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How to Make Money with a Van (2024 Guide)

Don't Work Another Day is reader-supported. We may receive compensation from the products and services mentioned in this story, but the opinions are the author's own.
  By Forrest McCall | Last Updated:  January 31, 2022

Have you ever wanted to make a living as an entrepreneur and be your own boss? Maybe you’ve been thinking about quitting your day job and pursuing your passion. Now is the time to take action and consider making money with a van.

Vans offer many lucrative business opportunities. Whether you wish to make passive income on the side or as your primary source of income, there are many ways to make money with a van. If you need ideas to help you start your own business, this guide is for you.

In this post, I'll explore the best ways to make money with a van, how much money you can make, and much more. From towing services to mobile hardware stores, we have many options for you to consider. Let's get started!

How to Make Money with a Van

30 Ways to Make Money with a Van

Below are some of the best ways to make money with a van. There's sure to be an option for every van owner.

Vending Service

Owning your own van vending service will afford you the opportunity to travel while making money from your product or service. A vendor is also a great way to make an income on the side if you want flexibility and don't want to commit all your time to one thing.

Moreover, van vendors can also travel and see the country, which is a rarity for many other careers. The job is great for people who enjoy driving or have a truck or van they can use.

As a mobile vending service provider, you will always have an opportunity to make money since you will always have goods in stock. Your van doubles as your warehouse and your store, thus making it easy to earn money.

Mobile Artist

Artist

If you're an artist, then you know how important it is to find a way to earn money from your art. Sadly, these days, the market for visual and performance art has shrunk considerably and it’s not easy to make a living on your art alone.

But there are ways around this. If you can't sell your work in galleries or stores, why not go the street-side route and start selling your artwork out of a van? Not everyone has the talent to draw, paint, or create works of art. As such, great art isn't always easy to come by. So why not make money from your talent?

As a mobile artist, you're going to need a van. The type of van will depend on what sorts of art you're selling. A smaller panel van might work for paintings, but if you want to sell larger sculptures, then a cargo van would be better.

You'll also need some sort of storage for your artwork. You can use anything from packing crates and cargo straps to shelves and racks. It all boils down to the type of art you have and what works best for it.

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Van Building Service

Another way to make money with a van is to actually build vans for other clients. Some van owners have gone this route due to their knowledge of vans and the best way to build them for business purposes.

You'll need to keep your tools with you at all times, so a cargo van is more suitable. This career path can be a bit tricky, as you won't actually have your own shop. But other van owners have made it work, traveling to their client's location and providing their services there.

Additional Side Hustle Resources:

Junk Removal Business

For many people, this is a dream job. You get to set your own rules and make your own hours. And you stand to make a ton of money. But what does it really take to get started? In order to start making money with a removals service, you need the right equipment and tools for the job.

There are different types of removals services that specialize in different areas and types of work. Some specialize in packing and moving houses while others specialize in heavy lifting and hazardous materials removal.

As such, you'll need to make sure you have the proper licenses and insurance before getting started. Owning a removals service can be a great way to build your own personal brand and become financially independent. It's important to note, however, that starting a removals company is not for everyone. You'll have to have a level of fitness and strength, good customer service skills, and the right attitude.

But aside from these basic requirements, you can make a comfortable living with a removals service. Business owners and residents alike require these services on a regular basis, so there's a good chance that you will have plenty of customers to keep you busy.

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Grocery Delivery Services

Delivery services are everywhere you look these days. With more people posting to stay indoors, you could make a very lucrative living by choosing to deliver groceries. Moreover, food delivery drivers don't necessarily need a large van or truck for delivering food.

Anyone seeking flexible work should offer delivery services. You might need to start out just making passive income. But if you provide great customer service, you can significantly increase your client base.

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Mobile Coffee Shop

Mobile Coffee Shop

Owning your own mobile business has many benefits, including the way it provides you with complete freedom over your schedule and location. If you’re looking for a business to start, running your own mobile coffee shop is a great choice.

