Transport business ideas you can run from your own premises
33 ideas
These 33 transport ideas all work from a base you own or rent, such as a unit, barn, field, kiosk or depot. They suit people who want a fixed location customers can find, rather than working from home or on the road.
Made-to-measure boat cover workshop
Make fitted covers for boats stored on land, from a small unit or workshop near a marina or boatyard.
- £4k-18k
- Part-time
- Own premises
Small local car hire fleet
Rent a handful of well-kept cars by the day to locals, visitors and people whose own car is in the garage.
- £30k-120k
- Part-time
- Own premises
Small pay-to-use EV charging site
Install a handful of chargers on land you own or lease and earn from every driver who plugs in.
- £40k-150k
- Part-time
- Own premises
One or two EV chargers at your existing site
Add a couple of pay-to-use chargers to a pub, B&B, shop or farm car park you already run.
- £1.5k-6k
- Side hustle
- Own premises
Waterside rowing and electric boat hire
Run a small hire point on a lake, river or park pond with rowing boats, pedalos or quiet electric boats.
- £10k-50k
- Full-time
- Own premises
Local travel shop for flights and holidays
Open a small shop that books flights and packages face to face, often for a community or travel niche.
- £10k-40k
- Full-time
- Own premises
Bike repair shop with premises
Open a small workshop unit offering repairs, servicing and accessories for local riders.
- £8k-40k
- Full-time
- Own premises
Storage and pick-and-pack for online sellers
Rent a small unit, store stock for local online sellers and pack their orders for a monthly fee.
- £12k-40k
- Part-time
- Own premises
Pallet storage for local businesses
Lease a larger unit, fit pallet racking and rent space to local firms that need to store bulk stock.
- £25k-100k
- Part-time
- Own premises
Small local taxi and private hire firm
Run a booking office for a town or village, taking calls and app bookings and sending them to a handful of drivers.
- £4k-20k
- Full-time
- Own premises
Weekend quad trails on your own land
Offer guided quad rides on farmland you own or have permission to use, at weekends and holidays.
- £8k-25k
- Side hustle
- Own premises
Full-time quad adventure centre
Run a bookable quad centre on leased land with a bigger fleet, trained guides and hourly or day hire.
- £40k-120k
- Full-time
- Own premises
Bike hire shop or kiosk
Rent bikes by the hour or day from a small unit, kiosk or yard on a trail, seafront or town centre.
- £8k-40k
- Full-time
- Own premises
Small motorhome hire fleet with a depot
Run several motorhomes and campervans from a secure site, with your own website and bookings.
- £40k-200k
- Full-time
- Own premises
Boat repair workshop or yard unit
Rent a workshop or yard space near the water and take in boats for engine, hull and fittings repairs.
- £15k-60k
- Full-time
- Own premises
Local van hire with a small fleet
Rent a handful of vans to tradespeople and households from a yard or unit, by the day, week or mileage.
- £25k-100k
- Part-time
- Own premises
Horse trailer dealership with a small yard
Run a yard selling new and used horse trailers, with part-exchange, servicing and repairs.
- £15k-75k
- Full-time
- Own premises
Small pay-and-display car park
Lease or use a spare plot near shops, a station or a busy street and charge drivers by the hour or day.
- £3k-20k
- Part-time
- Own premises
Seasonal and event field parking
Run a pay-on-the-day car park on a field or yard for beach days, shows, match days and festivals.
- £500-3k
- Side hustle
- Own premises
Local coach ticket desk
Sell coach tickets face to face from a small shop or desk, earning commission from each booking.
- £2k-10k
- Part-time
- Own premises
Motorhome storage on spare land
Turn a field, farm yard or unused plot into secure parking for local motorhomes and caravans.
- £3k-15k
- Side hustle
- Own premises
Secure motorhome and caravan storage yard
Run a purpose-built, gated yard with CCTV and hardstanding for motorhomes and caravans on monthly or annual fees.
- £30k-150k
- Part-time
- Own premises
Small-unit storage and fulfilment service
Rent a small unit, store goods for local businesses and pack and send their orders.
- £3k-20k
- Part-time
- Own premises
Left luggage desk in a host shop or café
Store visitors' bags in spare space at a local shop, café or hotel and share the fee with the host.
- £300-2k
- Side hustle
- Own premises
About these ideas
Examples include a left luggage shop near a station or attraction, covered boat storage in a barn or unit, and a bike hire shop or kiosk. Before you choose, think about location first: footfall, road access and parking often decide whether a site works. Check what the property is permitted to be used for, what rent or rates would apply, and what insurance the activity needs. Some ideas, like vehicle hire or driver training, may also involve licences, so look into those early. Compare start-up costs with how seasonal the demand could be.
More ideas
- Left luggage shop near a station or attraction
- Motorcycle hire shop with a small fleet
- Moped and scooter hire base
- Own motorcycle training school
- Trailer hire depot with a larger fleet
- Boat dealership at a marina or yard
- Small marina chandlery shop
- Outdoor boat and trailer storage yard
- Covered boat storage in a barn or unit
Questions
Do I need planning permission to run a transport business from my own premises?
It may be needed, particularly if you change how land or a building is used, such as for parking, storage or vehicle hire. Check with your local planning authority before you commit to a site or spend money on it.
What insurance should I check for a premises-based transport business?
Look at public liability, property cover and, where relevant, insurance for vehicles, customers' goods or hired equipment. Requirements vary by activity, so ask a specialist broker what applies to your plans and what exclusions might affect you.
Are there licences I should look into for transport ideas like taxis or vehicle hire?
Some activities, such as private hire, driver training or vehicle hire, may require licences, approvals or specific qualifications. Check with your local council and relevant government bodies what applies to your idea and area before you start trading.