How To Start A Remote Home Service Business
Imagine owning a home service business that brings in $10K a month—or more—without lifting a mop, hauling junk, or painting a wall. It’s possible. And no, you don’t need employees or even a physical office. You can run the whole thing from your computer using independent contractors.
This is exactly how some people are running junk removal, cleaning, painting, mobile detailing, dog poop cleanup, and more—fully remote. One business owner even scaled his junk removal company to 40+ cities with seven-figure profits. Here’s how you can follow the same steps.
What is a Remote Home Service Business?
You’re the brand and the booking system. Contractors do the actual work.
- You attract and manage the customers.
- Jobs are sent to local 1099 contractors (think Uber-style dispatch).
- They do the labor. You both split the fee.
The customer sees a clean, professional brand. But behind the scenes, you’re coordinating it all without employees, trucks, or physical locations.
Popular Niches That Work Well Remotely
- House cleaning
- Mobile detailing
- Junk removal
- Lawn care
- Window washing
- Pressure washing
- Handyman services
Cleaning is great for recurring revenue. Junk removal can be more lucrative per job. Pick a niche you understand or are interested in—bonus points if you’re already familiar with it.
Steps to Get Started
1. Pick a Name and Set Up the Basics
- Choose a business name and create a logo (Canva works great for this).
- Form an LLC, get your EIN, and handle legal basics like an operating agreement.
2. Set Up Your Google Business Listing
This will bring in your first real customers, long before your website ranks.
- Choose “service-based business” when prompted.
- Use a residential address (yours or a contractor’s) in the area you want to target.
- Fill out every section: services, hours, photos, and lots of keywords.
- Include location-based terms like “Junk Removal in San Diego.”
3. Create a Simple Website
Don’t overthink it. You can start with a drag-and-drop builder and upgrade later.
- Key features: clear info, a contact page, and a Book Now button.
- Don’t expect it to rank for SEO right away—this is mostly for legitimacy and convenience.
4. Add Online Booking Software
Tools like Zenbooker let you:
- Customize pricing based on job size, extras, or zip code
- Show real-time contractor availability
- Automatically dispatch jobs to contractors in specific areas
- Send appointment reminders and confirmations
5. Find Your First Contractors
Start simple:
- Ask friends, neighbors, and local Facebook groups for referrals
- Search listings on Craigslist, Thumbtack, Angie’s List, or Care.com
- Look for small operators with solid (but not overwhelming) reviews
Reach out with a casual pitch:
“Hey! I run a junk removal service and we’re looking for local pros to take on some extra jobs. I saw your listing and thought you might be interested.”
6. Onboard and Set Expectations
- Be transparent about the payment split (often 50/50)
- Send them a simple contract covering expectations and client protection
- Plug them into your booking software so they can receive jobs and notifications
- Run a few trial jobs to test reliability and performance
The Trial & Review Phase
Here’s how you launch with low risk and high payoff:
- Offer free or discounted test jobs to friends, neighbors, or your local Facebook community
- Use these to vet contractors and work out any system bugs
- Ask for Google reviews from each customer
- Aim to collect 10–20 reviews to build early trust and search ranking
How to Get Your First Real Customers
Once you’re up and running, spread the word:
- Post about your new business on Facebook and Instagram
- Share before-and-after photos (especially for detailing or junk removal)
- Attend local events or festivals
- Hand out personalized flyers with handwritten notes and pricing
- Join local Facebook groups and be helpful—not salesy
Even without a huge ad budget or SEO strategy, you can build fast by tapping into your local network and community.
Scaling Up from $10K/month to Multiple Cities
Once you’ve saturated your first market, it’s time to expand:
- Use contractors’ home addresses to open new Google Business Listings in other cities
- Build location-specific pages on your website (e.g., “Junk Removal in La Jolla”)
- Target niche keywords like “Hot Tub Removal in Escondido” to rank faster
- Repeat your early process: recruit new contractors, collect reviews, and grow organically
Final Thoughts
You don’t need to have it all figured out to get started. This business model is low-risk, low-cost, and doesn’t rely on complicated tech or big teams.
Set small daily or weekly goals. Solve one challenge at a time. If you commit and stay consistent, you can build a $10,000/month business faster than you think.
And yes, it’s all possible from your laptop.
