Business services ideas you can start for up to $20,000

117 ideas

This page lists 119 business services ideas with startup costs up to $20,000. They suit people with work experience they can sell to other businesses or homeowners, such as a cost accountant for local manufacturers and contractors, an online accounting firm for a niche, or a public adjuster for homeowners and businesses.

Swipe through these ideas →

Under 1k1k to 5kOver 20kFrom homeOut and aboutOwn premisesOnline
Security patrol officer walking past a commercial building at dusk.

Mobile security patrol service

Drive set routes past small businesses, lots and neighborhoods, checking property and reporting what you see.

  • $3k-15k
  • Part-time
  • Out and about
11,104 US businesses with employees in this field, +4.2% in a year

Event and venue security team

Supply licensed guards for parties, markets, bars and local events, paid by the shift.

  • $2k-10k
  • Side hustle
  • Out and about
11,104 US businesses with employees in this field, +4.2% in a year
Customer service agents wearing headsets taking calls at desks in an office.

Small outsourced customer support team

Run a small team that handles customer calls and enquiries for online stores and software companies under contract.

  • $3k-15k
  • Part-time
  • Online
3,106 US businesses with employees in this field, -7.8% in a year
Financial adviser discussing pension and savings plans with a client at a desk.

Virtual fee-only financial planner

Help individuals and families plan savings, investing and retirement by video call, for a flat or hourly fee.

  • $3k-15k
  • Part-time
  • Online
23,359 US businesses with employees in this field, -3.9% in a year
Two people shaking hands over documents during a company sale agreement.

Independent business brokerage in one niche

Run your own small brokerage selling one type of local business, such as landscaping, HVAC or restaurants.

  • $3k-15k
  • Full-time
  • From home
163,894 US businesses with employees in this field, -1.0% in a year
Recruiter meeting a senior executive candidate in a modern office.

Solo executive recruiter in one niche

Find senior hires for employers in an industry you know well and earn a fee when they accept an offer.

  • $1k-6k
  • Part-time
  • From home
5,897 US businesses with employees in this field, -5.5% in a year
Large technical blueprints being printed and laid out on a table.

Home-based plan printing with delivery

Print large plan sets for local builders and architects from a home workspace and deliver them to job sites.

  • $4k-15k
  • Side hustle
  • From home
15,140 US businesses with employees in this field, -1.9% in a year
Broker showing a white sailing yacht to a prospective buyer at a marina.

Independent yacht broker under an established firm

Help owners sell and buyers find yachts, working as an independent agent under an existing brokerage and earning commission.

  • $1.5k-6k
  • Part-time
  • Out and about
4,246 US businesses with employees in this field, -1.7% in a year
A small team planning sales growth and client partnerships around a table.

Outsourced business development agency

Run a small team that handles outreach, lead generation and partnerships for several clients on retainer.

  • $2k-10k
  • Full-time
  • From home
52,258 US businesses with employees in this field, +4.5% in a year
Accounting team reviewing financial reports together in a modern office.

Online accounting firm for a niche

Serve one type of client remotely, such as freelancers or online sellers, with bookkeeping, payroll and tax support.

  • $1.5k-7k
  • Part-time
  • Online
55,052 US businesses with employees in this field, -1.1% in a year
Rows of small private mailboxes with numbered doors in a mail centre lobby.

Virtual mailbox and mail forwarding service

Give remote workers and travelers a street address, then scan, forward or hold their mail through a simple online account.

  • $3k-15k
  • Part-time
  • Own premises
7,614 US businesses with employees in this field, +35.9% in a year
People working at shared desks in a bright modern coworking space.

Coworking in a shared or spare room

Turn an underused room or floor into a small coworking space, with low rent and a few desks.

  • $3k-15k
  • Side hustle
  • Own premises
34,559 US businesses with employees in this field, -0.0% in a year
Rows of commercial washing machines and dryers in a laundrette.

Mobile coin laundry machine installer and repairer

Install and repair coin-operated washers and dryers for laundromats and apartment buildings.

  • $5k-20k
  • Part-time
  • Out and about
5,296 US businesses with employees in this field, +18.1% in a year
Staff at desks processing data on computers in a shared administrative office.

