Ten businesses you can start from your van

Van lease company LeaseVan.co.uk has come up with ten of the most realistic businesses you can start from your van in a bid to encourage people to properly utilise their vehicles and embark on exciting new career paths this year.

From setting up your own cleaning company, to restoring old and worn-out furniture, having a bigger vehicle allows for more flexibility and wider options if you’re looking at becoming your own boss.

Tim Alcock, of LeaseVan.co.uk, said: “Perhaps the sole reason anyone decides to buy or lease a van is for business purposes – but you don’t have to be confined to labour work.

“Nor should you think that you’ll always need to have tonnes of experience in a particular field in order to set up on your own – many business people have succeeded with passion, grit and willpower alone.”

Here are 10 businesses you can start from your van:

1. Cleaning company - This is widely regarded as one of the most straightforward businesses to make money from, and requires minimal effort and costs to get started.

If you love the look and feel of a super clean and tidy home, general domestic cleaning services would be a great focus, and this could include more niche services like carpet cleaning, window cleaning or even pool cleaning, depending on your clientele.

Targeting big business parks is another option, as many companies will outsource their office cleaning to small agencies. Your van will provide ample room for all your cleaning supplies and with some nice branding on the sides, could really help your business succeed.

2. Painter/decorator - If you’ve got a knack for wallpapering and you’re constantly thinking of ways to update the walls of your own home, setting up your own painting and decorating company could be an enjoyable, fuss-free way of making money.

Start by offering your new services to family and friends to build up some experience of working with different people and buildings, before taking to your van and extending your services further afield. It’ll be relatively low cost, too, and you can build up your inventory over time.

3. Gardening - Green-fingered Brits might only dream of being able to work outdoors for a living, but by simply chucking your gardening kit into the back of your van and putting your passion and experience to the test, this could quite easily become a reality.

Thousands of homeowners across the country are guilty of neglecting their gardens, which is where you could come in to save the day, and the great thing about gardening is the results speak for themselves. Simply start working for a neighbour and work your way up to an empire.

4. Dog walking - Animal lovers might love nothing more than the idea of getting to take four-legged friends on mini-adventures day in, day out, so make this idea a reality by offering dog walking services in and around your local area.

This business idea has one of the lowest start-up costs as all you’ll need is your van to pick up your canine chums, and lots of stamina! Advertise on sites like Gumtree or register as a provider on new website BorrowMyDoggy to kick off your new business venture (yes, it’s a real thing!)

5. Pet grooming - Similarly, starting a pet grooming business might be another ideal for animal lovers, but this one requires more training, qualifications and a larger start-up cost.

Certain dogs need regular haircuts just like humans do, but it’s a little bit more complicated and styles vary depending on breed, so you’ll need to receive some proper training in advance which could be costly.

Putting all that aside, once you have the necessary funds and paperwork you could kit out your van and turn it into the perfect mobile pooch parlour!

6. Caterer - If you love cooking, setting up your own catering company could be the perfect idea.

Once you have all the equipment, certificates and licenses, you’ll be able to use your van to ship tasty feasts to the required location and cater to the masses!

Start small by offering buffet-style spreads before finding your niche and creating your own food empire.

7. Photographer/videographer - Nightclubs and weddings, office parties and events… the list of potential clients for photography and videography services is huge.

If you already have a decent camera set-up plus an eye for a great photo, starting out as a freelance photographer could be the perfect business venture and your van will provide plenty of room for all your kit.

Simply market yourself through social media and let your work speak for itself.

8. Mobile hairdresser - If you already have the relevant training, experience and work or have worked as a hairdresser in the past, going it alone as a mobile hairdresser could be the business venture for you.

Hairdressers are known to have a tonne of weird and wonderful pieces of equipment to help with their work, so you’ll be able to stock your van with everything you need and take to the road to make every day a good hair day for your clients.

9. Furniture restorer - Shabby chic, vintage and country style interiors are ever popular, so if furniture renovations are your thing, start making money out of it by commissioning restoration pieces to clients.

You can find fantastic, cheap pieces of furniture in charity shops and second-hand stores which will fit into your van with ease, then you can jazz them up accordingly before delivering them to buyers.

10. Van man (or woman) - Obviously, this list wouldn’t be complete without a nod to the ultimate van business – the good old man (or woman) with a van.

Most people will move to a new house at least once in their life which is where van men are worth their weight in gold. Otherwise, they can be handy for picking up large, bulky items or shipping unwanted belongings to the tip.