Businesses to start with little money
Under $2,000 opens a house cleaning business in Florida, plus pressure washing, handyman work, auto detailing, home baking, personal training, mobile notary, event decor, tax preparation, mobile nails, closet organizing, or move-out cleaning. None of them needs a storefront. The investment goes almost entirely into tools and transport, and most of them pay it back in under twenty jobs.
Updated 2026-08-15
The twelve, with what it costs to start
| Business | Startup | What it pays | Jobs to break even |
|---|---|---|---|
| House cleaning | $300 to $1,200 | $120 to $300 | 3 to 6 |
| Pressure washing | $800 to $2,000 | $150 to $600 | 3 to 5 |
| Handyman | $500 to $2,000 | $60 to $120 an hour | 6 to 10 |
| Auto detailing | $1,000 to $2,000 | $80 to $350 | 8 to 12 |
| Home baking | $500 to $2,000 | $60 to $400 | 5 to 15 |
| Personal training | $300 to $1,500 | $40 to $100 | 10 to 20 |
| Mobile notary | $300 to $800 | $10 plus travel | 20 to 40 |
| Event decor | $800 to $2,000 | $300 to $2,500 | 2 to 4 |
| Tax preparation | $500 to $1,500 | $150 to $900 | 3 to 6 |
| Mobile nails | $800 to $2,000 | $35 to $120 | 15 to 30 |
| Closet organizing | $200 to $800 | $200 to $600 | 2 to 4 |
| Move-out cleaning | $400 to $1,200 | $200 to $500 | 3 to 5 |
The right-hand column is the one that matters. An event decor business pays itself back in two setups; a mobile notary needs thirty signings. Neither is better, but one returns your money in weeks and the other in months.
The three fastest to start
House cleaning, pressure washing, and closet organizing can start this week. No state license, no course, and the shopping list fits in one trip to Home Depot.
- Cleaning: supplies, cloths, a vacuum, and transport. $300 gets you working, though $700 keeps you from running short.
- Pressure washing: the machine is most of the cost. A decent gas unit runs $500 to $1,200 and lasts years.
- Closets: bins, labels, organizers, and your time. Cheapest of the three and the one fewest people do.
In all three, the winner isn't whoever bought the better equipment: it's whoever answers the phone fast and shows up when they said they would.
What people forget to budget
- General liability insurance, $40 to $90 a month. Without it you're not getting into managed buildings or rentals.
- The local county permit, $45 to $200 a year.
- Gas and wear on the vehicle, which in a mobile business is a genuine fixed cost.
- The domain, about $12 a year, so the page is yours.
- A cushion for month one, because the work doesn't start the day you open.
The rule we use: add up the equipment and tack on 40%. That 40% is what goes to the items on this list, and it's what leaves people out of money before the first customer.
What to start with if you have exactly $1,000
It's the most common budget among the people who call us. Split like this, it stretches:
- $500 to $600 on tools or equipment, the minimum to work properly.
- $125 on the LLC, if you're going into other people's homes. See how to register it.
- $100 on the local permit.
- $90 on the first month of insurance.
- $12 on the domain.
- The rest untouched, for gas and whatever comes up.
That has you operating legally from the first job. What's missing after that isn't money, it's people being able to find you, and the first step there is free: the Google profile.
doubts
What people usually ask
Which one is the cheapest of all?
Closet organizing and mobile notary work, which open for $200 to $800. The catch is that closets have thin steady demand and notary work pays little per signature, so you need volume.
Can I start without registering the business?
Yes, as a sole proprietor, and it's free. But if you're entering other people's homes, without an LLC and insurance your own assets answer if something breaks. For $125 a year it isn't worth the risk.
Can I start without a vehicle?
In cleaning and mobile nails you can at first if you work close by, but half your day goes to getting around. In pressure washing, detailing, and handyman work, no: the equipment is heavy and has to move.
How much do you make the first year?
It depends on hours and how many regulars you land. In cleaning, someone working full time with recurring clients bills somewhere between $3,000 and $5,000 a month. The first months are well below that.
Do I need a website on a budget this small?
Not month one. Once you have the first customers and you're texting the same prices every day, yes: it's $400 once and two or three jobs cover it.