Unique Local Services Making Lots of Money

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Most people think they need to build a startup or sell digital products to make real money.

But I’ve been diving into local service businesses lately - think dog door installs, trash bin cleaning, backyard putting greens - and the numbers are wild.

These are simple, low-overhead businesses pulling in $5K–$15K/month with almost no competition. No tech skills, no investors, no endless product tweaks. Just solving real problems in the real world.

So today, I’m breaking down some of the most unique and profitable local businesses I’ve found - and how you could spin one up fast.

Let’s jump in!

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⭐️ Examples:

I got these examples from Tim Richard’s Uncommon Profits newsletter:

Paddleboard Rentals ($8K/month) - A simple, low-overhead operation that rents out paddleboards at lakes and beaches. It's seasonal, but with the right location, it pulls consistent profits.

Backyard Putting Greens ($144K/year) - This business installs artificial putting greens in people's backyards. Each job brings in about $3–10K and only takes a few days to complete. Niche, but golf fanatics are willing to pay a premium. Marketing is mostly Facebook Ads + word-of-mouth.

Oversized Game Rentals ($200 - $500 per event) - Giant Connect Four, Jenga, Chess - renting oversized games is a popular, high-margin niche that caters to events, weddings, and parties.

Pet Door Installations ($2K–$8K/month) - This guy installs dog and cat doors in residential homes—usually takes 1–2 hours per job. Charge $200–$500 per install with minimal startup costs. Most clients supply the door, but you can upsell premium ones. Zero competition in most cities. Facebook Groups, local SEO, and referrals drive most bookings.

You could probably do something like the above in your local area.

🧐 Opportunities:

Here are some other unique local businesses:

Curb Address Painting - A surprisingly profitable service where you paint street numbers onto curbs. High volume, low competition, and minimal startup costs.

Bouncy Castle Rentals - Renting inflatable bouncy castles to events and parties. A classic local business that's evergreen thanks to constant demand from families.

Luxury Picnic Setups - Curated outdoor picnic experiences: rugs, pillows, low tables, flowers, and charcuterie. Booked for birthdays, proposals, and baby showers. High perceived value. Instagram is the main growth lever.

Outdoor Movie Rentals- Inflatable screen, projector, speaker system - booked for backyards, schools, or community events. Minimal setup time, upsell with snacks or seating.

Residential Window Tinting - Install UV and heat-reducing films on windows. Big in hot climates. Homeowners pay hundreds per room. One-person operation with high hourly ROI.

Trash Bin Cleaning - Residential trash bins get nasty. This business would use a custom trailer rig to pressure-wash and deodorize bins. Often subscription-based.

Mailbox Installations - Swapping out old mailboxes and installing new decorative or secure ones. Simple tools, fast jobs, minimal overhead. Ideal for suburbs. A few installs per day adds up quick, and it’s often a pain-point people don’t know how to solve themselves.

Baby-Proofing Services - Install gates, cabinet locks, corner guards, and anti-tip furniture kits. New parents will pay for peace of mind.

TV Mounting Services - $150–$300 per job. Minimal tools. Upsell cable concealment, soundbar setup, or multi-room installs.

Shed Assembly - Assemble pre-fab sheds from Costco/Home Depot. $300–$600 per job. People hate doing this themselves.

Christmas Light Installation - Seasonal but massive margins. $500–$2K per house. Upsell take-down and storage. Booked solid from October to December.

Fence & Gate Repair - Fix sagging fences, broken latches, and wood rot. Homeowners don’t know how to do it and will gladly pay.

🚀 How to Grow:

Here are the exact growth strategies I would use for a local business.

Local Visibility & SEO

1. Google Business Profile – Set it up, optimize it, and get reviews. #1 driver for local leads.

2. Local Service Pages – One page per city/neighbourhood you serve. Helps rank for “dog door installation [city]”.

3. Before/After Blog Posts – Show the job,and explain what was done. Google eats this up.

4. Citations & Directories – Submit to Yelp, Angi, Nextdoor, Thumbtack, etc.

Social Proof & Content

5. Instagram Reels & TikToks – Time-lapses, transformations, voiceovers. Humanizes you + builds trust.

6. Customer Video Testimonials – Even casual phone-shot ones crush.

7. Before/After Photo Gallery – Use it everywhere: site, social, flyers.

8. Referral Program – “$25 off your next job for every person you refer.” Easy win.

Paid Ads

9. Facebook Ads – Target local zip codes. Use visuals (jobs, testimonials, offers).

10. Google Ads (Local Services) – Pay-per-lead. Great for urgent services (e.g. “TV mounting near me”).

11. Nextdoor Sponsored Posts – Crazy cheap CPMs if your target demo is over 30.

Offers & Lead Gen

12. Free Quote Form – Short form on your site with city, phone, and service type.

13. “Book Now, Save $50” Offer – Creates urgency.

14. Seasonal Packages – Bundle multiple small jobs (e.g. dog door + baby gate install).

15. Upsells on Confirmation Pages – “Want us to install a dog gate too while we’re there?”

Operational Tweaks

16. Follow-up SMS Sequences – Text quotes, reminders, reviews requests. Fastest way to close leads.

17. Job Scheduling Tools – Use Calendly or Square to reduce back-and-forth.

18. Hire/Subcontract Once Booked Out – Don’t wait to hit a wall. Train fast.

19. Pre-Vetted Packages – Flat pricing for common jobs. Reduces friction & questions.

Authority & Trust

20. Use Your Face – On the site, videos, socials. Builds trust.

21. “How it works” Page – Show process in plain language. Reduces friction.

22. FAQ Videos – Answer the most common pre-sale questions on video. Works on social and SEO.

23. 5-Star Review Blitz – After every job, ask in person and automate reminders.

🤯 Recommendations

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