No doubt you will have seen the stories about people making money with Uber and Lyft. This is a good option that is worth exploring, but there are other ways to make money by driving. Below, we’ve outlined some of the most brilliant and lucrative business ideas out there that involve driving.
Delivery driver business
There are many businesses that need deliveries on a regular basis. Your car becomes your shop and you can take people’s orders, then drive the food or whatever to their front door. Try specifying a minimum order value to make a bit of money from it too. The best place to look for driving work and delivery driver jobs in particular is Shiply.
Trucking business
Maybe you don’t want to be stuck in a car all day. You can still make money by buying a truck and transporting anything that’ll fit into the back of it – everything from furniture to fridge/freezers! Just try regular routes, such as shuttling around shops, factories, and businesses within your regular travel route otherwise you may end up spending more on fuel than you make in profit.
Car salesperson
If you have a good relationship with your local car sales lot, approach them to see if they need any help. If not, why not set up your own garage and sell cars on the side? Even if it’s just one or two cars you can make a decent amount of money working for yourself. Sell at auctions or get in touch with the local cab companies to find out if they’re in need of a second-hand vehicle.
Chauffeur business
Bus companies and taxi firms are always looking for extra drivers. If you can’t be bothered with the constant driving, then why not set up your own chauffeur service instead? Hire a couple of cars and become a luxury alternative to taxis.
Mechanic
If you’re not bothered about the actual driving, then why not set up your own mechanic business. If there are lots of small businesses in your area, approach them to see if they need any help fixing their cars. Charge by the job rather than by the hour and make sure you have sufficient insurance cover – or take out a policy yourself.
Valeting business
If you don’t mind a bit of elbow grease, you could try setting up a car valeting service. Take the hassle out of people’s hands by offering to come to their house or work and polish them for free! Advertise your services online, put an ad in the local paper, or simply go door-to-door asking if people would like you to wash their car.
Uber driver and Lyft driver
The most popular option is to sign up with Uber and/or Lyft and start driving for a living straightaway. The main benefit is that you are your own boss. There are lots of apps that can help you to find out if there is enough demand in your area to make driving for Uber or Lyft worthwhile – try Farecast and RideGuru.
