3 Local Service Businesses You Can Start Today

Hey, thanks for joining for another week of New Venture Weekly.

I’ve been quite tech-heavy these past few weeks, so today I wanted to take it offline and go back to basics.

This week I’m going to explore 3 local service businesses that you could start right now.

One of the problems from the Problem Database inspired this edition - you can read it in full here.

Let’s jump in!

 👀 Things Worth Checking Out

The best businesses solve specific problems, so I’ve created an ever-expanding database of problems that are begging for a better solution. Check it out here - I’ve added some examples, including the one that inspired this week’s newsletter.

Are you struggling to find the perfect business idea? What if you could consistently generate profitable business ideas, anytime you wanted? The Idea Factory is designed to help you do exactly that.

🧐 Opportunities:

Urban Gardening & Vertical Farming Installation

Don’t know what I mean? Check this video and this video out. There are loads of videos on this topic, so if you don’t know anything about it, it’s easy to learn.

Vertical farming has been gaining a lot of traction online over recent years and with the cost of fresh food continuing to increase and with space getting more and more limited, you can see why.

People want access to fresh produce but have limited space for traditional gardens or want to maximise the space they do have.

Stats & Trends:

• The urban farming market is expected to grow from $174.23 billion in 2025 to $233.61 billion by 2029 (7.6% CAGR), fueled by rooftop farming and circular economy practices (source)

• The global vertical farming market is projected to grow from $9.6 billion in 2025 to $21.12 billion by 2029 (21.8% CAGR) (source)

• Leafy greens dominate production, but strawberries, herbs, and cannabis are fast-growing segments due to technological advancements. (source)

Examples:

• Plenty - Not a service business but just a really cool brand in this space.

• Ambius - Ambius designs and installs living walls and green spaces for offices, retail spaces, and public areas.

• Click & Grow - Offering smart, self-sustaining indoor gardening kits

• Tower Garden - Tower Garden provides aeroponic vertical growing systems ideal for urban settings. They support customers with installation and ongoing guidance.

Cleaning Services for Short-Term Rentals

Short-term rental guests frequently face issues with cleanliness, delayed turnovers, and inconsistent upkeep.

As guest expectations rise, hosts need reliable, on-demand cleaning services with standardized checklists and quality control to boost reviews and occupancy rates.

Stats & Trends:

• Global market size is projected to surge from $138.05B in 2025 to $344.06B by 2034, growing at 10.70% CAGR. (source)

• 72% of travellers prioritize unique stays over traditional hotels1, driving demand for curated local experiences. (source)

• 81% of guests rank cleanliness as top priority (source)

Examples:

• Turno: Connects hosts with vetted cleaning professionals.

• Properly: Offers an app-driven solution for scheduling and quality inspections.

• Breezeway: Provides robust checklists and team management for cleaning and maintenance.

• Guesty: Integrates cleaning scheduling into broader property management.

In-Home Tutoring & After-School Support

With rising academic competition and parents increasingly seeking personalized learning (more on that here), in-home tutoring and after-school support have become must-have services.

Parents want tailored education that fits their child's schedule while ensuring a safe, enriching environment post-school.

Stats & Trends:

• The Global Private Tutoring Market is valued at $130.91 billion in 2025, it is projected to reach $190.44 billion by 2029, growing at a 9.8% CAGR (source)

• Wealthy families and private school students dominate demand, but public school students increasingly seek STEM tutoring, coding boot camps, and career-focused courses. (source)

• Only 64% of U.S. public schools offered academically focused after-school programs in 2023 (down from 66% in 2022), citing staffing shortages and funding instability. (source)

• 73% of after-school programs report sustainability concerns due to expiring pandemic relief funds and hiring difficulties. (source)

Examples:

• Varsity Tutors: Connects students with tutors for personalized sessions.

• Kumon: Demonstrates the demand for structured, individualized learning.

• Tutor.com: Offers flexible options combining online and in-home tutoring.

• Club Z! Tutoring: Focuses on in-home tutoring with a personalized approach.

👷 How to Build:

• Validate Your Niche:

  • Talk to your target market in places they hang out (can be in person, online or over the phone)

• Launch a Simple Page:

  • Create a one-page site with tools like Carrd. Clearly state benefits, add a call-to-action, and include early testimonials.

• Direct Outreach:

  • Attend local events and join online groups to speak directly with potential customers. Pitch them your service and refine based on feedback.

• Early Offers:

  • Provide discounts or free trials to secure your first customers and gather credibility.

🚀 How to Grow:

• Leverage Referrals: Reward customers for referrals and showcase testimonials and case studies.

• Optimize Local SEO: Target local keywords, claim your Google My Business listing, and update local directories.

• Engage on Social: Share success stories, before/after photos, and tips on platforms like Instagram and Facebook.

• Partner Locally: Collaborate with complementary businesses (schools, real estate agents, community centres) for joint promotions.

• Content & Ads: Use blogs, webinars, and targeted Facebook/Google Ads to boost visibility and attract leads.

• Retain Customers: Keep them engaged with newsletters, loyalty programs, or subscription-based models.

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🔥 Cool Stuff

(Bookmark these)

• Find problems that need business solutions - Access the Problems & Pain Points Database.

• Want to grow your business? Here’s a database of tools that can help.

• Want to promote your startup for free? Here’s a database of free places to promote your startup.

• Want to turn your idea into a business? Check out this business idea checklist.

• Want to differentiate from your competitors? Check out this Differentiation Strategy Guide

• Want to run ads for your business? Use these proven psychological ad positioning strategies.

• Like the newsletter and want to show your support? You can buy me a coffee here.