When dreaming up new business ideas, some of the most boring businesses are often overlooked. However, it’s the boring business ideas that can often be the most sustainable and profitable.
The Best Boring Businesses to Start This Year
All of these boring businesses have one thing in common—they provide services that people rely on. These businesses are always in demand, even when the economy slows down. This makes them an excellent investment or start-up idea.
If you’re thinking of starting a new business venture, these boring but profitable businesses should definitely be on your radar!
1. Property Management
Many property owners don’t have the time to manage their properties themselves. Because of this, they often outsource this part of the business to property management businesses.
Property management companies take care of pretty much every aspect of managing residential and commercial properties. This includes:
- Finding and vetting tenants
- Repairs and maintenance
- Collecting rent
- Property inspections
- Accounting
- Evictions
- Cleaning
This lucrative business idea is perfect for anyone who is highly organized and proactive. And best of all, the startup costs are low.
2. Vending Machine Business
The vending machine industry is booming, and it’s showing no signs of slowing down. This makes it an excellent option for anyone looking for a low-maintenance business that can make a steady income around the clock.
One of the best things about this business model is that you can start small with just one or two vending machines. As you start to turn a profit, you can slowly expand and add more machines.
Check out our in-depth guide on how to start a vending machine business for everything you need to get started.
3. Pest Control Services
Pests are everywhere, which is why starting a pest control business can be extremely profitable! One of the best things about starting a pest control business is that you can offer a monthly subscription service to businesses that need your services on an ongoing basis. For example, restaurants and schools need constant monitoring.
4. Cleaning Business
Although the thought of starting a cleaning business may not fill you with excitement, cleaning services are always in demand and, therefore, can be highly profitable. It’s also possible to start a cleaning business with very little upfront investment. Because of this, it’s a great option if you’re starting out on a budget.
If you think starting your own cleaning business could be the right move for you, check out our in-depth guide on how to start a cleaning business.
5. Laundromat
A laundromat (or laundrette, depending on where you’re located in the world!) is undoubtedly one of the most boring businesses around. However, it’s also one of the most profitable! Once it’s set up, it can provide a regular monthly cash flow with very little input from the owner after the initial investment.
You will need a suitable site, and then you can either buy or rent your machines depending on how much capital you have available to invest. Once your machines are set up, customers can use the self-service machines when they need to. This makes it a great hands-off business model.
6. Car Wash
Much like a laundromat, a car wash business can be relatively hands-off once it’s all up and running. There are a few different business models you can choose from for a car wash. These include:
- Full-service car wash
- Automated car wash machine
- Self-service car wash
To find out more about the different options available, check out our full guide on how to start a car wash business. You might also want to check out these cool car wash names!
7. Storage Units
Despite being one of the most boring businesses around, starting a self-storage business can be surprisingly profitable!
You will need some secure units like shipping containers that customers can access themselves when they need to. Because people tend to store items over a long period of time, this business model can be great for providing a reliable recurring monthly income.
Check out our list of catchy storage business name ideas to get some ideas flowing.
8. Lead Generation
Businesses are always looking for new leads, so starting a lead-generation business can be extremely lucrative.
There are lots of ways you can go about generating leads, these include:
- SEO and Content Marketing
- Paid ads
- Cold outreach
Whichever method you choose, you will need to work hard and be consistent—but the rewards are worth the effort! Check out our step-by-step guide on how to start a lead generation business if you want to hit the ground running.
9. Amazon FBA
If you’ve been thinking of starting an e-commerce business but don’t have space to store large amounts of inventory, starting an Amazon FBA business could be a great option for you.
Amazon FBA has enabled millions of start-ups and small businesses to grow, providing the infrastructure for e-commerce businesses to thrive without business owners having to store inventory or manage the logistics of packing and shipping products. Spencer went from $0 to $4399 with Amazon FBA in just 30 days!
Here’s how it works:
- You source products you want to sell and have them shipped directly to the Amazon FBA warehouse
- When a product sells, it will be picked, packed, and shipped directly to the customer by Amazon
- You get paid minus a small fee for storage, shipping, and handling.
The best thing about Amazon FBA is how easy it is to scale your own business. Since you don’t need to store or manage the logistics of shipping products yourself, you can focus all of your efforts on finding profitable products to sell!
These are the best Amazon FBA courses to get you started.
10. Affiliate Marketing
If you’re looking for a business with low start-up costs, Affiliate marketing is definitely worth considering. Affiliate marketers make money by promoting products and services provided by other businesses in return for a commission.
