Engineers and tradesman are the most underrated people on this planet.
People in the Silicon Valley bubble have no idea how much work will be required to build and maintain our physical world over the next 50 years. Software (Tech) will continue to play an important role, it alone can’t keep our real estate, utilities, and transportation safe and clean. Skilled trades are in dire need of more labor. College and lack of interest or willingness to work with your hands is trending to dangerously low labor levels. You would be stunned at what Electricians can make.
Here’s a list of areas that are ripe, not for disruption, but for gritty entrepreneurs who are willing to sweat.
Home services:
Lawn mowing / trimming / landscaping
Pest control
Firewood delivery
Residential Painting
Pressure washing / concrete cleaning
Thermal imaging – utility saving
Vacation rental management
Custom closet build-outs
Mobile car detailing /washing
Mobile car mechanic
Window cleaning
Tree trimming / arborist
On demand irrigation
Green home consultation
On demand holiday decorations
Pool / hot tub services
Deck staining
Gutter Cleaning
Maid services
Laundry services
Carpet cleaning / steaming
Deep kitchen cleaning
HVAC system cleaning
Chimney cleaning
Graffiti removal
Mold removal
Water damage remediation
Fire damage remediation
Home deodorization / perfuming
Interior painting
Exterior painting
Trim staining
Interior design
Home office build out
Countertop epoxy design
Epoxy flooring
Custom furniture refinishing
Mirror installation
Custom lighting installation
Custom wallpaper installation
Garage door service / installation
Gate and keypad entry installation
Cabinet making / refurbishing
Aquarium installation
Secure package delivery box installation
Pet grooming
Pet care / walking / boarding
Dog underground fence installation
Trophy animal mounting
Private investigating
Manned home security services
Limo / transportation services
Moving/Hauling
Smart home Installation
Hot tub wiring / installation
Privacy fence installation
Decorative retaining wall design / build
Security installation
Solar panel installation
Putting green installation
Home cinema installation
Irrigation system installation
Acoustic insulation installation
Lighting rod installation
Awning installation
Pool safety alarm installation
Storm shutter installation
Foundation repair
Hurricane prep service
Septic service / pumping
Boat cleaning
Boat shrink wrapping
Boat repair/maintenance
RV / boat winterizing
RV cleaning
RV pickup/delivery
Home appliance repair
Golf cart service / repair
Vehicle Services
Mobile oil change
Mobile tire sales/service
Mobile glass repair
Mobile mechanic
Mobile dent repair (paintless)
Mobile decal and wrap services
Locksmith
Event/Seasonal services:
Off premise bartending
Catering
Specialty food trucks (keep it simple and very fast)
Event DJ
Event management
Photography
Videography (wedding or corporate)
Photo booth rental
Porta Potty rental
Tents/Party rental
On demand cleanup crews
On demand junk removal / hauling
Casino tables and dealer rentals for events
Entertainment:
Hunting guides
Hiking tours
Biking tours
Event management
Party rentals
Personal care:
Mobile haircuts
Mobile makeup
Mobile hair styling
Mobile massage
Mobile Pedicure / Nails
Training / Coaching / Consulting
Hunting dog training
Domestic pet training
Special needs pet training
High end athletic coaching / training
Remote athletic coaching
College acceptance consultation
Credit repair consulting
Personal style consulting
Trades/construction:
Electrical
Plumbing
Carpenter
General Contractor
Heating and air HVAC
Civil engineering
Structural engineering
Architecture
Asphalt / Concrete
Door/Window installation
Painting
Bridge Painting
Masonry
Carpet/Flooring installation/refinishing
Ceramic Tile installation
Fence installation
Auger Boring
Surveying
Septic tank install and service
Insulation installing (spray and standard)
Elevator installation and service
Asbestos removal
Welding
Warehouse storage rack installation
Roofing
Siding
Epoxy flooring / counter tops
Fire sprinkler system installer / detector installation
Excavation
Equipment operation
Pipe fitting
Business Services
Videography
Drone Pilot
Customer service
Bookkeeping
Mobile Headshots
Cleaning
Bartending/Catering
Mobile fencing for festivals or construction sites
Porta potty rentals
Dumpster rental services
Junk removal
Training video creation
Liquidation services
Furniture building (dorm, office, hospital, hotel, etc)
Slushy machine servicing
Parking lot power cleaning
Real estate transactions:
Home inspection / thermal imaging (utility analysis)
Realtor
Moving services
Appraiser
Loan officer
Property manager
Vacation rental management
House staging
Retail / Hospitality
Simple and efficient food trucks
Mobile retail pop ups
Mobile brick and mortar (any brick and mortar business, except mobile)
Linen washing
Beer line cleaning / keg tap services
Deep cleaning restaurants
Niche carpentry:
Building gun safes into walls
Closet build out
Home bar building
Egress window framing/installation
Home office build out
Wine cellar building
Sauna Building
Steam shower installation
Hidden safes and secret entry construction
Cubical building
Patio building
Fence building
Dock building
Fireplace building
Cistern / water gatherer installation
Home sound room or studio build
Home stairlift installation
Urban farming systems
Custom beekeeping builds
Murphy bed building/installation (NYC)
About the Author
None of these seem like bad ideas. But many of them aren’t super high paying unless you own the business, which is why people encouraged their kids to go to college. Now maybe the pendulum will swing back, but wages have been depressed for a long time for working class people.
Maybe somewhere in the future the laws of supply and demand will come back to bite the lawyers with plumbers and the like making $300K and lawyers $30K.
Wouldn’t that be something?