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If you're looking for weird or unusual business ideas to start, the good news is stepping outside the norm could be the key to standing out — and making money.
Niche service businesses, in particular, offer a great opportunity to attract customers who are searching for something different. With fewer competitors and lower startup costs, these businesses can be easier to launch while still bringing in steady income.
Many can be started with minimal equipment, a small budget, and a simple, professional website to showcase your services. And if you're just starting out, Durable can help you build your website for free in under a minute using Durable’s AI Website Builder.
Ready to get started? Here are 31 unconventional business ideas to spark your next venture.
31 Weird and Unusual Business Ideas That Can Work for You
#1. Dog Poop Removal
Picking up pet leavings is an unpleasant task, and with increasing restrictions on how pet waste can be disposed of, there is space in the market for someone with a hardy constitution and the dedication to become an expert in excrement removal.
#2. Mobile Bike Repair
With a broken bike, it can be tough to get to a local repair shop. So pack up your tools and a lightweight bike stand and bring the shop to your customers.
#3. Outdoor Personal Trainer
Not everyone has the time or mobility to visit a gym, and many people lack the space at home for a workout. When you start a personal training business, consider meeting your clients in outdoor locations like parks, school fields, or community exercise spaces to provide a flexible and convenient training option.
Durable has already helps hundreds (if not thousands!) of personal trainers get their business started. With ready-made website templates for PTs, automatically generated and SEO-optimized content, and stunning imagery to choose from, you can have your professional website up and running in minutes.
Don't believe us? Build your website with Durable now ->
#4. Mobile Car Detailing
When you start a car detailing business, you can offer services at any location convenient for your clients as long as there's access to a garden hose. This flexibility eliminates the need to rent a garage, keeping your overhead costs low.
Learn how to start a car detailing business here ->
#5. Pet and House Sitter
Take care of furry friends and ensure that your clients’ homes are safe and sound while they are on vacation or business trips. No equipment or supplies required!
#6. Home Staging
Help homes look their best in real estate photos and vacation rental listings by staging them with a small supply of inexpensive items like throw pillows, candles, books, plants, and whatever else your sense of decor tells you.
#7. Concierge Service
Some people work so much that they just don’t have time to manage the rest of their lives. Help them out (for a fee) by getting groceries, picking up drycleaning, taking their pets to the groomers, and more.
#8. Aerial Drone Photography
Shutterbugs are a dime a dozen — get above the crowd by becoming a drone photographer. Drones are getting cheaper all the time and flying is fun!
#9. Vacation Rental Management
Renting on Airbnb and Vrbo is hugely popular but not all homeowners have the time to manage their vacation rental properties. You can take over coordination of cleaning, restocking, booking, and more.
#10. Holiday Light Installation
Yes it’s seasonal, but who couldn’t use a little extra cash during the winter months? If you have a ladder, hanging festive lights could be your ticket to a happy holiday.
#11. Wedding Officiant
Traditional weddings aren’t as popular as they once were, which means there is room for someone like you to swoop in with a fresh new take on the wedding ceremony. In most places you’ll just need to follow the steps to become ordained by a church or organization.
#12. Mobile Pet Grooming
For many pet owners, getting their furry friends to the groomer is more hassle than it’s worth. That’s where a mobile pet grooming service comes in — offering convenience by bringing the salon straight to their doorstep. All you need is the right equipment, a reliable vehicle, and a knack for keeping pets calm and looking their best.
#13. On-call Translator
Sometimes Google Translate just isn’t good enough. If you speak more than one language, offer your services on an on-call basis, either over the phone or in person.
#14. Niche Catering
There are a million wedding caterers, but how many vegan ultramarathon caterers are there? Figure out where the gaps in on-site food service are in your area and fill them.
#15. Mobile Knife Sharpening
There’s never a dull moment in the mobile knife sharpening business. Clients will pay for expert skills and incredible convenience — target home cooks as well as restaurants.
#16. Tour Guide
Host walking, bicycle, bus, or boat tours in your area. All it takes is reading up on local history and a good pair of shoes.
#17. At-home Spa Services
People’s lives are busy and stressful. Help alleviate their tension and save them some time by providing spa services in their homes: facials, massage, reiki, mani-pedi, and more.