Affiliate commissions can range from 2% up to 50% or more on each sale, so it can be very lucrative if you’re promoting the right products. Some subscription products can even earn a recurring monthly commission, which can make affiliate marketing a great source of passive income.
Check out our complete guide on affiliate marketing for beginners to get started.
If you’re interested in starting a low-cost, high-profit business, affiliate marketing is an excellent option, and Matt Diggity’s Affiliate Lab course is a comprehensive resource that can help you get started. The course provides step-by-step guidance on how to create and grow an affiliate website, optimize it for SEO, and sell it for a profit.
11. Blogging
Starting your own blog is a great way to make money online, and although blogging isn’t strictly a boring business idea, there are plenty of boring niches out there that have excellent opportunity for profitability!
Bloggers can earn money in a variety of ways, including:
- Display ads
- Affiliate Marketing
- Sponsored content
- Brand partnerships
Anyone can start a blog and be up and running in a matter of hours. Check out our full guide on how to start a blog for everything you need to know.
12. Tanning Salon
Tanning salons are popular in large towns and cities with a younger population, so if you live in a college or university city, this could be a good business for you. A tanning salon is relatively low-maintenance and can be run with just one member of staff to greet customers and keep an eye on things.
Offering a monthly subscription service can generate recurring revenue, and of course, the more sunbeds you have, the more money you can make!
13. Pressure Washing Business
A pressure washing business is just as good for those looking for a weekend side hustle as for someone looking for a full-time career. The start-up costs are relatively low, and the earning potential is high, making it a great opportunity for someone who loves being outdoors.
Our guide on how to start a pressure washing business tells you everything you need to know to start a successful business from the ground up.
14. Bookkeeping
Sure, bookkeeping is one of the most boring businesses around. However, it’s also an essential service that many businesses require to run smoothly.
Many small and medium-sized businesses choose to outsource their financial management and business processes, so if you’ve got the qualifications required to offer bookkeeping services, this could be a great business idea for you.
You can get started by advertising your services to local businesses and even attending local networking events.
15. Pet Services
With around 66% of households in the US owning a pet, pet services are always in demand. You could offer a variety of services to your furry clients, including:
- Dog Walking
- Pet sitting
- Drop-ins and feeding
- Grooming
- Training
You will need insurance, but otherwise, the start-up costs for pet services are generally low.
16. Equipment Rental Business
Equipment rental businesses can be extremely profitable. You can rent out anything from generators to power tools and even bouncy castles! the best thing about owning a rental business is that once you’ve made back your initial investment, the profit margins are really high!
Before you start investing in equipment, it’s important to do some market research to make sure what you’re buying is in demand in your area. You will also need to consider where you will store your equipment, such as a secure shipping container or warehouse.
17. Gardening Services
Many people love having a garden but are unable to maintain it themselves due to time or physical constraints. This is why gardening services are always in high demand!
Starting your own gardening business is a great option for anyone who wants to get outside and work in their local community. You can advertise your service through word of mouth, social media, or by printing flyers and delivering them in the area you want to work in.
18. Plumbing Services
Undoubtedly one of the most boring businesses on this list, Plumbing is (and probably always will be) one of the most essential services around. This makes it a great option if you’re looking for a recession-proof business.
Plumbing is a very physical job, so in many cases, it won’t generate passive income. However, once your business starts to grow, you can begin to employ other team members and eventually remove yourself from the day-to-day operations of the business.
19. Start an eBay Business
The thought of starting an eBay business might not fill you with excitement, but it’s one of the best ways to start a business with no upfront investment.
You can get started by selling things you already own but no longer want or need. Once you have a small pool of cash from selling your own products you can start sourcing products from other places such as wholesalers, thrift stores, and yard sales.
20. Car Rental Business
The global car rental business is booming, valued at over $31.54 billion. This leaves plenty of opportunity for people looking for business opportunities in this industry.
There are lots of business models you can consider including operating as an independent trader, owning a larger dealership, or even buying into a franchise.
Check out our full guide on how to start a car rental business for everything you need to know to get you up and running.
Boring Businesses to Start This Year
Starting your own business can be life changing, but there’s a lot to think about before you get started. Many of the boring businesses on this list can be started with just a small initial investment. However, if you’re considering a business model that will require a larger investment upfront such as a laundromat or a car rental business, you will need to consider how you will raise the finance to get started.
You will also need to think about how you are going to market your business. Building a website is one of the first things you should do when starting a new business, as this will allow your customers to find you by searching online. You can easily create your own website and have it up and running in a matter of hours with Bigscoots.
