Home services business ideas you run out and about

100 ideas

These 100 home service ideas are for people who would rather be on the road and in customers' homes than behind a desk. You travel to the job, so your van, tools and schedule matter as much as your skills.

Swipe through these ideas →

1k to 5k5k to 20kOver 20kFrom homeOwn premises
Worker mowing and edging a neatly maintained green lawn in a garden.

Residential lawn mowing route

Mow, edge and tidy lawns for homeowners on a weekly or biweekly route in your neighborhood.

  • $2k-10k
  • Side hustle
  • Out and about
117,969 US businesses with employees in this field, +0.7% in a year

Commercial lawn maintenance crew

Keep lawns tidy for offices, HOAs and retail properties on a contract, with a small crew.

  • $8k-35k
  • Full-time
  • Out and about
117,969 US businesses with employees in this field, +0.7% in a year
Workers installing a striped awning above a café front on a sunny street.

Awning reseller and installer

Sell and fit retractable and fixed awnings for patios and decks, ordering from a manufacturer.

  • $1.5k-7k
  • Side hustle
  • Out and about
6,489 US businesses with employees in this field, +3.4% in a year
Upholsterer re-covering an armchair in a repair workshop.

Mobile furniture repair and touch-up

Fix scratches, loose joints and damaged finishes on furniture at customers' homes, offices and showrooms.

  • $800-4k
  • Side hustle
  • Out and about
3,168 US businesses with employees in this field, -2.9% in a year
Technician mounting a security camera on an exterior house wall.

Home security and smart camera installer

Fit cameras, video doorbells, smart locks and alarm kits in local homes for owners who don't want to do it themselves.

  • $1k-5k
  • Side hustle
  • Out and about
7,151 US businesses with employees in this field, +1.6% in a year

Small business security system installer

Install wired cameras, access control and alarms for shops, offices and warehouses in your area.

  • $5k-25k
  • Full-time
  • Out and about
7,151 US businesses with employees in this field, +1.6% in a year
Worker clearing snow from a driveway with a snow shovel and blower.

Residential driveway snow removal

Clear driveways and walkways for homeowners with a snow blower or a truck-mounted plow.

  • $800-4k
  • Side hustle
  • Out and about
117,969 US businesses with employees in this field, +0.7% in a year

Commercial lot plowing and salting

Win seasonal contracts to plow and salt small business parking lots and sidewalks.

  • $5k-25k
  • Part-time
  • Out and about
117,969 US businesses with employees in this field, +0.7% in a year
A technician installing an intruder alarm sensor on a house wall.

Mobile alarm installer and dealer

Sell and install home and small business alarm systems at customers' properties, working from a van and a home office.

  • $2k-10k
  • Part-time
  • Out and about
7,151 US businesses with employees in this field, +1.6% in a year
Installer fitting a garden sprinkler system pipe in a lawn.

Residential sprinkler system installer

Design and install lawn and garden sprinkler systems for homeowners and new builds.

  • $4k-20k
  • Part-time
  • Out and about
117,969 US businesses with employees in this field, +0.7% in a year

Sprinkler repair and seasonal service

Fix leaks and broken heads, then service systems each spring and fall for repeat clients.

  • $1.5k-8k
  • Side hustle
  • Out and about
117,969 US businesses with employees in this field, +0.7% in a year
A stylist arranges cushions and furniture in a bright, empty living room.

Home staging consultant

Walk through listings, give sellers a plan, and style homes using what they already own.

  • $300-2k
  • Side hustle
  • Out and about
3,469 US businesses with employees in this field, +1.8% in a year

Full-service home stager with inventory

Own a stock of furniture and decor, and style empty or occupied listings for agents and sellers.

  • $5k-25k
  • Part-time
  • Out and about
3,469 US businesses with employees in this field, +1.8% in a year
Workers loading rubble and rubbish into a skip at a cleared building site.

Junk and debris hauling with a truck

Load up and haul away unwanted items and household debris for homeowners, landlords and small businesses.

