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There are lots of online business ideas for today’s Gig economy, but what if you don’t want to work online and want your own small business?
The Gig economy is not just on the internet, although it is a big part of it. There are unique business ideas for entrepreneurs who want to move around to offer mobile services.
People want convenience and time saving ideas so they can spend more time with family or pursue their hobbies.
Others are home-bound individuals who need businesses on wheels to come to them.
The opportunity for entrepreneurs is to create unique mobile businesses to meet these customers needs.
These unique businesses, they can also be side hustles, provide services directly to the clients’ home and at or near their work place.
If you have what it takes to open a unique mobile business, here are some ideas and some things to consider.
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Before you jump in a business on wheels, there are a few things you want to do.
- Plan your business on wheels or mobile business. Name. Customer base. Potential revenue estimates. Cost to start and to operate.
- Create a legal entity. Sole proprietor, corporation, LLC.
- Get a Tax ID.
- Open a business bank account.
- Obtain required licenses.
- Get insurance if required.
- Create a business website.
- Get training.
- Get your business cards.
- Always be on time to your clients.
- Get a scheduler app.
- Advertise in local newspapers, Craiglist, FB groups, popular apps.
Unique Mobile Business Ideas to Make Money
Mobile Auto Detailing Business (mobile car wash)
I have used a local mobile car wash to clean my car. I have’ve done it out of convenience a few times and I’m very happy with having this option.
The owner calls me to confirm the car wash appointment and to remind me to have water and electricity ready, a day early.
This business on wheels is basically a car wash and auto detailing that travel to your house to clean your car. If you’re physically fit and know how to clean a car inside and outside, this is a mobile business you can do.
My mobile auto detailer seems to be doing well with his business. He even offers discounts if you sign up for a monthly plan.
Mobile Kids Birthday Parties
Some people want to throw their kids birthday parties at home. They want to give the kids a unique experience for their birthdays.
As a mobile kids birthday parties entertainer, you can do various activities. Costumed characters, balloons twisters, face painters, art and crafts are some of the fun things to bring to a mobile kids birthday party.
Unique Small Business – Mobile Pets Grooming Service
People love their pets. The pets grooming industry size is a whopping $9 billion in 2020. That’s a lot of pets and a lot of grooming.
You need equipment and supplies to run a mobile pet grooming business. Find customers and make appointments to come to their homes.
Some of the places to find customers for this business are; FB Groups, Craiglist and local newspapers. Seniors and home-bound individuals seem to need a mobile pet grooming service the most.
What kind of name to use for your pet grooming on wheel? This will be one of the most fun part of setting up your business.
Unique Small Business – Mobile Notary Public
No kidding. This is a real business. Public notaries who travel to your house or business to sign documents and contracts.
Things to look into before setting up a mobile notary public business are the legal requirements. You will need to be a licensed notary public. Do you need to be bonded or insured? Background checked?
You may think notary public service is inexpensive, however as a mobile notary public you can charge for the trip itself (convenience) on top of the per page cost of a notary signature.
Some notaries take their mobile business a step further by offering Signing Agent service. This allows them to do mortgage closings (in some places). A couple of closings a month can generate decent revenue.
Mobile Clothing Boutique (Pop up clothing store)
Yeap, this is another unique mobile business you can do on the side or full-time.
Who would go shopping to a mobile boutique, you may ask?
This will depend on the geographic area you live in and the competition in town. Not every town has super malls and some people like to see what they’re buying.
You won’t necessarily have to go to the customers home with your clothing boutique. If you have a website, you can post the days, places and times your clothing van can be found.
Mobile Nail Salon
This business on wheels bring salon services to the customers home. You’ll need a license in most places, plus supplies and equipment.
Along the beauty line of business, you can offer hair and makeup services, if you know how to do this.
Food Truck (Coffee Shop)
These are popular. You probably have seen them in town, specially in the business district or other busy areas.
You’ll need a truck, a menu and local food licenses.
Unique Small Business – Ghost Kitchens
Ghost kitchens are part of the food trend in densely populated areas.
You can rent a small kitchen from Kitchen United or Cloud Kitchen to cook the food. The food is delivered at the customers home or work place.
This arrangement saves you money in rent normally paid in traditional restaurants.
Tutoring Business
Tutors who can go to the clients’ homes are very popular. If you are very good in math, English language, science or a foreign language, a tutoring business may be for you.
Also, preparing kids for standard tests is big business. If you can tutor in the main academic subjects and in the standard tests you can have a niche in this growing education field.
Mobile Van Advertising
You’ve seen the vans or cars with signs all over it. I’ve seen mobile advertising on the highway, in the mall and on my local street.
You’ll need a van or a car. Mobile vans allows a business to advertise on wheels and reach a large audience in multiple locations.
Mobile Event Planner
Weddings, corporate events and other large celebrations require planning for costs and logistics.
A skillful event planner makes things much easier. If you have the skills and want to do event planning for business, being mobile is a big plus.
Online Business Services
This is not a mobile service exactly. However, online businesses deliver their services straight to the clients.
Services you can provide online include; blog writing, freelance article writing, bookkeeping, virtual assistants services etc.
11 Unique Small Businesses
- Mobile auto detailing
- Mobile kids birthday party
- Pet Grooming
- Notary Public
- Pop up clothing store
- Mobile nail salon
- Food truck
- At home tutoring
- Van advertising
- Event planning
- Online business services
Final thoughts
Mobile businesses are mainly services you can provide for the customers convenience at or near their home.
Having a mobile business, instead of a fixed physical space can save you in rent money.
All businesses need some type of licenses or permits to operate, so it’s important to look into these before jumping in.
Mobile businesses are small businesses. So, you’ll need to market yourself, find references and find inventory if you’re reselling something.
For marketing, many of these small pop up businesses are getting their names into popular apps. This makes it easier to be found.
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