12 Incredibly Simple Service Businesses You Can Start Today

In this article, we will explore 12 extremely simple service businesses that you can start today. These businesses require little to no upfront investment and do not demand specialized skills or tools, making them perfect for anyone looking to start quickly. You could even outsource the work to subcontractors, similar to the Uber business model. I personally use subcontractors in the junk removal industry, operating in over 40 cities nationwide, all managed remotely via my computer. The goal of this article is to show you that it’s possible to make money by offering straightforward, mundane services. Additionally, I’ll provide examples of companies excelling in these areas, how much they charge, and how much they make. Some of the figures are astonishing, given the simplicity of these services. So, without further delay, let’s dive into 12 surprisingly simple service businesses you can start today. I’ll also link a spreadsheet of 150 low-competition service business ideas in the description below. Leave your email there, and I’ll send it over to you.

The first simple service business is helping people bring their trash cans to the curb and back. While this may sound too simple to be profitable, there’s a company called CanMonkey.com that makes $3 million a year doing exactly this. Initially, CanMonkey catered to residential customers—elderly people or those away from home—but the company eventually grew by targeting Airbnb owners and property management firms. These clients frequently need someone to manage trash cans, especially in short-term rental properties with frequent turnovers. With CanMonkey’s success in multiple cities, and an addition of 600 new customers per month, it proves that even such a simple idea can scale up significantly. The service starts at $49 per month for two trash cans, making it an easily replicable business that you can start by reaching out to Airbnbs and property management firms in your area.

The second business idea is pet waste removal. Companies like CinPoopinScoop.com make six figures annually by simply cleaning up after dogs. The business model involves going to people’s homes, picking up dog poop, and disposing of it. Cin Poopin Scoop’s owner even has a YouTube channel discussing how to start this kind of business. They charge $87 per month for weekly cleanups, $65 for bi-weekly, and $156 for twice-a-week services, proving that this simple yet recurring service can generate stable revenue. A significant portion of their income comes from recurring cleanups, with additional revenue from one-time cleanups and seasonal spring cleanups.

Next up is parking lot cleaning, which has proven to be incredibly lucrative. Brian Welsh, who appeared on the Side Hustle Nation Podcast, shared that he earns $650,000 a year cleaning parking lots. His company, CleanLots.com, offers services for medium-sized commercial properties like strip malls. The work is often done in the early morning or late at night when the parking lots are empty, making it a perfect side hustle or a subcontractor-based business. Welsh advises targeting medium-sized lots, as large commercial properties often already have systems in place for maintenance. This simple business model also benefits from recurring revenue once a client is secured, as they will need regular cleaning.

Another idea is a laundry pickup and drop-off service. This business involves picking up customers’ dirty laundry, washing it, and delivering it back neatly folded. A company called Poppin.com follows this model on a national scale, using subcontractors to collect and deliver laundry. With 115,000 laundry pros across the country, Poppin.com handles 3 million loads of laundry each year. If you want to pursue this business locally, it might be best to target commercial clients like restaurants, which require regular laundry service for items like napkins and tablecloths. A friend of mine who owns a restaurant spends around $50,000 a year on laundry services, making it clear that there’s money to be made in this niche.

The fifth simple service business is renting out laborers to help people move. This isn’t about starting a full-fledged moving company with trucks; instead, it involves providing extra hands to assist with moving jobs. CommunityLaborPartnership.com is a great example of this model, generating $600,000 to $700,000 in profit each year. The company operates entirely with subcontractors and doesn’t even pay for Google ads or SEO. They get customers by posting on Craigslist and distributing flyers at storage facilities, offering moving labor at affordable rates. This business is low-cost, requiring only labor and no expensive equipment.

These are just a few of the surprisingly simple service businesses you can start with little to no money. By focusing on straightforward tasks like trash removal, pet waste cleanup, parking lot cleaning, laundry service, and labor rental, you can build a profitable and scalable business without needing to be an expert in any specific field.

Trash can cleaning is a simple business idea that involves cleaning out people’s trash cans on a regular basis. It can be done weekly, monthly, or quarterly, and is a growing industry where some individuals are making six-figure incomes. This service doesn’t require a lot of tools to get started—just a pressure washer and some soap. While some companies use large trucks for cleaning, you can begin with just basic equipment. As trash can cleaning has been gaining popularity, search volume on Google Trends has been increasing in recent years, and the keyword difficulty is relatively low. For example, one-time cleanings may cost around $50 for two bins, with monthly services ranging from $22.95 to $30. There’s potential to focus on residential customers or commercial clients like HOAs and property management companies, which may require regular cleaning of dumpsters. This recurring revenue business can be scaled by using subcontractors for labor.

Mattress and couch cleaning is another straightforward business that involves visiting people’s homes to deep clean their mattresses and couches. Many carpet cleaning companies offer this as an additional service. For instance, a sectional sofa cleaning can cost around $265, while mattress cleaning for a king-sized bed may be priced at $149. The keywords for this service are also easy to rank for online due to low competition. Mattress cleaning services receive 1,500 searches per month with almost no competition. Couch cleaning services are similarly in demand, with over 1,400 searches monthly and minimal difficulty in ranking. This business can also be managed by subcontractors, and targeting different cities could generate consistent work.

