1. Driver or chauffeur
The demand for chauffeurs who can drive people to and from their destinations has increased as fewer people own cars (primarily because of the expense and hassle). Because of this and the proliferation of ride-hailing apps like Uber and Lyft, the need for chauffeurs and drivers is greater than it has ever been.
You’ll need at least one extremely fuel-efficient car (like a Toyota Prius) and to have some experience behind the wheel before you can launch your chauffeur/driver business. From here, you can register as a local taxi company (you’ll need a taxi licence) or as a contractor for an organisation like Uber (working for yourself, with Uber taking a cut).
A taxi company will need to drive around looking for customers (stations, business parks, etc.), list in local directories (developing positive reviews), and provide a phone line for people to book through. Apps like Uber handle the customer acquisition element in exchange for a fee. Overall, you’ll need to deliver an excellent customer experience, drive safely, and be at a competitive price point to build a successful local taxi driving business.
2. Lemonade Company
Make lemonade out of your life’s lemons and sell it to supermarkets! I’m not making this up; a friend of mine owns WeMadeDrinks, a beverage business that began as a university lemonade stand. Soft drink demand is still growing as Coca-Cola and other beverage companies profit greatly (low sugar healthy soft drinks are a current trend you could tap into).
Lemons, a production facility, bottling equipment, and much more are required to get started, along with the necessary licences whether you plan to make lemonade or another alternative soft drink at home or in a business setting. Asset financing is an option if you want to spread the cost.
Additionally, you must create an appealing brand, website, and marketing collateral. You can start by operating a mobile lemonade stand at festivals, community gatherings, and other high traffic areas, though the margins may be slim and obtaining such contracts may take some time. Alternatively, you can sell directly into supermarkets (Innocent tested their first smoothies at a festival).
3. Grooming pets
It’s astounding how much money British consumers will spend on their pets. There has been a rise in the number of people who want to get their pets groomed, especially dogs, especially when it comes to pampering in the form of grooming.
You can also market your pets business using content marketing by videos or writing articles. For writing articles you can use ai writing tools to simplify the process.
Typically, grooming an animal entails trimming its hair, giving it a thorough wash, trimming its nails, and giving it a massage. With this business, you will require a location with facilities right away (dog baths, hoses and other equipment).
You can advertise yourself on Gumtree and other directories that have sections for these kinds of services, or you can rely on passing trade (just make sure to choose a location with good foot traffic).
4. Relocation Service
The majority of people and businesses hire professional movers because moving to a new home or office is one of the most stressful and labor-intensive tasks anyone can undertake. In many cases, this is because there are so many things to pack and move.
A respectable-sized truck or van, a clear driving record, and professional driving experience are all prerequisites for starting a removals business (given the volume of driving you’ll be doing). Your costs will be heavily influenced by fuel; you should think about buying an electric van or truck, which, while expensive initially, will cost much less to operate than a conventional petrol or diesel vehicle. To move heavy items or large quantities of goods, you’ll also need access to packing materials and at least one other person.
Given that people and businesses only relocate once every seven years, this business’s immediate focus is on attracting new clients. You can advertise your removal company in local directories and work with estate agents to provide their clients with your services.
5. Vacation rentals
You can short-term rent out your entire house or a single room if you have a spare room or are going on vacation. It’s relatively simple to set up an account on sites like Airbnb and Booking.com, and they’ll even insure your property for up to $1 million in damages, so you can instantly access a large market of short-term renters (holidaymakers and business people).
You must first register and list the property or room you wish to rent, along with the times it is available. You must offer a comprehensive subscription, pictures, and a fixed price (look at other properties similar in the local area to get an average price).
On platforms for short-term rentals, getting bookings is entirely dependent on photos and reviews. So, ensure your property has professional photos (some platforms will take them for you), and set your price below average to attract bookings and those crucial positive reviews (you can increase the pricing later on to market average or beyond based on occupancy).
If you don’t want to pay the commission that short-term rental platforms charge, you can also set up a website and booking system (using WordPress or another CMS), which is a little more difficult but doesn’t charge a booking fee. When it comes to marketing for your booking website, you should concentrate on improving your position in relevant search results by creating relevant content or using PPC to target searches for those terms (i.e. London holidays homes).
