If you’ve got a pickup truck, you’re already halfway to running a profitable business. It opens the door to some lucrative business opportunities, from junk removal to delivery gigs. And if you play your cards right, your truck can help you earn serious cash (sometimes up to $1,000 a day!).
Whether you’re looking to start a side hustle, replace your 9-to-5, or grow a new stream of income, there are plenty of ways to put your truck to work. Here, we’ll break down 12 practical and proven business ideas you can launch with a pickup truck, all designed to help you rake in cash.
Business Ideas Pick Up Truck Owners Can Easily Start
- 1. Turn Your Pickup Truck Into a Junk Removal Machine
- 2. Offer Small-Scale Moving Services in Your Local Area
- 3. On-Demand Delivery Service Business for Realtors
- 4. Furniture Flipping and Appliance Repair for Profit
- 5. Pressure Washing and Exterior Cleaning Services
- 6. Mobile Pallet and Freight Hauling Services
- 7. Delivery Driver for Recycling Services
- 8. Pickup Truck Snow Removal Services
- 9. Mobile Delivery Services for Local Businesses
- 10. Furniture Delivery, Assembly, and Pickup Package
- 11. Towing Business for Niche Markets
- 12. Material Delivery for Landscaping Services
- What to Know Before Starting a Pickup Truck Business
- Your Truck Isn’t Just a Vehicle—It’s a Business
1. Turn Your Pickup Truck Into a Junk Removal Machine
Junk hauling is one of the fastest ways to start earning with your pickup. Homeowners, landlords, and contractors constantly need help clearing out garages, basements, and construction debris. There’s a solid demand for this service, especially in more populated areas.
You can charge per load, volume, or type of material. If you’d like, you could specialize in certain materials, like hot tubs, mattresses, or estate cleanouts. This will help you stand out from other junk removal services in your area.
Once you’re set up with basic hauling tools and a dump permit, you can earn $300 to $800 or more per day on weekend runs alone!
Pro Tip: Use GPS tracking to group jobs by area and save time (and gas) on every route.
2. Offer Small-Scale Moving Services in Your Local Area
Not everyone needs a big moving truck, especially if only moving an oversized Facebook Marketplace find. Many people just want help moving a sofa, bedroom set, or a few boxes across town.
And since you have a pickup truck, this could be an excellent service to offer. Target apartment dwellers, students, and seniors throughout your area. Charge hourly or flat rates for common jobs (yep, Facebook Marketplace and Craigslist finds). With a helper, dolly, and moving blankets, this side hustle can earn $75 to $150 per hour with low overhead.
Pro Tip: Streamline bookings and avoid no-shows with automated scheduling software.
3. On-Demand Delivery Service Business for Realtors
Real estate agents often need fast, reliable help prepping homes for sale. That means getting rid of old furniture, yard waste, or leftover renovation materials. They want a clean slate, and you can help with that.
Build relationships with local agents and offer next-day cleanout services or complete deliveries for those last-minute showings. Package services like debris removal, lawn mowing, and pressure washing for higher rates. Many agents will happily refer you to others in your circle, especially if you’re fast, discreet, and affordable.
Pro Tip: Expand your delivery network by offering agents a discounted rate for repeat business or bundled services—they’ll become loyal referral partners.
4. Furniture Flipping and Appliance Repair for Profit
Pickup trucks make you the ultimate flipper. If you don’t mind putting in some elbow grease to make extra cash on the side, use your pickup to help you flip furniture and repair appliances. Find free or cheap furniture, appliances, or scrap on Craigslist, Facebook Marketplace, or curb alerts.
Load them into your truck, haul them home, and breathe some new life into them. Once they’re cleaned up and looking spiffy, list them for resale. Dressers, washers, couches, and refrigerators are especially profitable.
Even a discarded wood dresser picked up for cheap could earn you $150 or more. Flip a few in-demand items each week, and that additional income adds up fast. Many people do this full time, so there’s no reason you couldn’t, too.
Of course, you’ll need to have an eye for potential and be a good judge of what’s likely to sell in your area. Otherwise, you might end up with piles and piles of unwanted items with plenty of clicks but no real interest.
Pro Tip: Accept mobile payments on the spot to close sales faster and keep cash flowing.
5. Pressure Washing and Exterior Cleaning Services
A pickup truck gives you the room you need to haul pressure washing gear and water tanks to residential and commercial jobs. So, why not start a pressure washing business?
While you will need some equipment to get started (unless you already have a pressure washer on standby), this can be a lucrative venture. On average, pressure washing jobs range from $200 to $800, and setup costs are relatively low.
Clean siding, patios, driveways, decks, fences, and sidewalks. While these services are often in demand for a good chunk of the year (especially if you live in a temperate climate), they’re often extremely popular after winter or before home sales.
To fill your schedule, offer seasonal packages or neighborhood discounts. This can help boost referrals and increase bookings.
Pro Tip: Set up automated reminders through a home service CRM to bring customers back each season—no cold calls needed.
6. Mobile Pallet and Freight Hauling Services
Small manufacturers and local warehouses often need freight delivered between locations, but don’t necessarily have full-scale logistics. That’s where you come in.
Use your pickup and trailer (if you have one) to move pallets, tools, or light equipment. Pay attention to your truck’s max payload capacity because if you haul something too heavy, you could damage your vehicle, among other things.
Offer quick delivery and flexible scheduling to differentiate yourself from commercial freight companies. This is a great way to establish repeat business-to-business (B2B) income with fewer client acquisition costs.
Pro Tip: Track deliveries and routes with dispatch software to stay on schedule and impress repeat clients.
7. Delivery Driver for Recycling Services
Offer a “dump run” service where you pick up bulky waste that homeowners can’t (or won’t) take to the landfill.