With the growing popularity of mobile coffee shops, there is no better time than now to get in on the action. And with over 1 billion coffee drinkers worldwide, it certainly makes sense to operate a mobile coffee shop.

Whether you run a food truck or a standalone coffee shop, this business venture is a great way to bring in more money. You'll need to think about what kind of coffee shop you want to open. Do you want one that specializes in espresso drinks? Or would you rather have one with more traditional coffee options?

Though this step might be different for everyone, it’s important to think about where your strengths are and what type of products or services you enjoy providing most. You'll also need to do some research on the equipment needed for the type of coffee shop that you want to open.

This includes things like grinders, espresso machines, milk frothers, pour-over stations, and more. You might also need licenses depending on where you live. But with research and a commitment to providing quality coffee on the road, you can make your business a success.

Towing Business

When you provide towing services, there's a good chance that you will see your business explode. That's because there's always a need for towing services. To get started, simply invest in a van or truck, buy a tow hitch, get commercial insurance, and start making money.

This is a good job that you can provide on the side for passive income or full-time as your primary way to earn money. With the right vehicle and the proper equipment, you'll be on your way to financial success.

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Clothing Vendor

Cargo vans are ideal for vending service provider jobs. To get started as a clothing vendor, you just need a few boxes of shirts. You don't necessarily need to sell major brands, as many clothing vendors are successful in selling knock-offs or custom printed t-shirts.

It's important to find your niche and build on your small business from there. You might try ordering or making a few shirts to see what's popular in the areas you travel to. Then, you can adjust your inventory accordingly to meet the demands of your clientele.

Reseller

Maybe you don't have your own custom clothing line or product to sell on the road. No problem, as you can simply buy name-brand items and resell them from your vehicle to make extra money. A cargo van is the best choice here, as it affords you more space to stock a wide variety of goods.

Physical Therapy

Traveling Physical Therapy

This unique business venture is a great way to make money on the road. Traveling physical therapists visit various destinations across the country to offer their specialty services. For example, you could provide on-the-spot physical therapy at sporting events, festivals, and more.

Musician

Like traditional artists, musicians have a unique talent to share with the world. And you can choose to offer your talents by traveling to events and festivals across the country. You can make good money as a traveling musician, all while perfecting your craft on the road.

Yoga Instructor

The great thing about yoga is that you can hold classes just about anywhere. Simply keep your equipment in your cargo van and offer yoga instruction at different places across the country.

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Jewelry Vendor

There's always a market for jewelry, and consumers seem to love pop-up shops that offer unique pieces. Although your average earnings are likely to vary from place to place, you stand to earn enough money to make a decent living.

Climbing Instructor

If you have the technical know-how, you could travel to various destinations across the country and offer your expertise in climbing. With so many amazing locales around the world, you could make a lucrative living by teaching novices how to rock climb. Just load up your cargo van with your climbing gear, get the necessary insurance, and start teaching.

Traveling Nurse

Traveling nurses typically work on a contract with hospitals. You'll get to see new places and meet new people, all while providing various types of medical care to communities.

Food Delivery with Van

Food Delivery

Food delivery services are very similar to grocery delivery services. The biggest difference, though, is that you don't limit yourself to store-bought food.

Food delivery is a great option to make money with a van. My favorite platform is Doordash. With Doordash you can earn over $20 per hour in many cities delivering food.

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Disclosure: This link is an affiliate link, meaning, at no additional cost to you, I will earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase.

Mobile Pet Grooming Business

Pet grooming is a necessary service that's needed all over the world. With a mobile pet grooming business, you can bring your craft to different communities and provide an essential service to pet owners.

It's easy to charge over $50 per grooming that takes less than 1 hour to complete. You'll need to invest in the right equipment to get started but the tools can cost less than a couple hundred dollars.

Mobile Food Truck

Food Truck

There are plenty of small businesses that operate via a food truck, and for good reason: everyone needs to eat. You can travel to markets, outdoor concerts, festivals, and other events to set up shop and make extra money.

Opening a food truck can require a decent amount of money to get started and you'll also need to obtain all of the proper licensing before you can start serving food.

