The Best Service Business to Start in 2025 on a Budget
If you’re ready to break free from the typical nine-to-five, this is your sign to start your own service business and become a business owner.
These top five service business ideas are easy to start, low-cost, and profitable—the perfect recipe for success. With hard work and commitment, you’ll see a return on your investment sooner than you might think.
These are the best businesses to start in 2025:
If you have the entrepreneurial bug or the spirit—don’t even second guess yourself. Don’t think about it or listen to anyone else. Just do it.
1. Pressure washing business
The US pressure washing market is currently valued at $1.2 billion USD, highlighting a fast-growing industry with plenty of opportunities.
A pressure washing business uses high-pressure water sprays to clean dirt, stains, and grime from surfaces (patios, driveways, building exteriors, etc.), making them look as good as new. If you enjoy working outdoors and tackling larger projects, this could be the perfect business idea for you.
Pro Tip: Ease yourself into projects by starting with flat surfaces like driveways, sidewalks, and walkways. These are easier surfaces to clean, have a lower risk of property damage, and let you build more experience as you start out.
I went from making $300 the first year to $200,000 last year. Not only that, I’ve been doing it part-time. All the work is on the weekends.
4 benefits of starting a pressure washing business
Starting your own pressure washing business comes with a whole bunch of benefits, including:
- Low startup cost – A pressure washing business requires a small budget, which makes it the perfect gig for young aspiring entrepreneurs.
- Consistent revenue – People focused on maintaining strong curb appeal can provide you with steady demand and a reliable source of revenue.
- Flexible schedules – You can set your rates and create your own schedule, making it an ideal way to earn money while maintaining a work-life balance.
- Easy referrals – The finished results speak for themselves. As more people see your work, you’ll begin earning referrals from customers’ families, friends, and neighbors.
There are days we go out and make $1,000, then there are days we make $3,000. There’s even been days where we’ve made upwards of like $6,000–$8,000.
Pressure washing equipment and supplies
The average startup cost for a basic setup ranges from $600 to $800, covering essentials like a pressure washer and a surface cleaner. The costs may increase as you expand your equipment and supplies.
Check out this list of equipment and supplies you’ll need to start your pressure washing business:
- Pressure washer and pump
- Surface cleaner
- Pressure washer wands and nozzles
- Extension cord
- Heavy-duty water hose
- Cleaning chemicals
- Vehicle
If you don’t have the budget to start, go rent a machine for a hundred bucks a day and go wash five or six driveways. Then, when you make enough, go and buy your own machine.
2. Car detailing business
The car wash and auto detailing industry’s market size is currently around $19.8 billion USD, making it a promising industry to enter. If you enjoy working with cars, this could be the right business opportunity for you.
A car detailing business offers careful cleaning services to make cars look their best, inside and out. Unlike a standard car wash, car detailing requires specialized techniques and products to achieve a polished look without scratching or damaging the vehicle.
4 benefits of starting a car detailing business
Here are four reasons why starting a car detailing business might be the right move for you:
- Consistent client base – Car detailing can be time-consuming, and clients who value convenience will become repeat customers if you provide quality car detailing services.
- Low startup costs – Car detailing doesn’t require costly equipment, making it an affordable business idea for new entrepreneurs.
- Flexible setup – Car detailing offers flexibility in both location and services. You can set up from a fixed location (like your home or a shop) or a mobile detailing service (your car).
- A lot of growth potential – You can easily upsell additional services alongside car detailing. For example, you can detail cars as well as offer car wrapping services.
Pro Tip: Start a customer referral program to engage existing clients with your services and generate new leads. Doing so can help you build a loyal client base and a strong brand reputation.
Don’t be too focused on just being a detailer. Focus on everything else [marketing, sales, client service] that comes with running a business to be successful.
Car detailing equipment and supplies
The typical upfront cost to offer essential car detailing services can range from $300 to $500.
Here’s a full list of equipment and supplies you’ll need to start your car detailing business:
- Bucket
- Wash mat
- Drying towel
- Car cleaning brush
- Heavy-duty water hose
- Shop vacuum
- Chemical cleaners (for interior and exterior)
- Spray bottles
- Vehicle
As you gain more jobs, you can invest in better supplies to streamline your car detailing services. Here are some optional car detailing supplies, including:
- Electrical pressure washer – A pressure washer (with 1,800 PSI) can reduce the physical effort required to clean a car’s exterior. This is especially helpful when cleaning things like car tires.
- Built-in car water tank – If you run a mobile car detailing business, adding a water tank to your vehicle will save you from having to ask clients to use their water source.
I started off in my personal vehicle with a very small budget and a few tools and products. Buy what you can afford, grow your business, and little by little, you’ll make the upgrades to whatever you want.
3. Cleaning business
The average revenue for the cleaning industry grew by 11% each year, between 2021 and 2023. Starting a cleaning business taps into an enormous industry with plenty of potential clients.
A cleaning business offers cleaning services to help keep homes and spaces neat and tidy. Plus, you can offer a wide range of cleaning services, like laundry services or carpet cleaning, to appeal to different clients in your service area.
