Whether you want to make a little extra money on the side to pay the bills or start a full-fledged business, the key to your new money-making venture may be sitting in the driveway. If you have a car or van, you could start a new business. The best part is that it can be started on a shoestring budget. The only question for many is what is worth the time and effort. Here are 5 transportation-based businesses you could start immediately.
A Delivery Business
If you have a van you could start a delivery business carrying appliances or furniture. Vans let you carry far more items than a car, and you can carry larger, heavier items than a car owner as well.
You’ll get more customers if you can offer a same-day delivery service from major retail stores. If you can deliver items as soon as they’ve been purchased, you’ll get customers even if your price is higher than what the store charges for delivery. It would also be wise to specialise in transporting a specific item. This will allow you to charge more for your expertise in handling a given product.
You’ll need to make sure you have the right insurance, of course, but that’s easily done through a price comparison site like Quotezone.
Van Rental
If you have a van but not the time to do much with it, you could make money renting it out. The benefit of this approach is that there is little work on your part. The biggest issue is the risk you’re taking.
It would be a good idea to put a tracking device in the vehicle so that you can locate it if the customer doesn’t return it. You’ll also want to have liability insurance in place and verify that your customers have the right insurance before they rent your vehicle.
Another option could be to work as a driver, but, if you don’t want to carry people, you could simply be paid to carry their gear. You could be paid to take equipment for musicians or promotions companies. You can earn even more from the job if you do the setting up and dismantling.
Removals
If you are willing and able to do a lot of heavy lifting, you could turn your van into a moving van. You could load their furniture into your van, take it to the new address, and unload it. People are always moving, and almost no one owns a van or truck large enough to let them move their stuff. Just know that you’ll need at least one other person to help you safely move furniture.
Waste Hauling
While there are always local businesses that need waste disposed of, this will require registering for a waste carrier’s licence. Once you have that, you can start calling local businesses and offering your services. You’ll generally win the job if your price is lower than what they’re currently paying. This also goes for recycling. You can pick up unwanted items from various private individuals and then take it to the tip or a recycling service, depending on what’s appropriate for that type of item.
You might supplement this income by picking up scrap metal and selling it to recyclers. In some cases, you can offer to pick it up. Customers will often let you take it off their hands for free. The challenge is sorting the good from the bad because not all metals are worth the effort. Note that you’re required to have a scrap metal dealer licence if you’re going to do this.
Towing Service
Vans can make great vehicles for breakdown and recovery or towing services. The only questions to ask yourself are if the van has a tow bar and whether you’re comfortable towing a trailer. Then you could be paid to tow boats and other large objects. You could even be paid by caravan dealerships to deliver vehicles to their new customers. This work is more predictable than waiting for calls from people stuck on the side of the road.
The transport business is a rapidly growing industry that you can enter with just a van and a business plan. However, you’ll need the right licences, permits, and coverage to make it work.
