#UnsexyBusinessOpportunities: What’s an unsexy business not a lot of young people start?
In a world where everyone seems to be starting tech-based businesses or fashion labels, it’s easy to overlook the opportunities in what some might consider “unsexy” industries. But the truth is, these so-called unsexy businesses can actually be quite lucrative and have a lot of potential for success. So, what are some unsexy businesses that not a lot of young people start? Let’s take a look at a few examples and explore the potential they hold.
#UnsexyBusinessExamples:
1. Waste Management
2. Plumbing and HVAC Services
3. Funeral Services
4. Pest Control
5. Commercial Cleaning
###Waste Management: Turning Trash into Treasure
When it comes to unsexy businesses, waste management may not be the first thing that comes to mind. However, the waste management industry is actually a multi-billion dollar industry with plenty of room for innovation and growth. From recycling and composting to waste-to-energy technologies, there are numerous opportunities for young entrepreneurs to make a positive impact on the environment while also turning a profit.
###Plumbing and HVAC Services: Keeping Things Flowing Smoothly
While it may not be the most glamorous industry, plumbing and HVAC services are essential for maintaining the functionality and comfort of homes and businesses. With the increasing demand for energy-efficient and sustainable heating, cooling, and plumbing solutions, there is a growing need for young professionals to enter this field and bring fresh ideas and innovative technologies to the table.
###Funeral Services: Honoring Life’s Final Journey
Death is a part of life, and the funeral services industry plays a crucial role in helping families navigate the difficult process of saying goodbye to their loved ones. Despite the sensitive nature of this industry, there are opportunities for young entrepreneurs to provide personalized and modern services that cater to the changing needs and preferences of today’s families.
###Pest Control: Keeping Homes and Businesses Pest-Free
Nobody likes dealing with pests, which is why the pest control industry is often overlooked. However, with the increasing awareness of the health and safety risks associated with pests, there is a growing demand for effective and environmentally friendly pest control solutions. Young professionals can capitalize on this demand by offering innovative and sustainable pest management services.
###Commercial Cleaning: Creating a Clean and Healthy Environment
Maintaining a clean and sanitary environment is essential for businesses of all sizes, yet the commercial cleaning industry is often undervalued. With the focus on cleanliness and hygiene in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, there is a renewed emphasis on the importance of professional cleaning services. Young entrepreneurs can tap into this demand by providing eco-friendly and efficient cleaning solutions for businesses.
In conclusion, while unsexy businesses may not have the same level of glamour and appeal as trendy startups, they offer plenty of opportunities for young entrepreneurs to make a positive impact and achieve financial success. By bringing fresh ideas and innovative approaches to these industries, young professionals can carve out their own niche and build lucrative businesses that cater to essential needs. So, the next time someone asks you what you do, don’t be afraid to say that you’re in the “sexy business” of waste management, plumbing, funeral services, pest control, or commercial cleaning. After all, these unsexy businesses have the potential to be anything but boring. 🤣
Rig welding, although I’m pretty sexy
CPA
Most people my age don’t want to get there hands dirty anymore. I think it has to do with the social image we now see on social media.
If someone focuses on building a business that requires physical labor or work that requires human interaction together with automated digital processes managed by ai i believe it could be extremely succesful.
My advice is always: ” bring a useful skill to a niche that doesn’t yet know its valuable “
There are a ton of unsexy businesses that are ignored and most of them are services. The older population in the US is growing so even more doors are opening.
Lawncare for one and it can be started for less than $1000 in most cases,
Trash Bin cleaning
House Cleaning/window washing
Handy man/woman
Anything dealing with waste that requires physical work or handling of materials. Loads of opportunities in this space. People readily dispose of valuables and valuable materials daily and are conditioned to see waste as a problem rather than an opportunity. Printed circuit boards, the likes you find in every electronic device, contain precious metals for example. There’s literal mountains of that type of ‘waste’ in every country. Obviously that’s not an easy problem to solve but solving the difficult problems is how you get paid. Start with something simple and work your way up. Anything is possible. Good luck ☘️
Ask yourself. “How many unsolved actual problems did I find last week on my daily life?”.
And soon enough you will realize what we are lacking is not the next internet service, but affordable access to housing.
We’re about to hit the biggest wave of Americans aging and dying in a very long time, and we don’t have the resources to support it, so any business having to do with that.
Extended elderly care, funeral homes, morgues, death prep services, etc.
