Mobile truck accessory sales and fitting

Bring accessories and fitting to contractors, fleets and truck owners at their yard or driveway.

Startup cost$8k to $35k
Monthly revenue$4k to $20k
Time needed15+ h/week
First incomeWeeks
  • $8k-35k
  • Part-time
  • Out and about
  • Licence or permit needed

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

Official data

38,567 US businesses with employees in this field, -0.5% in a year

NAICS 441310 “Automotive parts and accessories stores”. Source: U.S. Census Bureau, County Business Patterns 2023.

What it is

A van or trailer stocked with popular accessories and tools. You sell and install items such as bed liners, lights, hitches and racks at the customer's workplace or home.

Your first three steps

  1. Make a short list of the accessories you can fit well, and price each one for product and labor
  2. Set up a distributor account, equip a used van or trailer with tools and a small stock of fast sellers
  3. Visit local contractors, landscapers and small fleet owners and offer a free quote and fitting day
Who pays

Contractors, small fleets, farms and private truck owners who can't spare time to visit a shop.

How it makes money

Product margin plus a labor or call-out charge for each job. Fleet customers can supply regular repeat work.

Skills that help
  • Fitting and basic vehicle wiring
  • Knowing truck and van models
  • Customer service and quoting
  • Scheduling and route planning
Watch out for
  • Check your city or county business license and state sales tax registration
  • General liability plus coverage for work done on customers' vehicles, and commercial auto insurance for your own van
  • Check local rules about doing installs on customers' property and in public places
  • Bad weather can limit outdoor installs, so plan for it
  • Wiring work may need specific skills, so get training before taking on electrical jobs

Deep research report · US

Everything you need to start: mobile truck accessory sales and fitting

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

Questions people ask

How much does it cost to start a mobile truck accessory business?

Startup costs are typically around $8,000 to $35,000, depending on your van or trailer, tools and how much stock you carry. These are estimates, so price your own setup before committing.

How much can a mobile truck accessory fitter earn?

Monthly revenue is typically around $4,000 to $20,000, depending on how many jobs you book, your stock and your pricing. That is revenue before costs, and bad weather can limit outdoor installs.

What licenses and insurance should I check before starting?

Check your city or county business license and state sales tax registration. Also check general liability, coverage for work on customers' vehicles, commercial auto insurance for your van, and local rules about installs on customers' property and in public places.

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