Transport business ideas you run from your own premises
27 ideas
These 27 transport business ideas all work from a base you own or lease, such as a yard, depot, warehouse or small sales lot. They suit people who have spare land, a unit, or the budget to secure a site, and who like practical, hands-on work.
Boat repair workshop with winter storage
Run a small rented workshop for engine, hull and fitting repairs, plus indoor winter work.
- C$20k-100k
- Full-time
- Own premises
Small pallet storage and handling warehouse
Lease a small industrial unit and rent out pallet space to local businesses that need storage.
- C$8k-40k
- Part-time
- Own premises
Warehouse storage for online sellers
Store stock for small online brands and pack and ship their orders from a leased unit.
- C$5k-30k
- Part-time
- Own premises
Neighbourhood travel agency storefront
Open a small street-front travel office selling flights and packages, especially to local communities with strong overseas ties.
- C$15k-60k
- Full-time
- Own premises
Neighbourhood bike repair shop
Rent a small unit and run a repair and servicing shop for local riders all year.
- C$15k-60k
- Full-time
- Own premises
Level 2 EV charging at local host sites
Install a few pay-to-use chargers at a shop, motel or lot and earn from each charging session.
- C$8k-40k
- Side hustle
- Own premises
Shared EV charging for condo and rental buildings
Install and run shared chargers in condo and apartment car parks, billing residents for the power they use.
- C$10k-50k
- Side hustle
- Own premises
Bike rental shop or seasonal kiosk
Rent bikes by the hour or day from a small shop or kiosk near a trail, waterfront or tourist area.
- C$15k-70k
- Part-time
- Own premises
Small motorhome hire fleet with a depot
Run a small fleet of motorhomes from a secure yard, with pick-ups, cleaning and tourist bookings.
- C$150k-500k
- Full-time
- Own premises
Waterfront boat and paddle rental base
Run a small rental dock or hut hiring out canoes, kayaks, paddleboats and small motorboats to summer visitors.
- C$30k-150k
- Full-time
- Own premises
ATV rental and guided ride base
Run a small fleet of ATVs from your own land, renting by the hour or day to visitors and groups.
- C$25k-90k
- Part-time
- Own premises
Local van hire depot with a larger fleet
Run a small depot with several vans, taking walk-in and online bookings from trades and businesses.
- C$150k-400k
- Full-time
- Own premises
Trailer rental yard
Run a rental yard with a wider mix of trailers for homeowners, contractors and small businesses.
- C$25k-120k
- Full-time
- Own premises
Small-unit storage and fulfilment service
Rent a small unit to store, pick, pack and ship goods for online sellers and local makers.
- C$30k-120k
- Full-time
- Own premises
Outdoor boat and trailer storage yard
Run a gated yard near water that stores dozens of boats on land for the off-season.
- C$40k-160k
- Part-time
- Own premises
Indoor and rack boat storage building
Lease or convert a warehouse or pole barn to store boats indoors on racks, protected from winter.
- C$25k-120k
- Full-time
- Own premises
Left luggage shop near a station or tourist spot
Rent a small unit near a station, downtown or attraction and store travellers' bags by the hour or day.
- C$15k-60k
- Part-time
- Own premises
RV and trailer storage on spare land
Turn unused land into a fenced gravel lot where RV owners pay monthly to store motorhomes and trailers.
- C$15k-60k
- Side hustle
- Own premises
Secure RV storage yard
Run a gated, camera-monitored yard with marked bays and sell year-round storage to motorhome and caravan owners.
- C$40k-200k
- Part-time
- Own premises
Small pay-parking lot near busy places
Lease a small open lot near offices, shops or transit and charge drivers by the hour, day or month.
- C$3k-25k
- Part-time
- Own premises
Event-day and seasonal parking lot
Run a nearby lot for game days, concerts or summer tourists and charge a flat fee per car.
- C$1k-8k
- Side hustle
- Own premises
Seasonal scooter rental stand
Rent scooters by the hour or day to visitors from a small stand in a tourist town, waterfront or resort area.
- C$15k-60k
- Part-time
- Own premises
Used horse trailer sales and refurbishing
Buy, refurbish and resell used horse trailers from a rural yard or small lot.
- C$10k-50k
- Part-time
- Own premises
Horse trailer dealership with a small sales lot
Run a rural sales lot selling used and consigned horse trailers, with optional new brand lines.
- C$40k-150k
- Full-time
- Own premises
About these ideas
Examples include a trailer rental yard, RV and trailer storage on spare land, and a small pallet storage and handling warehouse. Before anything else, check zoning and whether your municipality allows your type of use at the address. Then look at insurance, site security, access for large vehicles, and winter conditions. Compare the cost of buying, leasing or converting space against the income you could realistically earn, and start small if you can.
More ideas
Questions
Do I need special zoning to run a transport business from my own premises?
Often you do. Check your municipality's zoning bylaws for the address, especially for vehicle storage, rentals or sales lots. Ask the local planning office whether you need a permit or a change of use before you buy, lease or invest.
What insurance should I look at for a yard, depot or storage site?
Speak with a commercial insurance broker about coverage for property, liability, and the vehicles, trailers or goods you hold for customers. Ask whether your plan covers theft, damage on site, and customers' belongings, and check any provincial requirements.
Should I buy, lease or use land I already own?
Using land you already own can keep costs down, but check zoning, access and any mortgage or lease terms first. If leasing, compare rent, length of term and permitted uses against your expected income, and test demand before committing to a large site.