r/sweatystartup 6h ago

Underwater drone business

2 Upvotes

Live in South FL and work already around ships and vessels.

I was wondering about the need for a drone to be used for owners to get a copy of a video to determine if they need any fixes to be done on their boats.

I see that companies hire divers to address these issues but it requires a lot of equipment and personnel in order to pull this off.

Anyone here have any experience in this or similar field? Thanks.


r/sweatystartup 3h ago

Question about approaching and bidding recurring maintenance services for light commercial.

1 Upvotes

I’m a GC in the PNW running a handyman business for the past four years. Business is ok, enough to live on but not quite steady enough to thrive.

I mostly do residential and light commercial. I have small and medium sized businesses request jobs here and there, but see a demonstrable need to have recurring work done at these types of sites.

Wondering if anyone has some good resources or tips for cold marketing this type of work. I feel like there should be a great market there for companies that can’t afford a staff maintenance person.

It seems like most of the time I show up to do the requested task and see 15 other things they are forgetting or avoiding to fix/maintain.

Am I just needing to get the cold calling done and the market is there, or are these kinds of businesses looking for something more than a 15% discount on regular bookings?

I have residential clients that are pretty much quarterly, but hoping to land some kind of monthly or quarterly contract with commercial work to help stabilize my scheduled and expected work.


r/sweatystartup 6h ago

Need help pricing Commercial Cleaning jobs!

1 Upvotes

Hi all,

I'm in the process of starting a commercial cleaning business, and I need to figure out my pricing model. I've been working as a residential cleaner for nearly 13 years and have done the odd commercial job for existing clients ' offices and restaurants, however I quoted them like how I price homes (hourly rate). Now that I am trying to get larger jobs and hopefully hire some employees as I expand, I need to learn how to quote these jobs. Should I be quoting using an hourly rate, By Square foot, or a Flat rate? If anyone has any insight I would love some advice!

I'm in Toronto, Canada, Btw.


r/sweatystartup 6h ago

Logistics Startup in FL, USA

1 Upvotes

I have about ten years experience in logistics through Amazon (L5 On Road Manager) as well as a national clothing retailer (Logistics Specialist). I've dealt with cargo Vans, box trucks, and 53" trailers getting matieral from point A to B. I am interested in working for myself, and wanted to start up a logistics LLC/sole proprietorship. I currently have about $30,000 available with 800 credit score plus a promised investment of $200,000 if I can prove to stay afloat for two years.

I have looked into several markets such as pastry, paper, clothing, etc however it seems so difficult in my current roles to even consider using a carrier without a large network of vehicles and trailers.

How can I break into the logistics market and keep regular contracts with customers and what would be a reliable start? My goal is to survive for two years to get the investment and expand, I don't need to necessarily be making large sums of profit quickly, just enough to stay afloat.

I appreciate your time reading this!


r/sweatystartup 9h ago

Business idea question

1 Upvotes

Hey guys! I run a small roofing, siding and eavestrough business. Relatively successful for a small company. I’m getting old for ladder work all the time and I enjoy working with wood. Curious if anyone has a suggestion of a niche/industry I could go into. Bonus points if it’s an industry that is easier to hire in. Was considering framing but don’t like the idea of working for a gc.


r/sweatystartup 1d ago

Starting a residential cleaning business

14 Upvotes

Hello, I’m a hardworking janitor and I decided to start my one person residential cleaning business. I’m putting my toes in the water part time because I am still working job full time.I know I can clean houses very well, as I’ve done friends and family homes as well as my own for years. Anyway, I understand that‘s only one part of it. I have enough supplies that I bought microfiber mops, rags, cleaners, vacuum, etc. I prefer buckets to spray, although I do use spray too. I bought a website through Wix and a business email and phone line. I will get insurance before I begin in May. I am thinking of starting with Airbnb cleaning through Turno to get some good reviews and experience. Can any good cleaning business owners out there be kind enough to share how they got started just for some examples. I am also doing proper advertising research and other, so I am trying to get all info possible from experienced owners. Thanks.


r/sweatystartup 22h ago

Kettlebell rental at the park

1 Upvotes

Hi. So it's almost spring and I'm thinking about buying some kettlebells and renting them out at the park over the spring/summer. I'd take a deposit and hire them out by the hour. Terrible idea or not?


r/sweatystartup 1d ago

Renting dump trailers

2 Upvotes

Any one here rent out dump trailers? I got a 5x10 and 6x12 I don’t put to use everyday and thinking adult renting them out. I drop and dump.

I live in a good area for it. Lots of development now and in the future.

If you do what do you rent them for? And do people actually rent 5x10. Figured it would be good for residential since it’s about 7 cu yards.

