Business services ideas you can run from your own premises
86 ideas
These 88 business services ideas all work from a space you own or lease, such as a unit, yard, office or showroom. They suit people who want a fixed base where clients, deliveries or equipment can be handled in one place.
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
Independent home insurance agency with an office
Open a small local agency that sells home policies from several insurers and builds a base of renewing clients.
- $8k-30k
- Full-time
- Own premises
About these ideas
Examples include a container storage lot on a small plot of land, a business address and mail handling service, and a virtual office with bookable meeting rooms. Before you pick one, think about location and how much space you really need. Check local zoning, lease terms, insurance and any licenses the work requires. Work out what the premises will cost each month before your first customer arrives, and how many customers you need to cover it. Start by comparing a few ideas side by side, then visit the sort of site you would need.
More ideas
- Resort-area timeshare resale office
- Forklift rental yard with mobile servicing
- Small records storage warehouse
- Container storage lot on a small plot of land
- Small team outbound calling and survey service
- Local packaging supply store and delivery
- Small market research consultancy
- Self-service locker station in a busy area
- Small recruitment agency for outsourcing firms
- Small independent real estate brokerage
- Used and refurbished lab equipment reseller
- Purified water refill shop with delivery
- Container sales and rental yard
- Motorcycle insurance agency with a small office
- Local health insurance agency office
- Local retirement planning practice
- Divorce mediator
- Boutique PR agency
- Water treatment supplies for farms and businesses
- Specialty paper exporter with a small warehouse
- Local temp agency with a small office
- Polygraph testing office
- Neighborhood tax preparation office
- Local independent insurance agency office
- Small-scale office supply wholesaler with a warehouse unit
- Furniture rental for staging and temporary stays
- Neighborhood auto insurance agency with a storefront
- Local insurance agency with a small office
- Mailing and direct mail shop
- Independent title and settlement agency
- Licensed collection agency with a small team
- Local casket supplier to funeral homes
- Fingerprinting office with digital scanning
- Cinema equipment supply and install team
- Small customs brokerage office near a port or border
- Your own property auction firm
- Business address and mail handling service
- Virtual office with bookable meeting rooms
- Climate-controlled wine storage facility
- Small-scale wine locker rooms
- Used store fixtures warehouse and showroom
- Vehicle lettering and graphics installer
- Small storefront sign shop
- Niche medical supplies distributor
- Full-service property management company
- Equipment rental yard for contractors and homeowners
- Small warehouse appliance distributor
- Money transfer agent storefront
- Money transfer counter inside your shop
- Neighborhood check cashing store
- Neighborhood print and copy shop
- Small independent commercial brokerage
- Local wholesale distributor with a small warehouse
- Regional goods exporter with small storage space
- Promo products shop with in-house printing
- Wholesale importer with a small warehouse
- Equipment importer with a small warehouse
- Used equipment exporter with a small yard
- Local laser equipment dealer with demo space
- Local packaging bag distributor with a small stockroom
- Local packaging bag distributor
- Arcade machine sales, leasing and repair
Questions
Do I need commercial premises to start a business services company?
Not always. Some ideas work from a spare building, a rented unit or a small plot of land. Check what the idea needs, then look at zoning, lease terms and insurance for the specific location before you commit.
What should I check before choosing a site in the United States?
Ask your city or county whether zoning allows your type of business at that address. Check access, parking, security, utilities and the lease or ownership terms. Also confirm whether any permits or licenses apply to your activity.
How can I keep premises costs under control?
Start with the smallest space that works and compare rent, utilities, insurance and upkeep. Look at flexible or shared terms where possible. Estimate how many customers you need to cover fixed costs before signing anything.