Transport business ideas for working out and about
52 ideas
If you would rather be on the road than behind a desk, these 52 transport business ideas are a good place to start. They range from a refrigerated van delivery service or a full-service house removals firm to 16-seater minibus hire with driver and pre-booked private hire and airport transfers.
Man and van home removals
Move flats, small homes and single items with a hired or owned van, mostly on a local patch.
- £1k-12k
- Side hustle
- Out and about
Full-service house removals firm
Run a small crew with a larger van to pack, move and unload whole family homes.
- £8k-40k
- Full-time
- Out and about
Airport transfer and private chauffeur
Drive pre-booked clients to airports, stations and appointments in a smart, well-kept car.
- £2.5k-15k
- Part-time
- Out and about
Bike hire delivered to holiday lets and hotels
Deliver and collect hire bikes by van or trailer for holidaymakers, guests and groups in a tourist area.
- £2k-7k
- Side hustle
- Out and about
Local van delivery service
Use your own van to deliver goods for local shops, makers and businesses on regular routes.
- £1.5k-12k
- Part-time
- Out and about
Local produce and goods delivery to homes
Deliver groceries, farm produce or shop orders to households in your town on set days.
- £300-5k
- Side hustle
- Out and about
Small delivery firm with contract drivers
Win regular distribution contracts and run them with a few vans and self-employed drivers.
- £15k-75k
- Full-time
- Out and about
Skip hire with your own skip lorry
Deliver and collect 6 to 8 yard skips for builders and households with a second-hand skip lorry and a small stock of skips.
- £25k-80k
- Full-time
- Out and about
Mini skip hire for homes and small jobs
Hire out 2 to 4 yard mini skips to households on a smaller, cheaper lorry that fits narrow streets and drives.
- £12k-40k
- Part-time
- Out and about
Local courier delivery service
Deliver parcels, flowers and shop orders around your area for local businesses, paid per drop.
- £500-3k
- Part-time
- Out and about
Evening and weekend delivery rider
Deliver takeaways and groceries by bike, scooter or car in your spare hours, working for yourself.
- £50-800
- Side hustle
- Out and about
Pop-up paddleboard and kayak hire
Hire paddleboards and kayaks from a trailer at beaches, lakes and campsites in the warmer months.
- £3k-12k
- Side hustle
- Out and about
Refrigerated van delivery service
Deliver chilled and frozen food in a temperature-controlled van for local caterers, shops and producers.
- £8k-35k
- Part-time
- Out and about
Refrigerated lorry haulage for contract work
Run a refrigerated lorry carrying temperature-controlled loads for wholesalers and food firms on regular contracts.
- £45k-140k
- Full-time
- Out and about
Mobile boat repair and servicing
Travel to marinas, moorings and boatyards to service engines and fix hulls and fittings on site.
- £3k-15k
- Part-time
- Out and about
Mobile bike mechanic
Fix and service bikes at people's homes and workplaces from a van or cargo bike.
- £1k-5k
- Side hustle
- Out and about
City-centre pedicab for street hire
Carry visitors and late-night customers short distances by pedal-powered rickshaw in a busy centre.
- £3k-12k
- Part-time
- Out and about
Pedicab tours, weddings and events
Offer pre-booked sightseeing rides, wedding transport and event shuttles by decorated pedicab.
- £3k-12k
- Side hustle
- Out and about
Private hire driver with your own car
Drive pre-booked passengers in your own licensed car, taking jobs from apps, local firms and regular clients.
- £1k-6k
- Side hustle
- Out and about
Licensed taxi driver working ranks and hails
Own and drive a licensed taxi that can be hailed on the street, picked up at ranks and booked in advance.
- £3k-25k
- Part-time
- Out and about
Wedding and special occasion chauffeur
Offer a classic or luxury car with driver for weddings, proms and celebrations at weekends.
- £4k-25k
- Side hustle
- Out and about
Executive car hire: owner-driver
Drive your own smart car for airport runs, events and business clients, building regular bookings.
- £3k-15k
- Part-time
- Out and about
Inshore fishing charter boat
Take small groups of anglers out on your own boat for half-day or full-day sea fishing trips.
- £15k-75k
- Part-time
- Out and about
Weekend fishing charter skipper
Skipper fishing trips at weekends on a shared or borrowed boat, with a lower start-up cost than owning one.
- £1.5k-7k
- Side hustle
- Out and about
About these ideas
They suit people who are comfortable driving for long stretches, enjoy dealing with customers face to face and don't mind early starts or weekend work. Before you choose, think about the vehicle you would need and whether to buy, lease or hire it. Check which licences, permits and insurance your chosen idea may require, as these differ between vans, minibuses, lorries and passenger services. Work out your running costs, including fuel, maintenance and downtime, so you can price your jobs realistically.
More ideas
- HGV driving school with your own lorry
- Lean HGV instructor using hired lorries
- Wheelchair accessible private hire driver
- Contract transport for schools, care and councils
- Local haulage with a 7.5 tonne lorry
- Owner-driver artic haulage
- Mobility scooter hire with delivery
- Event valet parking team
- Valet parking for hotels and restaurants
- Minibus hire with driver
- Small coach operator for tours and groups
- Airport transfer driver with your own car
- Minibus airport transfers for groups
- Minibus sightseeing and day trip operator
- Piano removal service
- 8-seater minibus for airport and group transfers
- 16-seater minibus hire with driver
- Man and van delivery and removals
- Pre-booked private hire and airport transfers
- Freelance motorcycle instructor
- Same-day van courier
- Council contract school minibus route
- Parent-paid school run for local families
- Piano mover for dealers and tuners
- Local courier by car or bike
- Mobile boat parts and supplies van
- Paraffin and kerosene van delivery
- Local heating oil tanker round
Questions
Do I need a special licence to start a transport business in the UK?
It depends on the vehicle and the work. Check your driving licence category, whether you need an operator's licence for larger vehicles, and whether passenger services need private hire or PSV licensing. Confirm the current requirements with the relevant authority before you buy anything.
What insurance should I look into for a transport business?
Standard car or van cover is often not enough for paid work. Look at hire and reward cover, goods in transit, public liability and, for passenger services, suitable passenger cover. Ask a broker who knows your type of business to explain what applies to you.
Should I buy, lease or hire my vehicle when starting out?
Compare the upfront cost, monthly payments, mileage limits, maintenance responsibilities and resale value. Leasing or hiring can lower your initial outlay while you test demand, while buying may cost less over time. Check what each option means for your insurance and any licensing.