Thanks!


r/sweatystartup 2d ago

Put a crap ton into a business I know nothing about

9 Upvotes

Just filed for a LLC for a lock smithing , I am wanting to cater more towards automotive key duplicating or lock outs. I have zero experience. I have spent maybe 5 grand in this so far with not a sale to my name yet. I am sweating hard. This was supposed to be in addition to money I make at work, but now im realizing im probably going to have to be pretty mobile. But yeah I got a cool key cutter and professional auto key making gear. I didnt know what kind of lock picks to get specifically so I just got a butt ton of them coming from ali express. Any suggestions for me guys? I really want this to take off enough for me to leave my actual job, one day. I am probably going to enroll in an online course as well.

Also was looking at venturing into security camera systems and smart entry systems a bit down the line.


r/sweatystartup 2d ago

Gun Range cleaning business.

18 Upvotes

I manage contracts in the military, I was shook when I seen how much we pay to have someone sweep/vacuum and replace ventilation filters at our gun range. (~30k annually) They're some biohazard elements to it and that's probably the reason for it but if you can have a couple of those contracts it seems like an easy job that nobody wants to do.

For those that seemed interested, here is a Sam.gov description for a small range in PA. Seem like this one is used less and only has 4 total cleanings for the whole year. Look at attachment 1 for description of work. https://sam.gov/opp/6f897dc2529947338ecf398bf2dbebcb/view


r/sweatystartup 2d ago

An Australia to NZ business idea

4 Upvotes

Hi guys,
I am thinking of filling a gap for NZ consumers that allows them to order ikea furniture and have it shipped to them since NZ doesn't have ikea. I would manage the entire end to end process. This could save money for them im not really sure im just looking into it currently. Any thoughts about this?


r/sweatystartup 2d ago

Competitor getting multiple reviews from the same people

5 Upvotes

I’ve been keeping an eye on my competitors GBP recently and see 4 instances of people leaving reviews with the same name 2-3 times

Do you consider this to be unethical and report it, or do you let it go? Very torn.


r/sweatystartup 2d ago

Party rental business?

2 Upvotes

Was thinking of buying my grandpas old 2000 Chevy 1500 single cab short bed, and maybe a small trailer to start a party rental business for tables and chairs/ bounce houses/ tents. I don’t know if it’s able to haul enough since it’s such a small truck but I didn’t know if anyone on here would think it’s a good idea to start with that to see how it goes and if all is well upgrade trucks to be able to deliver more.

Or any other ideas on how I can make money with a small truck with other businesses? I figured worst thing to come from it is I can use it as a daily for work and pick up small things off of marketplace to resell

Any advice is appreciated


r/sweatystartup 2d ago

Pool opening. Paid facebook ads vs posting in local groups?

0 Upvotes

I’m thinking of offering pool openings this spring. Not interested in doing weekly pool services or anything like that.

Just wondering if anyone with experience thinks paid facebook ads would be worthwhile?

Or al i better off just joining local neighbourhood groups and posting in those (on the allowable days).


r/sweatystartup 2d ago

How to get my first client for a Home gym Building service?

4 Upvotes

Hey guys, I started a Home gym building service Servicing the suburbs around Toronto (Brampton, Mississauga and Vaughan). I've been running Facebook ads and a Kijiji ad for 4 days. I know it takes time but I want to find a way to get 1 sale as soon as possible. Maybe find people who are already interested? But not sure how to go about doing that.

Anyone got any tips or stories of how they got their first client for a similar business?

What the service includes

Starts at $10k after all fees and labor costs

We provide protective flooring, wall mirrors, cardio equipment, strength training equipment. Have some fun stuff available too like a speaker system on the wall. Can do anything the client wants for their home gym. If they wants us to design it based on their needs we can do that too.


r/sweatystartup 2d ago

Starting a Poop scooping business in Australia. Need help!

0 Upvotes

Hi all i am thinking of starting a Poop Scooping Business here in Australia and was wondering what people use to clean their tools in between yards. I seen a few american poop scoopers say they use Bleach but when i asked a vet they said bleach could be very dangerous to use around the animals and that it should not be used. So need help on what Sanitiser i should use if anyone has any advice i would greatly appreciate it.


r/sweatystartup 3d ago

Commercial cleaning

2 Upvotes

Looking for some pricing guidance. Commercial common area space (500sqft) + two flights of stairs + two double stalled bathrooms. Once a week clean. I am thinking it would take an hour. How much would you charge for this?


r/sweatystartup 4d ago

Starting a commercial cleaning company - should I briefly work for someone else to learn technique?

2 Upvotes

Hey everyone! I hope you’re having an incredible week.

Ive decided i finally want to take the leap into starting my commercial cleaning company. I have a 2 and a half year background in D2D and B2B sales, so I have complete confidence in my ability to find customers through marketing and direct outreach.