Went to high school with a kid who was doing an internship at a funeral home. People would tease him, but he said it was a business that was in high demand, and he could make a good salary without going to college. He’s been doing quite well for himself ever since.
Appliance repair services. The appliance repair technician workforce is rapidly aging out and there are not many replacement techs.
If I were starting over from scratch, I’d start a dog poop scooper service. Low competition, low start-up costs, easy to get repeat business.
It’s a shitty business you could clean up at.
I’ll show myself out.
Manufacturing
Great question!
Septic tank pumping. A straight flush always beats a full house!
Kids love Pressure Washing Simulator, but don’t realize they could start an actual pressure washing business for very little down and make pretty good money pretty quickly.
Nuisance Wildlife Industry! Without question would surprise you. Its fun, rewarding, opportunity everywhere, and without question will only grow in demand as more and more developments go up. I owned a franchise from ’11-’19 and overall I highly enjoyed it. Even came to work for corporate after I sold my territory since I enjoyed the people.
A lot of the most practical businesses are things where you have to work in the industry for a while and then get some money upfront for operating expenses before you can get started, so young inexperienced people don’t start those businesses. You aren’t going to see a lot of 22 year olds start a hospital equipment repair company, for example.
Land surveying
Next time someone asks me what do I do, I will say I do sexy business
I know a guy a KILLING renting out port-a-potties.
Carpet/sofa cleaning. Met someone who is fully booked every single day.
Laundromat. I’d love to see a gen-z bougie laundromat.
Shitty businesses (i.e. waste removal, plumbing etc.)
Anything that requires hard, physical labor.
Basically we are lazy asses and will pay to get stuff we don’t want to do, done
Unsexy business is boring, simple and people think it is too easy to monetize. It`s YouTube for example… too many people just watch it. Other than being on the other side serving content, which is boring because you have a team that is doing the work for you.. you just rinse and repeat.
3D printing. It’s really boring but there’s money to be made if you find the right niche.
Capital based businesses.
I started a pet waste removal business last fall. Not glorious at all but there’s paying customers for sure.
I know someone who revolutionised the glass industry in my city by selling wholesale glass cheaper than the others (who were price gouging) and providing cutting tables onsite so the glaziers didn’t have to take the sheets back to their shops, they could just go straight to the next job. That flowed on to picture framers, whose main cost was the glass in the frames.
A family down the road have a chain of tile and bathroom fixture warehouses.
My neighbour is a helicopter technician who gets paid the entire annual salary of his previous job and then some for working 12 weeks a year for a billionaire on his super yacht, lmao.
A friend has a commercial cleaning chain, with 20 employees and 11 franchisees after 6 years in business.
Another friend is making money hand over fist in his arborist and landscaping business. They have huge business loans to pay for all the fancy trucks and equipment but those will be paid off soon, and they’re expanding and adding employees at a clapping rate.
Edit: the absolute best money would be the company that rents out scaffolding and portable chain link site fences to building sites. They make an absolute killing and it’s not gross work like crime scene cleanup or cleaning out your port-a-loos for your business.
I own a sorting and kitting business. I package a lot of hardware like nuts, bolts, screws, washers, etc. It’s dirty, tedious, and extremely repetitive, but it pays surprisingly well. It’s incredible unsexy and to tell the truth, I’m fucking miserable running it, but it’s too good to walk away from. As far as opportunity goes, I’ve grown my business every year for 4 years without any marketing or advertising. 2023 was the first year we accepted more work than we turned down and I still left 6 figures on the table, easy. I’ve been dipping my toe in some government contract work as well and that’s proving difficult, but extremely lucrative when I can land them.
Anything construction or utilities
My dad is in BPO and slated to hit $1B valuation in the next 5 years. He started from zero 15 years ago. Our neighbor makes 8 figures a year with dried tomatoes. My other friend owns a canned coffee brand in Sprouts and Whole Foods and she’s pocketing 7 figures a year. I’m focused on the eSIM market and other travel services but most of my current income is from lowkey products related to action cameras and keyfobs. Look around you. Every tangible item has a person behind it making $100k/yr or several people reaping such with a higher person making 7 figures. Go to Costco. Go to Trader Joe’s. Look around. Everything is available. What do you want to dive into? Figure that out and go.
I started a gutter company, it’s seasonal but it’s easy to learn and scales up pretty quickly, I net about 80-90k during the season