9 Cargo Van Business Ideas

A cargo van looks like a passenger van. Both typically have sliding side doors and large rear doors for loading and unloading cargo. Unlike a passenger van, a cargo van has seats only for a driver and a front passenger. The area behind the driver does not have seats and is reserved solely for cargo. 

Cargo vans are different from box trucks, which feature a separate cargo compartment from the cab. If you have a cargo van, you can start a hauling, grocery delivery, or cleaning business. Check out our list of cargo van business ideas below.

1. Cargo Van Delivery

Thanks to the increasing popularity of online shopping and the corresponding need for last-mile delivery services, a cargo van delivery business holds a lot of potential.  The retail e-commerce market in the US is anticipated to continue growing rapidly and exceed $1.3 trillion in value by 2025. If you have a cargo van, you can take advantage of this stellar market performance by starting your own cargo delivery business. 

There are many ways to start a cargo van delivery business. Aside from a van, it would be wise to invest in the tools and equipment needed to secure your cargo as well as load or unload this safely. You also need to comply with applicable laws as well as licensing and insurance requirements. Since you’ll be competing with several established brands, it is important to differentiate your business. For example, you can offer several options like door-to-door delivery or same-day delivery services. With a lot of hard work and a good marketing strategy, you can start your business successfully.

2. Hauling Business

The US government recently passed a trillion-dollar infrastructure bill, which means countless major construction projects will soon be coming to work sites near you. As a result, many tons of materials and waste will need to be moved from one place to another. The US waste removal industry is already worth $60 billion and seeing steady growth. So if you’re willing to do some heavy lifting, you could start your own hauling business and help clear the way for new construction while grabbing a share of this growing market. 

The first step is getting a reliable truck. You probably want a good-sized pick-up or even a box truck, as the bigger the hauling capacity the more you’ll make with each load. You’ll also need good hauling equipment and most likely, a commercial driver’s license, to take on the big jobs. Beyond that, attracting clients will be mainly about advertising your services on the right platforms and effectively marketing your business. 

Once you get those first few customers in the door, as long as you deliver excellent and professional service, you’re likely to get referrals and steadily build a reputation for reliability.

3. Mobile Mechanic

Are you tired of the grind of the garage? Maybe you’ve been a mechanic for years, and you enjoy fixing up cars, but the manager is always getting on you about little things or expecting you to work late without overtime pay. Not cool. But you could leave all that behind and start your own mobile mechanic business, making house calls to people with car trouble, and making good money while being your own boss. 

While the $700 billion auto repair market has been stagnant in recent years, the mobile mechanic industry has exploded, due in part to a lot of people preferring to stay home during the pandemic. The major advantage of the mobile mechanic is the significantly lower costs, due to no overhead. The mobile mechanic is usually a solopreneur, and thus has no staff to pay. More importantly, there’s no garage, which means no rent to pay either. 

Get serviced at home for almost half the price? It’s an easy choice for most car owners. It’s also why, if you have a way with cars, you should be making plans to go solo.

4. Towing Business

Cars breaking down is almost as inevitable as death and taxes, which explains why the US vehicle towing industry has expanded by more than half in the last few years and is now worth more than $11 billion. If you have a penchant for driving, and for public service, starting a towing business may be a perfect fit — and now is a great time to get in a growing market. 

The biggest hurdle to getting started is finding an affordable, reliable tow truck. You can’t tow vehicles with your car, or bicycle, so you will need to get a real tow truck. A new one costs as much as $100,000, so you might want to find a new one for $25,000 and pay about half that for a down payment. Once you’ve got your truck, you’ll need to get a commercial driver’s license and light duty certification from the national towing association. 

After that, you’ll be ready to hit the road, start helping people and making real dough. Keep in mind that towing is always in high demand, especially in bigger cities.

5. Cleaning Business

Do you find yourself cleaning your home on the weekends? Do you have a knack for organizing and making things shine? If so, you might consider starting a cleaning business. It’s one of the easiest businesses to start, and cleaning is a $76 billion industry that has seen steady growth in recent years, so the opportunity is there for the taking.  

You just need some cleaning equipment and supplies and you could start offering your services on a popular app like TaskRabbit, until you set up your own website. You could offer a maid service, end-of-lease cleaning, carpet and upholstery service, or all of the above. You also have the option of working part-time at first to see how it goes before you jump in completely. 

Keep in mind, cleaning is often a dirty business involving demanding work, so it’s not for everybody. But if you enjoy making things look great, this could be the entrepreneurial niche for you.

6. Medical Transportation

You probably don’t think about it much, but non-emergency medical transportation is a booming industry. After years of strong growth the US market is projected to be worth more than $25 billion in 2026. The sick, disabled and elderly have places to go, and often need help getting there. You could start your own medical transportation business, help people in need and ride the industry’s growth to serious success. 

Keep in mind, this is not the easiest market to break into. For one thing, you’ll need a reliable medical transport van outfitted with the requisite lift and safety features. You’ll need to acquire the relevant healthcare provider licenses and permits as well as insurance, and be certified by either Medicare or Medicaid. Finally, once that’s all done, you’ll just have to determine which services you’ll offer and start marketing your business online, at local hospitals and retirement communities. 

As long as your rates are fair and your services reliable, you’ll soon start getting regular clients.

7. Pet Transport

Are you an animal lover with a truck or van? Starting a pet transport business might be the perfect opportunity for you. This business provides services to pet owners who need to relocate, travel long distances with their pets, or acquire pets from another state or country. In the US, the pet transportation services industry is estimated to be worth $2 billion and expected to grow at a fast pace through 2026 as more people travel and consumer spending increases. 

You can start small by transporting dogs and cats between breeders and clients. When you’re ready, you can advance to transporting dogs and cats for animal shelters or veterinarians. As your business grows, you can expand your services to include international transport. It is important to make sure that the animals are safe and handled with care during travel. You might also want to consider joining an international network of pet relocation specialists so your business can be recognized as trained and qualified to provide pet transportation services.

8. Scrap Metal

Are you looking for a business opportunity that is both profitable and sustainable? If so, starting a scrap metal business may be the perfect option for you. Scrap metal is in high demand worldwide, and there are countless ways to turn a profit in this industry. In the US, scrap metal recycling is a P50 billion market and still growing. 

Getting started with scrap metal recycling can be a challenge. There are fees to be paid, licensing and insurance requirements to be completed, and regulations to be followed. It’s to your advantage to find a suitable location for your scrap yard and make sure it complies with zoning regulations. It’s also a good idea to research the market and find out what other scrap yards are offering as well as the type of equipment they’re using so you can devise a way to gain a competitive advantage. Recycling scrap metal normally involves sorting, shearing, shredding, torching, and baling. The scrap metal is then sold to metal smelters for further processing.

9. Grocery Delivery

Global online grocery delivery sales have been growing by almost 30% since the coronavirus pandemic crippled economies in 2020. This stellar performance is expected to continue through 2024 as a lot of people continue to stay or work from home even with the lifting of protective measures. With online grocery shopping, consumers no longer have to spend time queuing in supermarkets. They simply browse through a retailer’s website or app, shop and check out, pay for the items online, and have these delivered right to their doorstep. 

If you’re thinking of starting a grocery delivery business, now’s the time to do it. You have at least three options: operate your own delivery service, work with a franchise, or sign up with an established retailer. Consider carefully the pros and cons of each option before deciding on which business model to choose. Assess the competition as well and identify possible clients if you’re going to give it a go on your own. Whatever your decision is, plenty of opportunities await.