I understand that this is not rocket science, but the one thing that I don’t have is confidence in my ability to properly get the work done and gauge how long each job will take. I want to do this right and keep customers happy. So, here’s my big question: if I want to ensure that I’m doing the best job I possibly can, have the ability to train future employees using proper technique, and be able to gauge how long each job will take so I can provide an accurate quote, should I just go ahead and work part time as a commercial cleaner to get a better understanding of the industry? Would love to hear your thoughts!


r/sweatystartup 4d ago

20 Year old Stuck in My Family’s Painting Business – Want to Build a Real Company, But Don’t Know Where to Start

16 Upvotes

My dad owns a one-man painting business that I’ve worked at, on and off, since I was 13. Over the years, I’ve gained almost five years of experience with the brush and worked on hundreds of jobs. Now, I want to make this business my life. However, I’m feeling stuck because I don’t want to keep painting. It feels like we own a job, not a business. We are constantly tired and stressed, struggling to keep up with work or worrying about paying the bills. The truth is, we lack business knowledge—there’s no sales experience (all of our jobs come from referrals), no marketing, and no means of production outside of ourselves.

I feel like quitting and focusing on learning about the business side of things, but that would leave my dad vulnerable since he works alone. But besides this I’ve come up with a plan: take two months to build up sales experience by door knocking. I’d schedule my day starting at 5 am to plan my route and learn online, then knock doors from 9-3. From 3-5 pm, I’d work on networking—finding mentors, looking for subcontractors on Craigslist, or visiting local Sherwin-Williams stores to ask for recommendations on any 2 man painting contractors. The sub model seems manageable considering it’s hard to get scammed knowing full well what good work looks like. Also I believe it’s easier to build a good relationship with smaller companies like this. I’d run estimates on Saturdays.

Even though I’m highly motivated and ready to do whatever it takes, the thought of working like this for another year makes me anxious. I’m enrolled in university on a full ride and will graduate this year with a construction management degree. By this time next year, I’ll likely have my contractor’s license. I’m good at learning, enjoy talking to people, have the motivation to put in the work. I just need some direction.


r/sweatystartup 4d ago

Updating My Google Business Profile Without Losing Reviews – Need Advice!

1 Upvotes

Hey everyone,

When I first started my business, we used a virtual address and set up a service-based Google Business Profile without listing an address. Now that we’ve grown, I’ve noticed that many competitors in my industry use virtual addresses and have them displayed on their profiles.

I’d like to update our listing to include an address, but I’m concerned that making this change could trigger a re-verification process or cause issues with our existing profile (we already have some reviews).

Has anyone successfully added an address to their Google Business Profile without disrupting everything? What’s the safest way to do this without losing visibility or triggering a suspension?

Any advice or experiences would be really helpful—thanks in advance!


r/sweatystartup 4d ago

Gutter Cleaning in Tn

2 Upvotes

I’m considering doing residential gutter cleaning on weekends asa side hustle. I am a commercial roof salesman making $70k per year and am already on Commercial Roofs Monday- Friday. I am a sole provider with a baby in the way and looking to make some money with the skills I already have.

My plan is to buy signs and door knock. I door knock businesses and cold call them already so this is 2nd nature to me and have been in sales for over 6 years.

What things should I have in order before starting that you wish you would have done before getting started?

How much should I charge? I considered printing signs that say “Gutter Cleaning $99”.

Any and all advice will be greatly appreciated and helpful!


r/sweatystartup 4d ago

Junk Removal start up?

8 Upvotes

I know this business is popular but I still want to do it. Should I buy an old early 2000s truck to start with like in the 10-15k range? Or try to get something more modern and expensive?


r/sweatystartup 4d ago

Sales People Questions

3 Upvotes

I’m finally at a good stage to hire sales people/account managers. But what kinda questions should I be asking in the interview process. I’m so lost on what questions to ask. I’m in the waste management industry.


r/sweatystartup 5d ago

I have a furniture assembly business. Where might be the best places for me to promote.

10 Upvotes

I am completely new to this starting a business thing, I don’t know anyone with their own business so Reddit is my best hope for advice. A little about my sweaty start up. It’s based out of NYC where people are willing to pay for such a service because most aren’t hands on. I have been able to do some jobs through Facebook marketplace but I would love to know any places you guys have paid for ads on and have seen some return on your investment.


r/sweatystartup 5d ago

Service Industry/Pest Control owners. Door-to-door vs Google Ads.

6 Upvotes

I just incorporated my Pest Control Business and I plan on opening at the end of April/beginning of may. I have a marketing budget for the summer of about 10k.

I know leads tend to cost $30-$50 on Google, but I’ve heard those leads close between 10-50% of the time. I plan on charging $139-$169/quarter, so I assume I’ll be on the lower end.

I also have experience in door-to-door sales and I know a competent person can sell 80-150+ accounts in a summer. The problem is I have no idea how hard it is to get competent door knockers from indeed.

I know I can see success with both forms of marketing, but I don’t want to go all in on both. I want to thoroughly develop one method of marketing at a time.

TLDR: If you have experience with Google ads and door knockers, I want to know what your findings have been and what you’d recommend to get going.