How to Make Money with a Pickup Truck: 11 Business Ideas

1. Hauling services

If you own a pickup truck, chances are that you help friends haul stuff around from time to time. Why not get paid for it?

A hauling service business involves moving large items, or large quantities of items long distances for customers. Although many people require hauling services, you can expect most of your customers to be commercial clients such as retailers.

This is one of the easiest businesses to start with your pickup truck as you don’t need much equipment other than moving straps and tie-downs, which you likely already have. 

When you start a hauling service business, you can expect to help transport items such as:

• Furniture
• Large appliances
• Trees

Start by advertising your services on local platforms like Facebook Marketplace, Craigslist, or community boards, and be sure to set fair rates based on distance, load size, and time.

A general hauling business is also a great foundation for transitioning into more specialized services.

2. Moving assistance

Moving assistance is one of the best service businesses to start for pickup truck owners.

A business offering moving assistance is more specialized than a general hauling business. 

For example, a moving job often requires several trips between two locations. In the case of a residential move, you may be transporting fragile or sentimental items, so extra care is needed. 

The potential scope of a moving service business is also larger as you can offer to package and label items for an additional fee. Your customer would also likely want you to arrange the items in a specific way at their destination. 

A moving services business requires additional equipment beyond straps, such as a dolly and moving blankets to protect the fragile items you transport.

3. Handyman services

If you’re handy with tools and own a pickup truck, you’ve got the perfect combo to start a handyman business.

Use your truck to transport tools, supplies, and equipment to tackle a variety of small jobs, like home repairs, painting, furniture assembly, or minor renovations. 

Depending on the services you want to offer, you’ll need the following tools and equipment to start:

• Allen wrench
• Drill
• Hammer
• Nails and screws
• Paintbrush
• Ladder

With a truck’s storage capacity, you can easily carry everything and take on multiple projects in a day.

4. Junk removal 

Starting a junk removal business is a simple, yet profitable way to make money with your pickup truck. Many people need help getting rid of old furniture, broken appliances, yard waste, or general clutter, and your truck is perfect for the job. 

Offer your services to homeowners, renters, or businesses looking to clear out unwanted items. Charge based on load size and disposal fees at your local dump. You can also bring these items to recycling centers or donation facilities to give them a second life.

Junk removal services is another business idea that you can start with only your pickup truck and some basic equipment, such as: 

• Construction gloves
• Safety glasses
• Garbage bags

READ MORE: How to write a junk removal business plan

5. Landscaping and lawn care

Do you have a green thumb? Turn your love of gardening into a lawn care or landscaping business. 

Offer services such as mowing, garden cleanup, hedge trimming, or delivering landscaping supplies to homeowners and local small businesses. 

A landscaping business requires a little more equipment than the other business ideas on this list, but it can also be more rewarding. Depending on the scope of your services, you’ll need equipment such as:

• Lawn mowers
• Trimmers
• Leaf blowers

Considering how heavy this equipment can be, your pickup truck is a helpful asset in starting a lawn care business. You’ll also need to regularly transport materials like mulch, soil, and plants.

By leveraging your truck’s hauling power, you can take on bigger jobs that others might not have the tools for.

6. Snow plowing

Turn your pickup truck into a winter money-making machine by offering snow plowing services.

The key piece of equipment you need to start a snow plowing business is a snow plow attachment for your truck, which can cost between $1500 and $3000.

Once you have the attachment, your truck can quickly and efficiently clear driveways, parking lots, and sidewalks.

Pro Tip: Starting a snow removal business in addition to one of the other seasonal businesses on this list is a great way to plow extra cash into your pocket and ensure year-long income.

7. Christmas light installation

Another seasonal service to offer with your pickup truck is Christmas light installations. 

A Christmas light installation business would see you helping homeowners and businesses create dazzling Christmas displays. 

To start a Christmas light installation business, you’ll need to build up your inventory and buy Christmas lights, which will be the bulk of your startup costs. This means investing a few thousand dollars to start. This may seem like a big start-up expense, but leasing out lights is a better business model, according to experts. 

“Don’t ever hang the client’s lights,” says Dave Moerman, owner of Revive Services. “You want to buy the lights—professional-grade—and hang your own lights.” 

Finding a reliable wholesale retailer will help you save on expenses. 

The season typically lasts three months, with installations starting in early November and tear-downs ending in late January. However, to get the best deals on lights, you should start planning a couple of months before the season begins. 

Use your truck to transport the lights, as well as ladders, extension cords, and other supplies to customers’ homes out business locations. With your truck’s hauling capacity, you can tackle multiple jobs in a single day and handle even large-scale decorations.

READ MORE: 10 tips to run a successful Christmas light installation business

8. Pressure washing

Your pickup truck can help you launch a profitable mobile pressure washing business.

Pressure washing is in high demand for both residential and commercial properties. A pickup truck is great for transporting heavy equipment needed for a mobile pressure washing business, including:

• A pressure washer
• Water tanks 
• Hoses
• Cleaning supplies

READ MORE: How to start a pressure washing business

9. Delivery services

A delivery service business would involve you picking up items and delivering them to customers, especially items that are too large to fit in standard vehicles.

There are several ways to offer delivery services. For example, you can partner with local businesses like furniture stores, garden centers, or hardware shops to transport goods to customers. 

You can also start in the gig economy by signing up as a delivery driver with platforms like GoShare or Roadie to find delivery gigs for extra money. 

With reliable service and fair pricing, your truck can quickly become a trusted resource for hassle-free deliveries.

10. Towing service

Depending on your pickup truck’s towing capacity, you can use it to start a local towing business. 

A towing business would see you helping people transport trailers, small vehicles, boats, or campers to their desired locations. You can also assist with roadside emergencies like moving broken-down cars to repair shops.

To get started, ensure your truck is equipped with proper hitch and towing equipment, and consider obtaining the necessary business licenses or insurance.

11. Pet waste removal

A truck is the perfect tool for starting a pooper scooper business. 

Many busy pet owners or property managers are willing to pay for someone to clean up yards, parks, or shared spaces. Use your truck to carry must-have tools like scoops, bags, and bins and transport the waste for proper disposal.

Advertise your services in neighborhoods, on social media, or through local pet care groups. With minimal equipment and steady demand, this is an easy way to turn your truck into a steady source of income.

Tips for starting a business with your pickup truck

No matter what type of service business you plan to start with your pickup truck, you’ll want to ensure that you follow these additional tips for success:

• It may be tempting to start off doing random jobs, but it’s important to choose a niche when you start off in order to keep your business focused. 
• Before starting any work with your truck, assess its capabilities, including the towing capacity, bed size, and weight limits.
• If you plan on starting a hauling business, such as junk removal or moving services, you may also want to invest in a trailer as your business grows to maximize your loads. 
• Your truck is the heart of your business, so make sure to keep it in good condition with regular maintenance. 
• Advertise your services by using your truck as a mobile billboard, adding your branding, socials, and contact information with a vehicle wrap.
• You can also start any of these businesses if you have a cargo van.

Learning how to make money with a pickup truck and trailer opens up a wide range of profitable opportunities. Whether you’re hauling, towing, offering landscaping services, or anything in between, your truck can become a powerful tool for launching a business and earning good money.