10K
• Time To Revenue: 30-90 days
• Annual Market Growth Rate: 16.5%
• Best for: Data experts, people tuned in to trends, strong marketers and salespeople, people with specialized product niche expertise
A subscription business is a fantastic business model because you earn regular and recurring income by default.
Any type of consumable product can be part of a subscription box, from healthy snacks to on-trend clothes, shoes, or makeup. Whatever your or your partner’s interests, you can start a successful business curating monthly goodie boxes for other fans of that niche.
• Average Annual Revenue: $995K+
• Average Profit Margins: 6.6%
• Startup Cost: $500-$5K
• Time To Revenue: 1-3 months
• Annual Market Growth Rate: 3.5%
• Best for: Friendly, outgoing couples with excellent communication skills, actors and performers, people with niche knowledge about their local area
This is a fantastic business idea for couples who are active in their local community or have unique expertise in the history, culture, wildlife, or other aspects of their region.
You could give general tours or niche down. If you’re plugged into the local food scene, for instance, you can market to tourists and food lovers who flock to food truck tours and brewery crawls.
• Average Annual Revenue: $995K+
• Average Profit Margins: 6.6%
• Startup Cost: $500-$5K
• Time To Revenue: 1-3 months
• Annual Market Growth Rate: 3.5%
• Best for: Adventurous and outgoing entrepreneurs with strong marketing and communication skills
People love experiencing new things, and you can offer that as business partners in the adventure tourism niche.
Jonathan Newar started Captain Experiences in 2020 to do just that and has already grown the business to $100,000 a month in revenue. Hear his story in this interview:
• Average Annual Revenue: $11.5M+
• Average Profit Margins: 5.7%
• Startup Costs: $500-$250K
• Time To Revenue: 3+ months
• Annual Market Growth Rate: 1.2%
• Best for: Makeup artists, stylists, and other fashion and beauty experts with strong sales and creative problem-solving skills
Cosmetics is the third-largest segment of the U.S. beauty industry, projected to bring in $20.13 billion in revenue in 2024. Natural and chemical-free products are a growing niche within this sector and can be very profitable as either a brick-and-mortar store or eCommerce business.
• Average Annual Revenue: $41K+
• Average Profit Margins: 6.4%
• Startup Cost: $1K-$100K
• Time To Revenue: 3+ months
• Annual Market Growth Rate: 1.2%
• Best for: Cooks, chefs, and other restaurant industry pros with strong time management and organization skills
Meal delivery services spiked in popularity during the pandemic and that trend shows no signs of reversing. You can offer meal delivery services as a subscription business for recurring revenue, too, or home in on a niche like office food delivery.
• Average Annual Revenue: $31K
• Average Profit Margins: 3.6%
• Startup Cost: $100-$9.5K
• Time To Revenue: 3+ months
• Annual Market Growth Rate: 6.7%
• Best for: Organized and system-focused entrepreneurs with strong sales, marketing, and customer service skills
If you like the idea of a meal delivery service business but aren’t much of a cook, you can start your own business delivering groceries or food from other restaurants. While these services are in demand, you will be competing with heavy hitters like Uber Eats and DoorDash, which is the main challenge of getting started.
Adam Haber started Trellus Local Delivery to help small businesses. While Trellus delivers more than just food, you can follow a similar model for meal delivery services. Hear his story in this interview:
• Average Annual Revenue: $168K+
• Average Profit Margins: 10.6%
• Startup Costs: $1K-$100K
• Time To Revenue: 1-3 months
• Annual Market Growth Rate: 1.2%
• Best for: Designers and artists who are excellent communicators, networkers, and salespeople
If you’re looking for business ideas for couples with a low investment, service-based niches like a design business can be a perfect fit.
Building a client base is often the hardest part of getting started. One option is to provide free services in exchange for referrals or reviews and to establish portfolio of past work to show potential customers.
• Average Annual Revenue: $168K+
• Average Profit Margins: 10.6%
• Startup Cost: $1K-$100K
• Time To Revenue: 1-3 months
• Annual Market Growth Rate: 1.2%
• Best for: Organized, system-driven, and empathetic entrepreneurs who are good communicators and motivators
Another low-investment service business, professional organizing services work with clients to bring order to the chaos of life. This can range from decluttering a home to helping busy professionals organize their workspaces, and it’s among the top business ideas for couples who thrive on systems and order.
• Average Annual Revenue: $44K
• Average Profit Margins: 7.30%
• Startup Cost: $5K-$15K
• Time To Revenue: 3+ months
• Annual Market Growth Rate: 0.3%
• Best for: Artists, photographers, and creative couples
A photography business in the travel niche lets you take your business on the road wherever you want to go. You can sell your images as prints in an online store, sell them as stock photos, or work with clients like news sources and travel guides.