Charge by the item, load, or trip. Offer eco-friendly options like recycling e-waste or donating furniture. You’ll need local dump access and basic straps or tarps, but little else. A single Saturday full of pickups could earn you $300 to $600 or more, depending on your volume.
Pro Tip: Offer bulk pickup days in specific neighborhoods to maximize volume and reduce travel time.
8. Pickup Truck Snow Removal Services
If you live in a colder climate, outfit your truck with a snowplow for money-making capabilities in the winter months, too. Or, if you’re not too keen on attaching a snow plow, tow a snow blower with your truck.
Offer your snow plowing services to clean residential driveways, clear parking lots, or contracts with HOAs. Set up tiered pricing by lot size or frequency. Clients often prefer recurring plans (paid monthly), which is great for you since you won’t have to chase down payments after every storm.
Pro Tip: Lock in monthly plow contracts early with recurring service plans to ensure steady winter income.
9. Mobile Delivery Services for Local Businesses
Partner with local businesses like garden centers, flooring stores, or boutiques that need reliable delivery without managing their own trucks. This usually takes some networking, but if you build up a small client list, it can be a great way to make money.
Offer same-day or weekend delivery to their customers, depending on what works for your schedule. Use a flat-rate per-load model or mileage-based pricing—both work well.
Pro Tip: Add an online booking form so businesses can schedule deliveries without calling.
10. Furniture Delivery, Assembly, and Pickup Package
Hauling and assembling furniture can be quite a chore, one that some homeowners would rather not deal with. So, address this pain point by offering furniture delivery and assembly services.
Help customers pick up, transport, and assemble flat-pack furniture. Think IKEA runs, Craigslist purchase, or local furniture shop deliveries. Once you deliver it, assemble the piece (if necessary) and haul away the packaging.
Market to renters, single parents, or people without the time or tools. Upsell by offering to haul away old furniture, too. This combination of moving and handyman work can easily earn $100 to $300 per job.
Pro Tip: Create bundled service packages to simplify quotes and increase average job value.
11. Towing Business for Niche Markets
Have a trailer hitch and extra gear? Build your business by hauling boats, campers, tiny homes, motorcycles, or livestock trailers for people without the vehicle, know-how, or time to do it.
Target hobbyists, vacationers, and snowbirds. Many are willing to pay premium rates for seasonal or long-distance towing, especially if you offer care and communication.
If you go this route, make sure your truck is rated to handle large towing capacities and that your insurance covers it.
Pro Tip: Keep detailed records of loads and routes because niche transport customers often come back seasonally.
12. Material Delivery for Landscaping Services
Pickup trucks are perfect for hauling mulch, gravel, sod, and other landscaping materials to job sites.
It’s a high-demand service among landscapers, homeowners, and DIYers, all needing help sourcing and delivering bulk materials.
So, offer to haul the material for them. Use a flat-rate pricing model or one based on load type or distance. Add value by offering unloading or wheelbarrow services on-site.
If you choose this money-making opportunity, remember to confirm your truck’s payload capacity. Landscaping materials, especially gravel, are remarkably heavy, so it’s important to double-check that your truck can handle it.
Pro Tip: Use dispatch and GPS tracking to coordinate efficient drop-offs.
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What to Know Before Starting a Pickup Truck Business
Choose a Niche That Solves a Real Problem
First things first, you need to pick your niche wisely. Focus on services that actively solve a problem and are in demand in your area. This could be junk hauling, moving, or partnering with a local construction company to deliver their construction materials. Pick low-barrier ideas that require minimal licensing and equipment so you can get started fast.
Legal Structure, Registration, and Licensing
Licensing requirements vary by state, but generally speaking, you’ll need some form of license, insurance, and potentially permits. Check with your state to see what you’ll need for your service business. This could include:
- A local business license
- Commercial auto insurance
- Waste hauling permits
- DOT registration for heavy loads
Choose the Right Truck and Equipment
Once you pick your niche, invest in the right equipment. It doesn’t need to be the priciest option; just something that’s reliable and will get the job done. This might include:
- Tie-downs and straps
- Tarps and moving blankets
- Dolly or hand truck
- Ramps or racks
- Specialized gear (e.g., snowplow, water tank)
Pro Tip: Set up your vehicle for success with service truck must-haves.
Get Insurance for Business Use
Standard car insurance won’t protect you. So, when launching your business, be sure to invest in commercial auto insurance, cargo coverage, and general liability if you’ll be working on-site. If you’re unsure what type of insurance you need, talk to an insurance agent or lawyer.
Marketing and Promoting Your Services
When all the boring parts of starting a business are said and done, it’s time to start working. To get your name out there, market and promote your services through your network, local advertising, flyers, business cards, and social media.
Use online platforms and gig apps like Thumbtack or TaskRabbit to quickly find gigs in your area. As your business grows, build a website and claim your Google Business Profile (GBP) so your customers can easily find you when they search for your services.
Your Truck Isn’t Just a Vehicle—It’s a Business
Your pickup isn’t just a way to get around. It’s a money-making asset waiting to be put to work. With the right tools, mindset, and a healthy dose of hustle, you can build a flexible, profitable business around it. Whether you want extra income or a full-service business with a fleet, your truck is the first step.
The key is to treat it like a real business from day one. That means setting up efficient workflows, delivering outstanding customer experiences, and managing your time and money wisely. And that’s exactly where technology comes in.
Whether you’re just getting started or ready to grow, Housecall Pro gives you everything you need to run your pickup truck business like a pro. Send quotes, schedule jobs, get paid on the spot, and manage it all from one easy-to-use app—no paperwork, no hassle.
Try it out today with a free 14-day trial.
