About ten years ago, we had a young guy, 20-something, come into Kona Impact for some vehicle magnets. Unfortunately, the guy left the island a few months after we met him, so his business never got off the ground.
His idea? A mobile grill cleaning and repair service.
I loved the idea for several reasons:
- Every home in Hawaii has a gas grill, and many of the super high-end homes have $50,000+ gas grills. Every condo complex has grill cleaning and repair needs.
- These gas grills are disgusting to clean and polish. Nobody enjoys doing it, but like a job as a plumber, so-called “dirty jobs” can command higher pay.
- Many of the grills are broken or need a new grate or elements.
- It’d be a low startup cost business: perhaps some simple tools, a pressure washer, and a stock of basic parts. Maybe $5000 in startup costs.
- It’s a repeat business.
I like to share this story because it shows how an entrepreneur can, if they are willing to hustle, build a good, profitable business.
If I were just starting my business life, or looking for a good side job, I’d look for the same criteria: 1. Solves a problem, 2. Large addressable market, 3. Learnable skill, and 4. Repeat business. I’d also look for some moats around the business, which for grill cleaning might be equipment, repair skill and being a “dirty job”.