Lawn Care Service

Landscaping Service

Who says you need a full operation to run a successful landscaping business? As long as you have the proper equipment, you can make money with a cargo van as a traveling landscaping professional. In fact, offering a mobile landscaping service can be quite lucrative.

With a cargo van, you can store everything from a riding lawnmower to mulch. It's all about scaling to meet your financial needs.

Landscaping businesses can make good money and don't cost a ton to start so it's worth a shot. You can read how to start a lawn care business for more help!

Haulage Company

In the past few years, many small businesses have sadly had to shut down. If your business was one of the unfortunate victims of the pandemic, you aren't without options to get back on your feet. If you can invest in a cargo van, you can provide an essential service to local businesses and residents.

Owning your own removals and haulage business allows you to make money just by transporting items from one location to another. You'll need a cargo van or truck and commercial insurance. But as long as you're capable of lifting items of various shapes and sizes, you'll be ready to serve.

Don't discount the value of hauling services. There's always a need for it, especially among local businesses. So compare cargo vans, get insured, and start advertising your new business.

Moving Company with Van

Moving Company

You don't need an office building to make money. As long as you have a cargo van, there are plenty of ways to make money.

Similar to hauling services, moving companies focus on helping people move from one place to another, whether it's into a new home or business.

Obviously, these jobs involve moving objects of various sizes and shapes, so you'll want to be sure that you're physically capable of handling the workload.

Digital Nomad

Digital Nomad

In recent years, more and more people have been ditching their traditional jobs for remote positions. As a digital nomad, you have the luxury of being able to work from anywhere in the world as long as you have an internet connection.

This can be a huge benefit for people who want to travel or move around but still want to work. It also offers you the opportunity to learn about other cultures by living in different places. If you’re considering traveling and working remotely, you can easily do so from a cargo van.

Granted, you'll need to sink some money into making your cargo van a livable workspace. But in doing so, you will gain the ability to make money wherever you wish to travel. This is true life on the road, as you'll do everything from your cargo van, from sleeping and eating to working and networking.

Related: How to Make Money with Digital Real Estate

Mobile Advertisement Service

Making money with a cargo van doesn't have to be limited to the transportation industry or delivering packages. You can make extra cash in other ways, such as with a mobile advertisement company. You can offer your expertise to local businesses by traveling across the country.

You'll need to have your own website to show off your work, but you can provide your services right from your cargo van. What's more, you can even provide innovative apps connecting your clients to your advertising services.

Mobile Photographer

It can be tough trying to make a living as a photographer these days. With access to free or cheap photography apps, everyone is making their own high-quality pictures. But don't let this deter you from offering your talents and skills.

There are many ways to stand out and be successful in this competitive profession. As long as you have the necessary photography equipment and a cargo van or truck, you can take your business on the road and show the world what you have to offer.

Mobile photography is just one of the many ways to make money with a cargo van or truck. And in fact, you can make really good money if you offer something unique.

Freelance Writer

If you love to write, there's no reason you can't start up your own business and make money with a cargo van on the road. Small businesses are always looking to fill various professional writing jobs, so why not take your skills on the road and make money with your writing talents?

Cargo vans are ideal for something like this because it gives you an office on wheels. If you're not into the idea of being a delivery driver or moving service, freelance writing offers something a bit less physical while still making money with a cargo van.

Mobile Auto Repair

Are you skilled at fixing vehicles and troubleshooting problems? Consider offering a mobile auto repair service. You could travel to different locations and provide your services on the spot to cars that are broken down.

When someone has a breakdown, auto repair shops aren't always within walking distance. That's where you come in—you bring the repair shop to the customer! This business could prove to be quite lucrative, as there's always someone needing help with vehicle troubles.

Moreover, you could provide everything from oil changes to touching up the customer's car's paint. It's a great way to make a difference in people's lives while making money in the process.

