Small pay-to-park lot

Commuters, shoppers, visitors, hospital and campus visitors, and nearby businesses that need extra space.

Hourly, daily or monthly parking fees. Monthly permits for local workers give steady income, and short-stay drivers add higher rates at busy times.

• Organizing and basic bookkeeping
• Negotiating a lease or management deal
• Customer service and handling disputes calmly

• Zoning and land use rules for paid parking, which vary by city and county
• Whether your city or state charges a parking tax or requires a parking operator license
• Liability insurance for the premises, and what the lease says about damage, theft and accidents
• Accessible (ADA) space, signage and lighting requirements
• Rules about towing or booting unpaid cars, which are strict in many places. Check before you enforce anything
• Lease length and rent compared with realistic income, especially in slow seasons

Startup costs are typically around $5,000 to $30,000, depending on the lot, signage and how drivers pay. Compare your lease and rent with realistic income, especially in slow seasons. Treat this as an estimate.

Monthly revenue is typically around $2,500 to $12,000, depending on location and how busy the lot is. This is revenue before rent, upkeep and insurance, and it can drop in slow seasons. It is an estimate only.

Check zoning and land use rules for paid parking, any city or state parking tax or operator license, premises liability insurance and lease terms. Also check ADA requirements, and rules on towing or booting before you enforce anything.