Forget Uber and Facebook you could launch a startup with zero coding skills and under $100.
You just need to get a little sweaty.
Think sweaty startups, like lawn care, home painting and window cleaning.
Want to learn more about LLCs? Here’sour guide.
These low-cost, low-risk, local service businesses may not be glamorous, but they sure can be lucrative.
Brian OKelly startedABCleaningwith nothing but a commercial window cleaning kit stuffed in the trunk of his car.
Ive always been a self-starter, he said.
In his first month, he made just over $10,000 in revenue.
In his second month, he made nearly $10,000 in a week.
No Interest Til Almost 2027?
Balance Transfer = Credit Card Cheat Code
Window Cleaning
Bucket, squeegee, extension pole and rags.
With that simple list of equipment, you could become a self-employed window washer.
(Dont have an extension pole lying around?
A starter kit will run you just over$75.)
How much you should charge depends on the job.
OKelly charges homeowners $10 per window for an exterior wash.
Extra charges apply for screens ($50) and second stories ($50 to $100).
That adds up to a pretty penny: $250 for a typical home.
Plan for lulls on rainy days.
All it’s crucial that you start adog waste removal businessis a poop-scooper and some bags.
With that $20 investment, you could earn $40 an hour.
Warning: not all dogs are friendly!
Keep your guard up around unfamiliar pets.
Maybe that someone should be you.
Gutter Cleaning
Some people find it satisfying.
Others find it disgusting.
Clearing gutters is one of those home maintenance tasks many people are all too happy to outsource.
you’re able to expect to earn $115-225 for a standard gutter cleaning.
There is more than one way to clean gutters.
Blowing, vacuuming and simply scooping the gunk out are all valid options.
At minimum, you will need a ladder, gloves and trash bags.
The national average price for home painting is$1.50-$4per square foot for the interior.
Thats $3,000-$8,000 for a 2,000-square-foot job.
For the exterior, that cost jumps to $3-$7 per square foot.
Bear in mind, you would need a week, a helper or both!
Pressure Washing
Gamers spend hours pretending to clean mildewed sidewalks inPowerWash Simulator.
Why not get paid to do it in real life?
But ensure to adjust your estimate according to the jobs difficulty and cost-of-living in your area.
The biggest barrier to entry is, of course, the pressure washer.
(Or power washer, which uses heated water.)
A basic pressure washer is under $100, but a commercial model is more like under $1,000.
Considerrenting, to start with.
A word of caution: Its surprisingly easy to do serious property damage with a pressure washer.
Be sure to read up on propertechnique.
Protecting Your Sweaty Startup, And Yourself
So youve decided to create a sweaty startup.
It legitimizes your business in more ways than one.
Another way to protect your sweaty startup is to buy liability insurance.
General liability insurance can help protect your business against claims like property damage and bodily injury.
Dont know where to start?
Heresour sister sites roundupof the 10 best general liability insurance companies for small business.
Growing Your Sweaty Startup
Your sweaty side hustle does not have to stay that way.
You could have a booked and busy business sooner than you think.
There is no need to mastermind a social media marketing strategy.
Good old-fashioned door-to-door sales works just fine.
To really sell it, mention a neighbor who has already hired you.
Like, Hey, do you know Peter up the street?
He gave us a five-star review.
That script has helped earn OKelly thousands of dollars in business.
If people are getting a little too excited when they hear your quote, double check your prices.
They might be too low.
Just dont spend so much time researching that you forget to start your business.
Like Nike says: Just do it.
Contributor Ciara McLaren is a freelance writer with work in HuffPost, Insider, and The Penny Hoarder.
you might find her on Substack (@camclaren).
Probably not as good as youd like.
It always seems like an uphill battle to build (and keep) a decent amount in savings.
But what if your car breaks down, or you have a sudden medical bill?
Ask one of these companies to help…
