5 Highly Profitable Businesses You Can Start With $10k or Less
Most people think you need a ton of money to start a “real” business. Like $50k+ or some investor throwing cash at you. Honestly, that’s just not true.
I’ve seen regular people with normal jobs start very simple businesses with $10k or less and turn them into $8k, $15k, even $20k per month. No viral TikTok, no crazy tech skills, just useful services and products that people already want.
In this post, we’ll walk through 5 highly profitable businesses you can actually start with $10k or less, plus:
What you need to get started
Basic legal / setup stuff (not legal advice, just awareness)
Time required
And a list of tools / gear where you can plug in your own affiliate links
1. Mobile Detailing Service
Startup Cost: ~$2,000–$7,000
Time to First Customer: 1–2 weeks
Difficulty: Easy to learn, skill grows with practice
Profit Potential: $300–$600 per day solo, more with help
People love clean cars. They just don’t love doing it themselves. A mobile detailing business goes to the customer’s house or office and cleans their vehicle on-site. Super convenient for them = great money for you.
What You Actually Do
Exterior washing, waxing, and tire shine
Interior vacuuming, shampooing carpets & seats
Deep cleaning leather, plastics, vents, cupholders, etc.
Upsells like headlight restoration, pet hair removal, or ceramic coating
Most full detail jobs go for anywhere from $150 to $350 depending on your area.
Gear You Need to Get Started
Basic or mid-range pressure washer
Wet/dry shop vac
Buckets, wash mitts, brushes
Interior & exterior detailing chemicals
Microfiber towels (you’ll go through alot of these)
Small generator + water tank (if your customers don’t provide water/power)
Mobile Detailing Starter Kit (Each Item linked)
Legal & Setup Stuff
Register a business (LLC is common, but talk to a pro if unsure)
Get general liability insurance in case of damage
Check your city for any mobile vendor or water usage rules
Separate business bank account (not required, but smart)
Time Required & Earning Example
1 full detail = ~1–4 hours
2 details per day at $200 = $400/day
Work 5 days/wk → ~$8,000/month gross before expenses
You can start this part-time and ramp up once the bookings fill in.
2. Pet Treat or Pet Product Brand
Startup Cost: ~$5,000–$10,000
Time to Launch: 1–2 months
Difficulty: Medium (branding + sourcing)
Profit Potential: Can scale from a few hundred per month into five figures
Pet owners don’t really budget emotionally. If the dog or cat loves something, they keep buying. That’s why pet treats and pet products can be so profitable.
You can either:
White-label / private-label treats from a manufacturer
Or create simple baked / dehydrated treats yourself (depending on your local laws)
What You Actually Sell
Dehydrated dog treats (chicken, beef, fish, etc.)
Functional treats (hip & joint, skin & coat, calming)
Chews (bully sticks, collagen chews, ears, etc.)
Pet balms, shampoos, sprays, enrichment toys, etc.
Basics You Need to Get Started
A reliable supplier or manufacturer
Packaging (standup pouches, labels)
Brand name, logo, and story (why your treats exist)
Simple Shopify site or Etsy store
Product photos (can DIY to start)
Start Your Own Pet Treat Brand – Recommended Tools (with Links)
Legal & Compliance (Basic Overview)
Not legal advice, just things to look into.
Check your state’s pet food / feed laws (FDA/USDA)
Labeling must include ingredients, weight, and company contact info
If you’re making products at home, look into “cottage laws” or pet feed regulations
Get a sales tax permit for your state
Use a separate business bank account for expenses/income tracking
Time Requirement & Realistic Timeline
Product + brand setup: ~30–45 days
First sales: often come from friends/family, then online
Many small brands start part-time, 1–3 hours per day
As demand grows, you can outsource fulfillment or partner with a 3PL
3. Pressure Washing & Soft Washing
Startup Cost: ~$3,000–$6,000
Time to First Job: 1–2 weeks with simple marketing
Difficulty: Easy physical work, learn the techniques as you go
Profit Potential: $10k–$20k/month in a good area
Pressure washing is like washing cars… but for houses, driveways, and buildings. People see a dirty driveway become bright and clean in 20 minutes and they’re happy to pay.
Services You Can Offer
Driveway & sidewalk cleaning
House washing (siding, brick)
Patio, deck, and fence cleaning
Roof soft washing (special chemicals & low pressure)
Commercial sidewalks, storefronts, and parking lots
Gear You Need (with links)
Legal & Setup Considerations
Business registration (LLC is the most common)
Liability insurance (in case of property damage or injury)
Some cities have rules about wastewater runoff; check your local codes
You may need a simple contractor or service license depending on your area
Time Required & Income Example
Simple driveway: 1–2 hours
House + driveway: 3–4 hours
Average job size: $250–$600 depending on your market
2 jobs per day at $300 = $600/day → ~$12,000/month before costs
4. Local Lead Generation Agency
Startup Cost: ~$0–$2,000 (mostly education + software)
Time to First Client: 1–4 weeks
Difficulty: Medium (marketing & communication)
Profit Potential: $10k–$30k/month with just a handful of clients
A lead gen agency helps local businesses get more calls, form submissions, or booked appointments. You build simple funnels and ads, then charge a monthly fee.
Who You Can Help
Roofers, plumbers, HVAC
Dog groomers, trainers, vets
Real estate agents, loan officers
Med spas, chiropractors, dentists
What You Actually Do
Set up simple websites or landing pages
Run Google Ads or Facebook/Instagram ads
Connect forms/phone calls to the business
Track leads and report results each month
Useful Tools (with Links)
Legal / Business Setup
Register your business (even a simple sole prop to start)
Use clear contracts or service agreements
Set up a business bank account, invoicing, and bookkeeping
No special “marketing license” is usually required, but always good to check locally
Time Required & How It Scales
Setup phase for a new client: maybe 5–10 hours total (landing page, ad campaigns, tracking)
Ongoing monthly maintenance: often 1–3 hours per client
If you charge $1,000/month and get 10 clients, that’s $10,000/month for maybe 20–30 hours of actual deep work after you’re established.
5. Mobile Notary & Loan Signing Agent
Startup Cost: ~$500–$1,500
Time to First Assignment: Often 1–3 weeks after getting commissioned
Difficulty: Low (detail-oriented paperwork)
Profit Potential: $4k–$12k/month part-time, more full-time
A mobile notary travels to clients to witness signatures. A loan signing agent specializes in real estate paperwork (refis, mortgages, HELOCs, etc.) and earns more per appointment.
What You Do
Verify identity of signers
Make sure documents are signed correctly
Notarize where required
Return documents exactly as instructed (very important)
Loan signings often pay anywhere from $100 to $250 per job.
What You Need
State notary commission
Notary stamp and seal
Notary journal (in many states it’s required or strongly recommended)
Dual-tray laser printer for legal + letter sized docs
Reliable car and smartphone
E&O insurance
Everything I Recommend for New Notaries & Signing Agents (with links)
Legal & Compliance
You must follow your state’s notary laws
Usually need a background check, especially for loan signings
E&O insurance (errors & omissions) strongly recommended
Keep accurate records of each notarization in case of future questions
Time & Income Example
A loan signing: 45–75 minutes on average
3 signings per day at $125 = $375/day
If you work 20 days = $7,500/month before expenses
This can be a perfect “second income” business that grows into your main one.