Business services ideas with a startup cost over $20,000

90 ideas

These 91 business services ideas need more than $20,000 to get going, usually because you are paying for equipment, space, inventory or licensing. They suit people with savings, a loan option or a partner, and who want to serve other businesses rather than consumers.

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Under 1k1k to 5k5k to 20kFrom homeOut and aboutOwn premisesOnline
Stack of plain white envelopes arranged on a warehouse shelf.

Local envelope and stationery distributor

Stock popular envelope sizes in a small unit and deliver fast to printers and offices in your area.

  • $15k-60k
  • Full-time
  • Own premises
3,190 US businesses with employees in this field, -3.9% in a year
Financial adviser discussing pension and savings plans with a client at a desk.

Independent financial advisory practice

Open a small local advisory firm that manages investments and retirement plans for households in your community.

  • $15k-60k
  • Full-time
  • Own premises
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.

Business broker with an established firm

Help local owners sell their businesses under a brokerage's name, training and listing network. Paid by commission.

  • $5k-30k
  • Part-time
  • From home
163,894 US businesses with employees in this field, -1.0% in a year
Large technical blueprints being printed and laid out on a table.

Blueprint and plan print shop

Run a small shop near builders and architects offering plan printing, scanning, copying and bid-set production.

  • $20k-60k
  • Full-time
  • Own premises
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.

Your own small yacht brokerage

Open a boutique brokerage near a marina, list yachts under your own name and keep the full commission.

  • $10k-40k
  • Full-time
  • Own premises
4,246 US businesses with employees in this field, -1.7% in a year
Accounting team reviewing financial reports together in a modern office.

Neighborhood accounting and tax office

Open a small local office offering accounting, payroll and tax services to walk-in and referred clients.

  • $8k-40k
  • Full-time
  • Own premises
55,052 US businesses with employees in this field, -1.1% in a year
Staff packing and labelling parcels at a busy mailing counter.

Pack-and-ship store

Run a small neighborhood shop that packs, labels and ships parcels for locals and small businesses.

  • $8k-40k
  • Full-time
  • Own premises
7,614 US businesses with employees in this field, +35.9% in a year
Digital calipers, micrometers and gauges laid out on a workbench for measuring parts.

Local measuring instruments supplier for shops and labs

Supply measuring tools and gauges to local machine shops, labs and contractors, with calibration help and fast delivery.

  • $5k-25k
  • Part-time
  • Out and about
2,392 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.

Neighborhood mailbox rental store

Rent private mailboxes with a real street address, and receive and forward mail for people and small firms nearby.

  • $8k-40k
  • Part-time
  • Own premises
7,614 US businesses with employees in this field, +35.9% in a year
A worker printing large colourful promotional banners in a print shop.

Local banner and sign shop

Run a small shop or unit that prints banners and signs for businesses and walk-in customers.

  • $10k-50k
  • Full-time
  • Own premises
5,895 US businesses with employees in this field, -0.2% in a year
Rows of commercial washing machines and dryers in a laundrette.

Coin laundry equipment dealer with a small workshop

Sell new and refurbished coin-operated machines, then deliver, install and service them.

  • $15k-60k
  • Full-time
  • Own premises
5,296 US businesses with employees in this field, +18.1% in a year
Rows of roll-up doors in a secure self-storage facility corridor.

RV, boat and trailer storage lot

Turn spare land into a fenced, gated lot that rents parking spaces to RV, boat and trailer owners.

  • $10k-50k
  • Side hustle
  • Own premises
18,564 US businesses with employees in this field, +1.5% in a year

Shipping container storage units

Place secure shipping containers on a small lot and rent them out by the month as low-cost storage units.

  • $15k-70k
  • Side hustle
  • Own premises
18,564 US businesses with employees in this field, +1.5% in a year

Shared storage space for small businesses

Lease a small warehouse unit and rent out shelves, cages and pallet spots to local sellers and tradespeople.