Outsourced customer support team

Run a small remote team that answers customer emails and chats for online shops and software companies.

  • $1.5k-7.5k
  • Part-time
  • Online
36,864 US businesses with employees in this field, -1.1% in a year
A worker processing healthcare invoices and claim forms at a desk with a computer.

Medical billing agency with a small team

Run a billing company serving several practices, with a few billers working remotely.

  • $3k-15k
  • Full-time
  • Online
3,628 US businesses with employees in this field, -2.1% in a year
Boxes of desk accessories and stationery stacked in a supplier's warehouse.

Online desk accessories wholesaler

Sell desk accessories and stationery in bulk to small shops and offices from home, with a simple online ordering page.

  • $2k-10k
  • Side hustle
  • From home
3,190 US businesses with employees in this field, -3.9% in a year
Stack of sanding discs and grinding wheels displayed on shop shelves.

Online abrasives store for one trade niche

Sell abrasives online to one group, like woodworkers or auto body shops, shipped from a small stockroom.

  • $1.5k-7k
  • Side hustle
  • Online
9,605 US businesses with employees in this field, +6.0% in a year
Branded branded gift boxes and merchandise arranged for corporate giving.

Curated corporate gift box business

Assemble and ship branded gift boxes for client thank-yous, employee milestones and holiday gifting.

  • $1.5k-7.5k
  • Part-time
  • From home
7,395 US businesses with employees in this field, +1.3% in a year
Heaps of sorted scrap metal stacked in an outdoor recycling yard.

Mobile scrap metal buyer and hauler

Collect scrap from contractors, shops and households, sort it, and sell it on to a local scrap yard.

  • $1.5k-8k
  • Side hustle
  • Out and about
7,744 US businesses with employees in this field, -0.2% in a year
Uniformed security guard standing at a building entrance checking access.

Small security guard company

Win a few local contracts and staff them with licensed guards, starting by working some shifts yourself.

  • $3k-15k
  • Part-time
  • Out and about
11,104 US businesses with employees in this field, +4.2% in a year
Architect reviewing building design drawings and plans at a drafting desk.

Home design and remodel plans

Draw floor plans and permit-ready drawings for homeowners planning additions, remodels and small builds.

  • $2k-8k
  • Part-time
  • From home
22,805 US businesses with employees in this field, +0.8% in a year
A creative team planning an advertising campaign around a whiteboard in a modern office.

Small full-service marketing agency

Build a small team that runs campaigns, content and ads for several business clients.

  • $2k-10k
  • Full-time
  • Own premises
15,512 US businesses with employees in this field, +3.7% in a year
A technician servicing a commercial espresso machine in a cafe kitchen.

Mobile coffee machine install and repair

Install, maintain and fix espresso and drip machines at cafés, offices and restaurants.

  • $3k-12k
  • Part-time
  • Out and about
5,296 US businesses with employees in this field, +18.1% in a year

Office and café coffee machine reseller

Sell or lease commercial coffee machines to local workplaces and small cafés, working from home.

  • $2k-10k
  • Side hustle
  • From home
5,296 US businesses with employees in this field, +18.1% in a year

About these ideas

Others lean on equipment or inventory, like a local ATM placement route or a local shredder dealer with on-site service. Before you choose, think about who will pay you and how you will reach them. Check whether the work needs a license, certification, or insurance in your state, and work out which costs come first: equipment, software, stock, or marketing. Compare ideas by how soon you could land a first client.

More ideas

Questions

Which business services ideas are cheapest to start in the US?

Desk-based services usually need the least cash, since the main costs are software, insurance, and marketing. Examples include research, bookkeeping, or consulting. Compare each idea's startup cost and check what equipment, tools, or subscriptions you would need before your first client.

Do I need a license to start a business services company?

It depends on the service and your state. Work like public adjusting, investigation, or accounting may have licensing or registration rules. Check with your state licensing board and local authorities, and ask an adviser what applies to your situation before you take paying clients.

How do I get my first clients for a business-to-business service?

Start with people you already know, past employers, and local trade groups. Check which channels your target customers actually use, such as referrals, LinkedIn, or directories. Offer a clear, narrow service so buyers quickly understand what you do and who it is for.