#18. Home Fruit Picking
Chances are there is fruit growing in your area that no one picks. You can pick it and then sell it, make jam, cider, wine, and more. Just get permission first, you’re no thief. Partnering with local businesses will also help build long-lasting supplier relationships.
#19. Voiceover Service
If you have a quiet place in your home, you could become a voiceover artist for TV, YouTube, phone messaging, and more. Bonus points for multilingual fluency.
#20. Mobile Yoga
Yoga helps people improve their mobility, so making your yoga classes mobile can make them more accessible to more people. Namast-yay!
#21. Bike Rental and Delivery
If someone is renting a bike, there’s a good chance they don’t have reliable transportation to pick it up, so take a bike to them. Start by working with an existing rental company until you can build your own fleet.
#22. Party Services
Partiers love to see classic entertainment at family events. Practice your clowning, dazzle as a magician, or simply deliver a bundle of helium balloons to the delight of children and adults alike.
Meet the Small Business Owner:
Balloons aren’t just for kids’ parties — they add a touch of wonder to any special occasion. Meredith May, Durable customer and the creative force behind Color Wonder Balloon Co., specializes in transforming ordinary spaces into vibrant celebrations with her stunning balloon designs.
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Whether it’s a grand balloon garland or a completely custom installation, Color Wonder Balloon Co. delivers eye-catching décor that makes every event stand out.
Their bold, high-quality balloon creations bring instant energy to any gathering. A quick look at Meredith’s website (built on Durable!) proves just how effortlessly she turns spaces into festive showstoppers.
“In my first year of business, I didn’t turn a profit,” Meredith shares. “In my second year, when I implemented my website with Durable, I actually made a profit. So if you’re struggling to bring in more clients, a website could be key.”
Want to follow in Meredith's footsteps? Build your party services website today with Durable.
#23. Indoor Plant Care
People murder their indoor plants all the time. You can be the difference between life and death with just a watering can and some simple potted plant supplies.
#24. Smart Home Setup
Not everyone is smart enough to set up their smart home devices. But if you can read a manual or follow instructions from a YouTube video, you can have clients talking to their devices in no time.
#25. Thermal Imaging
Thermal imaging is incredibly useful when inspecting buildings for heat loss or investigating industrial sites for excessively heated components. A one-time investment could make you the local hotshot.
#26. Mobile Tailoring
No one likes standing in front of three mirrors while someone sticks pins alarmingly close to their fleshy bits. If you’ve got sewing skills, meet your clients at home to increase their comfort and convenience.
#27. Fish Tank Maintenance
There are plenty of people who don’t have fish tanks because of the maintenance. You can take the algae off their hands — you’ll only need a few tools and supplies.
#28. Hot Tub Maintenance
Pool cleaning is well-established but hot tubs get equally gnarly. Specialize in hot tub maintenance to help your clients get even more relaxed.
#29. Solar Panel Cleaning
With the proliferation of at-home solar arrays, we’re reducing our reliance on the power grid. But when they get dirty, they don’t produce as much of the juice, so get your ladder and scrub brush out of the garage and start looking for photovoltaic opportunities.
#30. Hurricane Preparation
As the climate gets increasingly unpredictable, hurricanes are becoming stronger and more frequent. With some simple handyman tools and supplies, you can help protect homes and businesses in your area from rain and wind damage.
#31. Beer Draft Line Cleaning
At the end of a long day of entrepreneurship, all you want is a great tasting beer, and that requires clean draft lines. Ensure your local speakeasy is pouring sparkling brews — all you need is a bucket, some simple tools, and some line cleaning chemicals. Drink up!
Ready to Launch Your Small Business? Durable Has You Covered
If you're thinking of starting a small service business but aren't sure where to begin, we’ve got you covered. Check our our Business Starter Guides — they can help you find the perfect business idea and step-by-step instructions to get started.
Whether you’re looking to offer personal services or start something entirely unique, we’ll help you turn your vision into reality. Here are some of our most popular business starter guides:
How to Start a Cleaning Business
How to Start a Personal Training Business
How to Start a Tutoring Business
When you're ready to take the next step, Durable is here to make the process easy. With Durable, you can build a professional website in just 30 seconds so there's really no reason not to bring your unique or unusual business idea to life.
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