Online lighting plan service

Send clients a room-by-room lighting plan based on their photos and floor plans.

Startup cost$300 to $1.5k
Monthly revenue$500 to $2.5k
Time needed6+ h/week
First incomeMonths
  • $300-1.5k
  • Side hustle
  • Online

Estimates for a small start in the US, not guarantees.

Official data

3,469 US businesses with employees in this field, +1.8% in a year

NAICS 541490 “Other specialized design services”. Source: U.S. Census Bureau, County Business Patterns 2023.

What it is

Clients send photos, measurements and a short questionnaire. You return a lighting plan with fixture positions, bulb types, color temperature and product suggestions, and offer a video call to walk through it.

Your first three steps

  1. Create one sample plan for a typical living room and kitchen to show as examples
  2. Set up a simple website with package prices and an intake form for photos and measurements
  3. Share your sample plans in local and online home improvement groups to find first clients
Who pays

Homeowners and renters doing DIY updates, small landlords, and people working with a local electrician who want a plan first.

How it makes money

Fixed-price packages, for example per room or whole home, with optional extras like a video call or a revised plan.

Skills that help
  • Lighting and design basics
  • Clear writing and simple diagrams
  • Using design or drawing software
Watch out for
  • Make clear that plans are suggestions and a licensed electrician must do any wiring, check local permit rules
  • Remote work means you cannot check conditions on site, so state what you rely on the client to measure
  • Professional liability insurance and clear terms of service
  • Sales tax on digital services varies by state, check with your state's tax agency

Deep research report · US

Everything you need to start: online lighting plan service

Researched with live web search for United States: real startup prices, the licences and rules, what others charge, a break-even example, how to find your first customers and a 30-day launch plan. With sources.

  • Startup costs with real prices
  • Licences, registration and rules
  • Pricing: what others charge
  • Break-even example
  • Finding your first customers
  • 30-day launch plan
  • Risks and how to reduce them
Ready in about 2 minutes · one-off payment, tax included

See a full sample report

Questions people ask

How much does it cost to start an online lighting plan service?

Estimates suggest startup costs typically around $300 to $1,500, depending on the design or drawing software you choose, your insurance and how you set up your website and terms of service.

How much can an online lighting plan service earn?

Monthly revenue is typically estimated at around $500 to $2,500, depending on how many plans you sell and whether you offer video call walk-throughs. The estimate assumes at least about 6 hours a week.

What should I check before selling lighting plans online?

Make clear your plans are suggestions and a licensed electrician must do any wiring, and check local permit rules. State what you rely on clients to measure. Check sales tax on digital services with your state's tax agency.

Other ways to run this business

Similar business services ideas

More ideas →