Another business idea is industrial byproduct flipping, which involves collecting items like pallets, cardboard, and crates from warehouses and selling them to other businesses. Often, these items are available for free, allowing individuals to resell them for a profit. A man from the Simple Biz made substantial earnings by collecting pallets for free and reselling them for $7 each, making over $800 in just one day. This business requires building relationships with businesses to regularly collect their discarded materials, and you can use subcontractors or manage the entire process yourself.

A related concept is cardboard removal, where you offer services to people overwhelmed by the accumulation of cardboard boxes from online shopping. This business focuses on collecting and recycling cardboard that households can’t fit in their bins. While there aren’t many businesses specializing in this, it could be a valuable service, especially as more people shop online. You could set up a subscription-based service, visiting homes weekly to remove cardboard, with an extra charge for breaking down the boxes. This business, like others, can use subcontractors for the physical work.

Curb number painting, where you paint addresses on sidewalks or curbs, is another simple service with potential. While some people scam by painting addresses without permission and charging afterward, this can be done as a legitimate business targeting HOAs or commercial properties that need services like red curb painting or stenciling. Building relationships with property management companies could provide a steady stream of work, and the business requires little more than stencils and spray paint.

Dead animal removal is a less common but lucrative service where you remove dead animals from properties. This service typically charges between $200 and $600, with more challenging removals, like those in attics or crawl spaces, commanding prices as high as $1,000. Many people don’t want to handle dead animals, making this an opportunity for those willing to do the work. This service is easy to rank for online, with low competition and decent search volume, and you can use pest control subcontractors to perform the actual removal.

Finally, light bulb and smoke detector replacement services cater to commercial clients, such as property management companies, Airbnbs, and rental properties. This service can generate consistent revenue, as commercial properties often need regular maintenance. Light bulb replacement can be billed at a minimum service fee of $75, with $7 per standard light bulb and $20 per specialty bulb. This can also extend to other tasks like changing smoke detectors or replacing signage. Subcontracting handymen or electricians for larger jobs can help scale this business.

These business ideas are all simple, low-barrier-to-entry services that can provide recurring revenue, and many can be scaled using subcontractors. With the right approach, they could turn into successful ventures.

Another straightforward business opportunity is offering lawn aeration services. Lawn aeration is the process of perforating the soil to allow water, nutrients, and air to penetrate the grass roots, promoting healthier lawns. This is a seasonal service, typically needed during the spring and fall, which makes it an excellent add-on for existing lawn care businesses or a standalone service. The equipment required includes a lawn airer, which can be rented or purchased. The process is simple, and the demand is recurring since homeowners want their lawns to thrive each season. You could easily charge between $50 and $150 per lawn, depending on the size, and target both residential and commercial properties.

Another niche service is gutter cleaning, which is essential for homeowners, especially during the fall and spring when leaves and debris accumulate. It’s a task many homeowners dread, making it a prime business opportunity. Gutter cleaning requires minimal equipment—just a ladder, gloves, and tools to clear out debris. You could charge between $100 and $250 per house, depending on the size of the home and the complexity of the job. This is another business that could provide recurring revenue, as homeowners need this service multiple times a year to prevent water damage and ensure proper drainage.

Window cleaning is a related service that could also be offered to both residential and commercial clients. Cleaning windows on homes and small office buildings doesn’t require much more than a squeegee, cleaning solution, and a ladder. This service is often overlooked, and homeowners are willing to pay $150 to $400 per cleaning, depending on the size and number of windows. Similar to gutter cleaning, window cleaning can be a recurring service, especially for businesses that want to maintain a clean and professional appearance.

Another opportunity is junk removal, which involves clearing out unwanted items from homes, businesses, or construction sites. This service has become increasingly popular as people look to declutter their spaces, especially with the rise of minimalist lifestyles and eco-friendly trends. You can start small with just a truck or van, and expand from there. Junk removal services typically charge by volume, with rates ranging from $200 to $600 per load, depending on the location and type of items. Additionally, some items like metal can be recycled for extra profit. This business is scalable and can be managed with subcontractors or employees as demand grows.

Lastly, mobile car detailing is a business with significant potential. With people leading busier lives, many car owners don’t have the time to clean and detail their vehicles. A mobile car detailing business brings the service to the customer’s home or workplace. You need minimal equipment to start: a portable vacuum, car shampoo, cleaning supplies, and a waterless car wash system. Detailing jobs can range from $50 to $200 or more depending on the level of service. Offering subscription packages for regular cleanings can help build a steady stream of recurring revenue.

Each of these businesses requires minimal startup costs, offers recurring revenue, and can be scaled by hiring subcontractors or employees as demand grows. These ideas are ideal for entrepreneurs looking for low-competition, service-based opportunities with the potential to grow into larger enterprises over time.