GoShare Delivery Professional

As a GoShare delivery Professional, you can use your personal cargo van or truck to provide for the various needs of GoShare clients. Whether it's as a delivery driver or a moving service, GoShare has plenty of employment opportunities for eager entrepreneurs.

As a member of the GoShare family, you will need valid liability insurance. But you will automatically get GoShare's cargo insurance, which covers the contents of your customers' items.

By working for GoShare, it's easier than ever to make money with a cargo van or any other type of vehicle. Your jobs are determined by the type of vehicle you own, so you may get more or less work than others.

Remote Contractor

With more jobs switching to remote, now's the time to use your van for remote contract work. You can take on various jobs from different companies all across the country. Businesses everywhere are looking for people to work remotely, and what better way than with a cargo van!

You'll have your office readily available at all times, allowing you to complete assignments on the fly. This can help increase your output, thereby securing more work for you.

Website Designer

Mobile Website Designer

Every business needs a website if they want to remain relevant in the digital age. And while most organizations already have a website, not all of them have a dedicated professional to keep their site current.

Websites get outdated rather quickly, making your area of expertise all the more essential. Owning a mobile website design business has plenty of perks, too. You get to set your own hours and you have a lot more creative freedom than if you were working for a major corporation.

Even better, you can make some serious income as a mobile website designer. You'll want to advertise your services, and a great way of doing this is to deck out your van with flashy graphics and art. Be sure to put your contact info on the van, so that potential customers can reach you as you travel from location to location.

Learn how to make money building websites for more info!

Mobile Security Service

Businesses and worksites often need nightly security detail to keep an eye on their property and equipment. If you have a van, you can offer mobile security all across the country. When one job finishes up, you can simply travel to the next area and offer your services.

Choosing the Van and Job

If you have the resources to purchase a van, converting it into an office space can be an attractive option. This will be your home office and give you the flexibility to work according to your own schedule.

But before you start thinking about whether you need a cargo van or a passenger van, you need to narrow down the type of job you'll be working from your van. If you're running a van service that transports people around town, you don't need a big cargo van.

Delivery drivers and passenger service jobs can be accomplished with a traditional passenger van. But if you decide to get into hauling services, for example, you're going to need something a bit more capable.

After you decide which type of job you'll be doing, the next step is finding a suitable vehicle. You'll need it to be reliable, spacious, and maneuverable. Some people choose to make money with a cargo van because they are bigger and allow for more versatility in the service you're providing, but passenger models are less expensive. So it's important to factor in your budget before you buy.

You'll also want to make sure you at least get liability insurance. Regardless of where you travel with your van business, local laws have strict regulations regarding vehicle insurance. You don't want to get caught driving without it, as you could risk losing your livelihood.

Converting Your Van

Once you're ready to buy, you need to think about converting your van to accommodate your business. Some of the desired features are insulation for soundproofing, ample storage space, and a comfortable work surface with enough room for the line of work you offer.

Depending on your financial situation, you may need to save money first in order to have the operating capital necessary to make the appropriate adjustments to the van. But it will be an investment that pays off in the end.

With the right kind of setup, you'll be able to work from wherever you want. It'll also allow for maximum productivity because there is no commute time in the morning or evening to worry about. You may want to consider modifying the van to support a bed so you can sleep during long drives if necessary.

Once you've narrowed down the best van for your needs, it's time to get busy making money. With careful planning and execution, you can get the extra cash you need to make a decent living.

Final Thoughts on How to Make Money with a Van

As you can see, you have all these fantastic opportunities to make money with a van. And with your mobile business, you'll benefit from flexible working hours and the freedom of being your own boss. Making extra cash with a van or truck also gives you a chance to visit new places and make new customers.

So if you're tired of working a traditional nine-to-five job and you're ready to run your own van driver business, pick a potential career from our list and start planning for life on the road!

Forrest is a personal finance, entrepreneurship, and investing expert dedicated to helping others obtain life long wealth. He has a Bachelor's degree in business and has been featured in many popular publications including Forbes, Business Insider, Bankrate, CNET Money, and many others. To learn more about Forrest, visit the About Us Page for more info.
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