How to Start Your 2023 Side Hustle with a Van

The new year calls for new beginnings and the chance to start afresh with your career. If you are looking for ways to boost your income every month, then investing in a van could be just what you need to kickstart your money-making side hustle.

Whether it’s delivery driving, dog walking, or operating a taxi service, there are a range of ways to make a bit of extra money alongside your career. Keep on reading to discover how to start your side hustle and earn some extra money this year.

Why start a side hustle?

When you are working a 9-5 every single day, starting a side hustle can seem like a simply unrealistic idea. Side hustles can be a small project outside your regular schedule, but can quickly turn into a brand new career for lots of people. And even if you do not have much extra time, you can still start a side hustle that is not too much of a commitment.

If you have a passion outside of your job that you would like to turn into a career or are simply looking for ways to make some extra money, side hustles can offer several benefits that make them more than worth it. Here are some of the biggest benefits of starting a side hustle in 2023.

It could turn into a job you love

Working a full-time office job can be tiresome and lots of people long for a refreshing change to this rigid structure. Starting a side hustle is a great way to regain flexibility, as you can be in complete control over when you work or have time off, which can be a refreshing change. If making money doing something you love isn’t one of the best reasons to start a side hustle, what is?

It provides you with multiple sources of income

Having multiple sources of income is an empowering and smart decision. You can use that extra income to pay off debts and, for many people, this is the top reason for starting a side hustle. If you’re paying off debt and don’t feel like you’re making any headway, you may benefit from the extra money you can make with a side hustle.

Not only this but it is empowering to know that you have economic value outside of your day job or paycheck. Whether it’s boosting savings or maxing out investment accounts, making extra money can help you reach financial goals much quicker than if you rely only on your primary career.

It allows you to learn new skills

If you feel that your 9-5 job is not fulfilling your drive to learn new skills, a side hustle can be a great way of learning something outside of your comfort zone. Starting your own business is great for developing independence, communication and problem-solving skills as it requires you to think on your feet and make your own decisions, without the help of other employees or a boss.

Low start-up costs

Once you have your van, you can get up and running quickly without needing to spend on things like stock or office space. Your van is the primary tool you will need to get your business off the ground.

How do I start my side hustle?

Now that we have covered some of the biggest reasons to start a side hustle, you might be itching to discover how you can put your plan into action and successfully launch your side hustle.

If you are looking to start your side hustle this year but are unsure where to start, here are some ideas to help you get your side hustle up and running.

Having a van provides you with lots of options including:

• Removals – rather than being a conventional removals business, you can fill in at short notice, or help people who’re looking to move one big item such as a sofa
• House clearance – clearing empty properties is a good way to make money, you may also find items which have resale value that the owner may let you keep
• Deliveries – you don’t want to become a courier service, but having regular clients who use you for deliveries is a good way to make sure business is consistent
• Dog walking – having a van allows you to take multiple dogs on dog walks in a safe and quiet location
• Junk collecting – One of the easiest ways to earn money scrapping is to scrap other people’s stuff. By going on craigslist or the Facebook marketplace, you can find scrap metal by taking electronics, cars, and appliances off peoples’ hands.

Here are some of the most popular van-based side hustles for your consideration:

Waste removal

While waste removal might not sound like the most glamorous job in the world, it is one of the easiest businesses to start and can be hugely profitable. Just choose your domestic or commercial niche, and be aware that you need to register with the government if you’re based in England. Some franchises offer waste removal, so you can launch your business with an established name.

For waste removal businesses, a tipper van is a good choice because they are designed for fast loading which is key for making the job more efficient.

Courier

There is a lot of competition in this area so you will need to focus on a service or product that big companies don’t deal with, for example, delivering out-of-hours.

Make sure to research the courier service market to find a specific focus that suits you, create a website to market your services and provide great customer service and you will be well on the way to running a successful courier business.

In terms of which van to choose for your courier business, a Luton van is a good choice because it has enough space for any large, bulky items that you might be delivering. Panel vans are also great for delivering as they have extremely spacious interiors.

Dog-walking

If you are a lover of dogs and enjoy spending time with them, starting your own dog-walking business is the best way to get paid to spend time with adorable furry friends. To start your dog-walking business, you will need to make sure you understand all of the dog-walking rules and regulations and get an animal boarding licence and or pet-sitting insurance.

As you will most likely be walking multiple dogs at once, you will need a large van to fit a dog crate in. The Citroen Berlingo is a popular choice for many dog walkers as it has plenty of space for crates or to install grooming equipment.

The Citroen Berlingo is available to buy on finance here at Van Sales UK for just £199 + VAT so you can kick-start your dog walking business without forking out a large sum of money to buy the van outright.

Painter

Whether you choose to work on residential or commercial properties, painting is a very lucrative side hustle as it is always in demand.  If you are working on building sites, you will need a Construction Skills certificate and be mindful of health and safety legislation.

You will need a van that is big enough to carry your tools, both in terms of size and weight, but not bigger than you need. The smaller the van, the cheaper it will be to run and the easier it will be to manoeuvre and park, which is especially important if most of your driving is in town or on country lanes

The Ford Transit is a popular van for many painters and decorators as it is reliable, durable and extremely spacious, capable of carrying loads of up to 15.1 cubic metres, or 4.22m in length. The Ford Transit is available to buy on finance here at Van Sales UK for just £209 + VAT.

Van Sales UK: New vans for sale

If you are looking for a brand-new van to kickstart your side hustle, then look no further than Van Sales UK.

At Van Sales UK, we offer van leasing deals delivered straight to your door. Whether you want to purchase or lease, we won’t be beaten on price or customer service.  Therefore, all our new van sales include a full manufacturer warranty and roadside assistance.

For more information on the range of vans we offer here at Van Sales UK, then please don’t hesitate to get in touch with a member of our friendly team today. We are always on hand to answer any questions or queries you may have and point you in the right direction.