Low-Cost Start Up Business: Closet/Garage Clean Out/Haul Away Services

Not a lot of people realize there are legit businesses you can start for little to no start-up costs.

There are simple services that you can provide at little cost to you that can earn you an income and depending on your commitment and motivation you can turn them into full-scale businesses that can be your primary source of revenue. Services for everyday tasks that some people don’t have the time for can lead to big bucks - especially if it’s something you enjoy doing.

One such example of a task to make a business from out of little to no start- up cost is dog-walking.

Another simple task you can get paid for is hauling off people's unwanted items.

There are tons of people whose garages are stuffed with things they haven’t seen in years. There are people with closets full of clothes they never wear. There are people overwhelmed by their inheritance of Grandma’s collection of 300 cuckoo clocks.

And these people don’t have the time or energy to deal with … alllllllll the things. So they are willing to pay someone to come and haul off all the things they don’t need or want.

The best part is, after someone has given up their possessions to you, it’s yours to do with what you want. You can sort through it, and decide what you’re going to do with your new treasure.

When I owned a thrift store, 50% of my inventory was donations from people looking to rid themselves of extra “junk.”

The fun part of this was going through the items, and finding things from far in the past. I ended up getting some very valuable antiques - and was able to sell them at a discounted price and it was pure profit!

The next step was to start an online store (This was a smart choice - as I ended up closing the store due to safety issues related to the building- always have a backup plan folks!) I chose eBay because I have a long history with them- all of it is good. Whatever clothes/items that I have that aren’t in mint condition or don’t look new, I donate to those who need it.

There are several ways you could conduct a business like this- depending on your interests.

Haul away trash and junk - cash out on the metal.

If you aren't into the whole 'one person's trash is another's treasure' and you just want to start a little side hustle you could always offer trash and junk hauling services - if you have the vehicle for it. Oftentimes, small convenience trash centers and trash services will not take away big items. And people (like me) who do not have a truck or a way to haul items off find it difficult and expensive to get these things hauled away.

Then we find ourselves with a growing mound of broken furniture on one side of the house, and then they gotta call Junk-Bee-Gone and that's even more expensive... it's a nightmare.

People who offer hauling services are sometimes a lifesaver! You can offer a fee for your time, and gas, and a fee to cover if you get charged at the dump. Some places will pay you for metal items, especially copper. You could double up on your profits while operating a small hauling hustle.

Offer Clean-Out Services.

Some people inherit their great-aunt Charlotte's entire estate, and Charlotte was a hoarder of music records and her belated husband collected model train sets (very popular item). Some people have just blinked and realized that ever since they got married with children - their basement is full of a bunch of stuff, and they have no clue what it is anymore. Some people realize they have a shopping problem when 90% of both of their spare bedroom closets are stuffed full of clothes that still have the tag on them.

Depending on how elaborate you want your clean-out services to be, you could specialize in curbside pick up of unwanted items for free, or you could even help organize terrifying closets of doom yourself for a fee. Either way, you'll need to be clear to your clients that once the items are in your possession, you have the right to do with them as you please and work out the kinks in your business plan.

Have an eternal yard sale - or go legit.

The great thing about yard sales is that it's cash only. Whether you're only hosting a weekend sale every weekend to get some extra play (or food) money, or if that's how you're supplementing your bills, a cash-only side hustle is great if you're struggling to make ends meet.

If you are a real go-getter, you could invest your time with your newfound treasure from however you're obtaining it at flea markets, local festivals events, or even spread it to the world of the internet. If you think you have found a real treasure - then you could even go and get antique and collectible items authenticated to sell them to collectors for a better price.

Start an online store

When I had my thrift store, I began getting overwhelmed with donations I began selling on eBay so I could move inventory faster. As I found out, an online store is sort of like a writing platform: The more you post, the better you do. Not only do you move up in the listing searches when you do a good job with your posts, but how active your account is reflects your sales too.

Once you have accumulated a good chunk of items, (or you can post as you go, which is my suggestion), you can start an online store on a platform like Etsy or eBay. Last year, I made my family an extra $3,000 which came in handy for the bills when my family fell ill a few times. It's not a lot, but eBay takes care of my tax forms and it saved our hides.

Hard work pays off - and starting a new hustle should remember that consistency and determination are important keys to success.

For those of you looking for a side hustle, a simple haul-off type of service can earn you extra money in multiple ways. I am a big fan of multiple streams of revenue, and if you have a vehicle, this could be the side hustle that helps you make ends meet.

Check out this article I highly recommend by Susan Fourtane!