• Average Annual Revenue: $75K-$200K
• Average Profit Margins: 12.4%
• Startup Cost: $100-$200
• Time To Revenue: 1-3 months
• Annual Market Growth Rate: 1.2%
• Best for: People who speak multiple languages, excellent communicators with strong problem-solving skills
While AI-driven translation apps are functional for travelers, there is still a high need for professional translators in the global economy. The most in-demand languages include Spanish, German, Russian, and Mandarin (and bonus points if you speak three or more).
• Average Annual Revenue: $60K-$120K
• Average Profit Margins: 5-15%
• Startup Costs: $100-$10K
• Time To Revenue: 30-90 days
• Annual Market Growth Rate: -9.3%
• Best for: Artisans, crafters, and artists with strong sales, marketing, and customer service skills
There are lots of ways to start a handcrafted soap, artisanal candle, or handmade jewelry business. While it’s fastest to start as an eCommerce business, you can supplement those sales with a festival or farmers market stall, or even get your own storefront as the business grows.
Check out this interview with Blk Sunflower to learn how Jazmin Richards made $300,000 in 18 months selling handmade candles:
[su_youtube url="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UzZ5aTbiLh0"]
• Average Annual Revenue: $865K+ (Starbucks makes this number sky high)
• Average Profit Margins: 5.8%
• Startup Costs: $1K-$100K
• Time To Revenue: 3+ months
• Annual Market Growth Rate: 1.2%
• Best for: Baristas and coffee experts who excel at customer service
A coffee shop provides more than a caffeine fix. It’s also a gathering place for the community, making it a great business idea for couples who love meeting and talking to new people (and, of course, love coffee).
Starting a coffee shop can require a big startup investment. One way to get into the coffee industry for a lower price is with a coffee stand. You can expand that into a sit-down coffee shop as the business grows. Learn how Sandy Edin started a $24,000-a-month coffee stand in this interview:
[su_youtube url="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HvQt2wbj7DE"]
• Average Annual Revenue: $143K+
• Average Profit Margins: 0.9%
• Startup Costs: $0-$1K
• Time To Revenue: 1-3 months
• Annual Market Growth Rate: 51.7%
• Best for: Parents, babysitters, people who love kids and are outgoing, patient, and good multi-taskers
A childcare business is among the best business ideas for couples who are parents themselves. You already have the skills to take care of kids—and this is one way to make a profit from them!
That’s what led Kristy Bickmeyer to start Twinkle Toes Nanny Agency, and she’s now grown it to 20 locations across five states. Hear how she got started here:
• Average Annual Revenue: $1.95M
• Average Profit Margins: 5.4%
• Startup Costs: $100-$3M
• Time To Revenue: 1-6 months
• Annual Market Growth Rate: 1.1%
• Best for: Cooks, chefs, bakers, or foodies with customer service, leadership, and marketing skills
Bakeries are among the most popular types of food retail business—who doesn’t love tasty cookies, cakes, and pastries?
While bakeries often have a high startup cost, they don’t have to. One option is to start as a bakery catering business, then expand into a storefront as the business grows. That’s how Mignon Francois turned $5 into a $10 million cupcake business. Hear her story in this interview:
[su_youtube url="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jmviDvmh5js"]
• Average Annual Revenue: $285K+
• Average Profit Margins: 6.8%
• Startup Costs: $100K-$3.5M
• Time To Revenue: 6-18 months
• Annual Market Growth Rate: 2.0%
• Best for: Mechanics and vehicle repair pros with excellent sales, marketing, and customer service skills
Vehicle rental services are fantastic couples business ideas for people with a passion for cars, boats, or bikes. While it helps to have some repair or maintenance skills, all you really need to get started is an inventory of vehicles and a way to connect with customers.
Legends Car Rentals makes $175,000 a month, so you can definitely make a lot of profit in this niche. Hear how they started in this interview:
[su_youtube url="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W_01eckETe0"]
• Average Annual Revenue: $73K+
• Average Profit Margins: 11.5%
• Startup Costs: $1K-$100K
• Time To Revenue: 3+ months
• Annual Market Growth Rate: 1.1%
• Best for: Animal lovers and owners, patient and personable entrepreneurs with strong customer service skills
Busy professionals and families sometimes need a hand watching their pets. You can solve that problem by opening a kennel or doggy daycare. If you love the idea of spending your days caring for dogs, this could be the perfect business for you!
• Average Annual Revenue: $41K+
• Average Profit Margins: 6.4%
• Startup Cost: $1K-$100K
• Time To Revenue: 3+ months
• Annual Market Growth Rate: 1.2
• Best for: Cooks and food industry professionals who are excellent at marketing and customer service
It takes a lot to keep an entire restaurant afloat. The comparatively low investment and greater schedule flexibility are why food trucks are a popular alternative.