Pro Tip: To help choose your services, research what other cleaning businesses are offering in your area. You can also speak to potential clients and ask what types of cleaning services they’ll need.
I didn’t know I could make so much money cleaning. I made over $1,000 in one day, and that was amazing!
4 benefits of starting a cleaning business
Thinking about starting a cleaning business? Here are four benefits you’ll want to consider:
- Low startup costs – It requires minimal investment, meaning you can start your service business for a few hundred dollars or so.
- Quick startup time – Once you have the business registration, insurance, equipment, website, and marketing up and running, you can start cleaning within a matter of days.
- Flexible work hours – You can accept as many (or as few) clients as you want and schedule their cleanings based on what works best for you.
- No required training – All you’ll need is a solid grasp on cleaning techniques and an understanding of client expectations.
Cleaning business equipment and supplies
Depending on the cleaning services you offer, you can run a cleaning business for as little as $500.
Below is a list of equipment and supplies you can use to start your cleaning business:
- Bucket
- Cleaning chemicals
- Mop
- Duster
- Spray bottles
- Microfibre cloth
- Vacuum cleaner
- Squeegee tool
- Vehicle
I didn’t have a huge bank account. I just started looking at other companies, seeing what worked for them. Literally, under $500 is all you need to get started.
4. Lawn care business
Do you enjoy the outdoors, the smell of fresh-cut grass, and being your own boss? Running a lawn care business might be just for you. A lawn care business offers services to improve and maintain the appearance of lawns.
The core service includes lawn mowing and weed pulling, but you can expand your services and offer mulching, pest control, trimming bushes, and cleaning up leaves, just to name a few.
READ MORE: 10 simple ways to get your first 100 lawn care customers
I hear a lot say you can’t make a living mowing lawns. That’s not true. If you’re all in, you can definitely make a living and earn some good money.
Just be happy doing what you’re doing.
4 benefits of starting a lawn care business
Here are four benefits of starting your own lawn care business:
- Minimal investment required – You can invest in as little as a mower to get started.
- You can get many repeat clients – Lawn mowing is typically a weekly service. If you do a great job, clients will trust you and keep using your services.
- Control over your schedule and income – Running a lawn care business lets you decide when you work, what services you offer, and how much you charge for those services.
- Easy to upsell and cross-sell services – Boost your revenue by offering additional services to your lawn care business, like raking leaves or installing Christmas lights.
Pro Tip: Offer services you know you’ll excel at providing. Whether it’s mowing lawns or trimming bushes, you can focus on quality service that builds trust and keeps clients coming back.
Over time, $500 jobs became a $1,000 jobs. Then $2,000, $3,000, $5,000.
Lawn care equipment and supplies
Starting a lawn care business can cost as low as $250 for just a lawn mower and weed trimmer.
Here’s the full list of equipment and supplies you can buy to start your lawn care business:
- Push mow
- Weed trimmer
- Vehicle
Whether it’s a work truck or a van—you need a vehicle to carry your equipment from one job site to another.
To attract new potential customers on the go, consider wrapping your vehicle or applying a decal that includes your lawn care business name, logo, and contact information.
If you bite the bullet early, wrap your vehicle [just the first one]. This will help grow your business because people drive by and see you. This sticks in their mind when they need a lawn care or landscaping company.
5. Pooper scooper business
Don’t mind getting into some dirty work? Try running a pooper scooper business.
A pooper scooper business cleans up pet waste where dogs do their business (e.g., backyards, parks). It’s quick to scoop and dispose of pet waste, so you’ll be able to service a ton of clients quickly.
One Scooper can usually do about 125 houses a week. We’re productive, and our route density is really tight so we’re making money that way.
4 benefits of starting a pooper scooper business
Running a pet waste removal business is a pretty rewarding gig. Here are four benefits:
- Low barrier to entry – The upfront costs can be really low. There’s no need for any significant investments in equipment or a physical storefront.
- Requires no special skills – A pooper scooper business requires little training, as all you do is pick up pet poop and dispose of it.
- Easy to expand and/or upsell services – You can offer weekly cleanup or deodorizing services to boost your revenue.
- Improves our environmental health – Keeping our city’s yards, parks, and public spaces free of pet waste reduces bacteria from polluting soil and water.
Pooper scooper business equipment and supplies
Gloves, a bucket, trash bags, and a rake can cost a minimum of just under $200.
Here’s a list of equipment and supplies you need to start a pooper scooper business:
- Plastic standing dustpan
- Child’s garden rake
- Trash bag
- Disinfectant
- Rubber gloves
- Plastic buckets
- Vehicle
It cost me $1,000 to get started with the tools I needed. However, you can easily get away with spending under $200 just for a bucket and rake.
LISTEN HERE: To explore what it’s like running a pooper scooper business, tune into Erica’s episode on the Masters of Home Service podcast.
Kickstart your service business today
That’s a wrap on the best service business to start with minimal investment. Once you’ve chosen the right business for you, you’re ready to choose a business name, create a business plan, and develop your marketing strategy.
To learn more about profitable business ideas, hear from real service providers on how to turn your small budget into a thriving venture.