  • $1.5k-12k
  • Side hustle
  • Out and about
1,571 US businesses with employees in this field, +7.8% in a year

Construction site and renovation debris cleanup

Clear rubble, offcuts and demolition waste for contractors and remodelers on a regular basis.

  • $3k-15k
  • Part-time
  • Out and about
1,571 US businesses with employees in this field, +7.8% in a year
Mechanic servicing a petrol lawn mower on a workbench in a repair shop.

Mobile lawn mower repair and tune-ups

Fix and service mowers and garden tools at customers' homes or landscaping yards.

  • $2.5k-10k
  • Side hustle
  • Out and about
1,670 US businesses with employees in this field, -2.0% in a year
Gardener pruning a border in a well-kept residential garden.

Recurring yard and garden maintenance

Mow, weed, prune and tidy yards for homeowners on a weekly or bi-weekly schedule.

  • $1.5k-8k
  • Side hustle
  • Out and about
117,969 US businesses with employees in this field, +0.7% in a year

Garden cleanups and flower bed care

Weekend jobs: overgrown beds, seasonal cleanups, mulching and planting for local homeowners.

  • $300-2k
  • Side hustle
  • Out and about
117,969 US businesses with employees in this field, +0.7% in a year
Man having leather shoes polished with cloth at a shoe shine stand.

Mobile shoe shine for offices and events

Bring a portable shine kit to offices, weddings and events and leave leather shoes looking sharp.

  • $200-800
  • Side hustle
  • Out and about
698 US businesses with employees in this field, -3.1% in a year
Workers fitting exterior cladding boards on the side of a house.

Siding repair and small-job specialist

Fix storm-damaged, rotted or loose siding and re-side small areas for local homeowners.

  • $2.5k-10k
  • Side hustle
  • Out and about
9,142 US businesses with employees in this field, -0.5% in a year

Full-house siding installation crew

Lead a small crew that re-sides whole homes and small commercial buildings.

  • $12k-50k
  • Full-time
  • Out and about
9,142 US businesses with employees in this field, -0.5% in a year
Designer reviewing a garden layout plan with planting sketches on a table outdoors.

Landscape designer with project management

Design the yard, then hire and oversee local crews to build it for a managed project fee.

  • $2k-10k
  • Part-time
  • Out and about
5,176 US businesses with employees in this field, -0.8% in a year
Locksmith fitting a new lock to a front door at a house.

Mobile emergency locksmith

Drive to homes, businesses and cars to open lockouts and replace locks, day or night.

  • $5k-20k
  • Part-time
  • Out and about
3,961 US businesses with employees in this field, -0.8% in a year

Evening and weekend lockout and rekey locksmith

Handle home lockouts and rekeying outside your day job, working from your car with a compact tool kit.

  • $1.5k-6k
  • Side hustle
  • Out and about
3,961 US businesses with employees in this field, -0.8% in a year

About these ideas

Some ideas are light to start, like mobile knife and tool sharpening or a residential gutter cleaning route. Others, such as an evening and weekend lockout and rekey locksmith, need training and a clean reputation for trust. Start by deciding how far you will drive, which hours you can work and whether you want repeat customers or one-off jobs. Then look at what your state or city may require for licensing, insurance and vehicle use, and price your travel time into every quote.

More ideas

Questions

Do I need a license to start a mobile home services business?

It depends on the trade and where you work. Locksmithing, pest control and some installation work may be regulated at the state or local level, while others may not be. Check with your state licensing board and city before taking paying customers.

What insurance should I look into for work in customers' homes?

Ask an insurance agent about general liability cover, commercial vehicle cover if you use a van or truck, and protection for your tools and equipment. If you hire help, also check workers' compensation rules in your state. Some clients may ask for proof of cover.

How do I price jobs when I travel to each customer?

Add up fuel, vehicle wear, tools, insurance and the time spent driving, not just time on site. Many mobile businesses set a call-out fee or service area zones. Check what local competitors charge, then test your prices on a few early jobs.