The food truck industry is crowded in some markets, which can make it challenging to attract customers. Learn how Aybla Grill started and grew their food truck business in this interview:
[su_youtube url="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qi_RBWualJ8"]
• Average Annual Revenue: $206K+
• Average Profit Margins: 13.9%
• Startup Costs: $500-$5K
• Time To Revenue: 1-3 months
• Annual Market Growth Rate: 1.6%
• Best for: Accounting, math, and business professionals, detail-oriented entrepreneurs
While you need to be licensed to operate as a CPA, you don’t need that credential to start a bookkeeping service. For math and accounting pros, this is a solid business idea with a low investment to start. That said, this is another area you may need to provide free services to build a reputation and client trust.
• Average Annual Revenue: $372K+
• Average Profit Margins: 10.1%
• Startup Cost: $100K-$3.5M
• Time To Revenue: 6-18 months
• Annual Market Growth Rate: 1.3%
• Best for: Real estate and construction professionals who are organized and strong customer service skills
A property management business is among the best low-investment business opportunities in real estate.
One niche market with especially high demand is Airbnb management. NICASA makes $3 million a year as an Airbnb business, and a lot of that comes from managing other people’s properties. Hear founders Sid and Eva’s advice and story in this interview:
[su_youtube url="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6m-MosXlpOE"]
• Average Annual Revenue: $60K-$120K
• Average Profit Margins: 5-15%
• Startup Costs: $100-$10K
• Time To Revenue: 30-90 days
• Annual Market Growth Rate: -9.3%
• Best for: Fashion and style experts who are excellent negotiators and communicators
Starting a consignment shop lets you open a retail business without worrying about providing your own inventory. Instead, you earn a commission selling other people’s products, saving you lots of hassle, cost, and risk.
Clothing and art are among the most popular niches for consignment, but you can start this kind of business with any type of products.
• Average Annual Revenue: $114K+
• Average Profit Margins: 10.3%
• Startup Costs: $500-$250K
• Time To Revenue: 3+ months
• Annual Market Growth Rate: 2.0%
• Best for: Designers, artists, and fashion experts with strong marketing and customer service skills
If you’d rather make and sell your own clothes, a boutique retail business could be your perfect fit. Learn how Urbanity grew to $102,000 in monthly revenue in this interview:
[su_youtube url="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_wUc28d8KkE"]
• Average Annual Revenue: $35K-$50K
• Average Profit Margins: 10.5%
• Startup Costs: $100-$200
• Time To Revenue: 1-3 months
• Annual Market Growth Rate: 1.9%
• Best for: Tech-savvy couples who are patient and have excellent communication skills
Sometimes, it’s not the device that needs to be repaired—it’s the user who needs help using it. Online businesses in IT support are especially great for business partners since it doubles how many customers you can help (and people who need IT support are likely internet users already).
• Average Annual Revenue: $60K-$120K
• Average Profit Margins: 5-15%
• Startup Cost: $100-$10K
• Time To Revenue: 30-90 days
• Annual Market Growth Rate: -9.3%
• Best for: Shoppers, thrifters, and antiquers who are good marketers, negotiators, and salespeople
An eCommerce business as a reseller is among the easiest online businesses to start. If you’re strapped for cash, you can even take your initial inventory from things you already own.
Mike Wilson started with about $1,000 in inventory and has grown to a revenue of $30,000 a month selling on eBay. Hear his story here:
• Average Annual Revenue: $560K+
• Average Profit Margins: 5.7%
• Startup Costs: $500-$5K
• Time To Revenue: 1-3 months
• Annual Market Growth Rate: 1.4%
• Best for: Tech and repair professionals with a sharp eye for details
Electronics repair is among the most profitable business ideas for couples who are tech-savvy. You can get started for cheap, too. Joe’s Electronics Repair is a seven-figure business that was started with just $45. Find out how in this interview:
[su_youtube url="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rqce8NAZWYw"]
• Average Annual Revenue: $262K+
• Average Profit Margins: 5.4%
• Startup Costs: $100K-$3.5M
• Time To Revenue: 6-18 months
• Annual Market Growth Rate: 2.8%
• Best for: Designers, artists, and creative people with a green thumb and excellent customer service
Flowers are a go-to gift for just about any situation. If you don’t want the costs of a brick-and-mortar, you can open a business stand, sell at a local farmers market, or open an online store.
Stemistry started online and grew into a brick-and-mortar—and the owner’s still a teenager! Find out how it started in this interview:
• Average Annual Revenue: $268K+
• Average Profit Margins: 6.1%
• Startup Costs: $1K-$100K
• Time To Revenue: 1-3 months
• Annual Market Growth Rate: -0.8%
• Best for: Mechanics and repair pros, car experts who are good communicators
People rely on their cars and they’re keeping their cars longer, too. That means more demand for businesses related to car maintenance and repair.
A repair shop will need a fairly high investment. Lucky’s Auto Repair cost about $20,000 to start. Find out how they grew that investment into a lucrative business in this interview:
[su_youtube url="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=chhmCdYt0iQ"]
There are plenty of small businesses to start as a couple. Consider both of your skills and interest and choose the one that works for you. Which will you start?
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