  • $8k-35k
  • Part-time
  • Own premises
18,564 US businesses with employees in this field, +1.5% in a year
A digger and generator parked on a construction site for hire.

Mini equipment rental with delivery

Rent out a few compact machines and trailers to contractors and homeowners, and deliver them to the job site.

  • $15k-60k
  • Side hustle
  • Out and about
5,495 US businesses with employees in this field, +8.2% in a year

Local tool and equipment rental shop

Open a small yard or unit renting tools and equipment to builders and homeowners who pick up and return in person.

  • $20k-80k
  • Full-time
  • Own premises
5,495 US businesses with employees in this field, +8.2% in a year
Boxes of desk accessories and stationery stacked in a supplier's warehouse.

Local office accessories distributor

Stock a small unit with desk accessories and stationery and supply offices, shops and resellers in your region.

  • $15k-60k
  • Full-time
  • Own premises
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.

Mobile abrasives supplier for local trades

Stock a van with sanding discs and grinding wheels and deliver to shops and job sites.

  • $8k-30k
  • Part-time
  • Out and about
9,605 US businesses with employees in this field, +6.0% in a year
A currency exchange counter with foreign banknotes and a cashier serving a traveller.

Small storefront currency exchange

Run a licensed counter that swaps foreign cash for dollars (and back) for travelers and local businesses.

  • $25k-100k
  • Full-time
  • Own premises
11,300 US businesses with employees in this field, -6.7% in a year
Recruitment consultant meeting a job candidate across a desk in an office.

Local temp staffing agency

Supply local businesses with temporary workers for warehouse, office or event work, and bill them for the hours worked.

  • $15k-60k
  • Full-time
  • Own premises
7,679 US businesses with employees in this field, +9.2% in a year
Heaps of sorted scrap metal stacked in an outdoor recycling yard.

Small scrap metal buying yard

Run a small yard where the public and local businesses sell scrap, then sort and resell it in bulk to processors.

  • $30k-150k
  • Full-time
  • Own premises
7,744 US businesses with employees in this field, -0.2% in a year
Pallets of paper reams stacked in a distribution warehouse.

Local paper distributor with a small warehouse

Stock popular papers in a small unit and deliver same-day or next-day to local printers, offices and resellers.

  • $15k-60k
  • Full-time
  • Own premises
643 US businesses with employees in this field, -4.3% in a year
People working at desks in a shared serviced office with meeting rooms.

Neighborhood coworking space

Lease a small space and rent desks and meeting rooms to freelancers and remote workers by the month or hour.

  • $20k-80k
  • Full-time
  • Own premises
36,864 US businesses with employees in this field, -1.1% in a year

Small private office and meeting room suite

Lease a small suite, split it into a few private offices plus a shared meeting room, and rent them to local businesses.

  • $10k-50k
  • Part-time
  • Own premises
36,864 US businesses with employees in this field, -1.1% in a year

About these ideas

Examples include a mini equipment rental with delivery, a virtual office with bookable meeting rooms and a small scrap metal buying yard. Before you compare ideas, work out how much you can put in without risking your household finances, and how long the money must last before sales arrive. Check which licenses, insurance and zoning rules apply in your state and city, since yards, storefronts and financial services are often regulated. Then look at what equipment or property you would own, lease or finance.

More ideas

Questions

What usually makes a business services idea cost over $20,000?

Common costs are equipment, vehicles, a lease or deposit, inventory, insurance and licensing. Ideas like rental yards or storage units tie up money in physical assets, so check quotes for each item and keep a cushion for slow early months.

Do I need a license to start one of these businesses?

It depends on the idea and where you operate. Financial services such as mortgage brokering, check cashing or currency exchange are often regulated at state level. Check with your state licensing agency, your city and an attorney before you spend money.

Should I borrow money to start a higher-cost business?

Borrowing can spread the cost, but it adds repayments you must meet even in slow months. Check loan terms, any personal guarantee required and whether equipment can be leased instead. Consider speaking with an accountant or a local small business development center.