Boring Businesses That Make Serious Money in 2026

Everyone wants the glamorous startup.

The app that goes viral. The brand that trends on TikTok. The AI company that raises $10 million in seed funding and gets written up in TechCrunch before it has a single paying customer.

Meanwhile, a guy with a pressure washer and a Facebook page is quietly clearing $15,000 a month cleaning driveways. A woman running a bookkeeping service from her kitchen table earns more than most software engineers. And the person who owns the laundromat you drive past every day without noticing? They’re pulling $30,000 to $40,000 a month while barely setting foot inside the place.

The most profitable businesses in 2026 are often the boring ones.

In this guide, I’m breaking down 20 boring businesses that make real money — from service businesses you can start this weekend to asset-based models that build wealth over time. For each one, I’ll cover realistic revenue, startup costs, and what it actually takes to run it.

But first, there’s one boring business I want you to see above all others.

First — This Is Important

In the last 15+ years I’ve tested just about every type of online business out there and there is 1 business model that stands out above all the others.

I build simple two-page websites that show up in Google for local service businesses. Think “plumber in Dallas” or “roofer in Phoenix.” I rent it to a local business owner who needs the phone calls. Each site generates $500 to $1,500 per month.The income comes in whether I’m working or not. No employees, no inventory, no physical location needed.

It’s not flashy. Nobody talks about it at dinner parties. But it works, and makes me up to $47k per month.

Go here to see the exact system I use

Now let’s get into the full list.

Why Boring Businesses Outperform Exciting Ones

Before we get into specific businesses, it’s worth understanding why boring consistently beats exciting when it comes to making money.

Boring businesses operate in what some investors call the SOWS framework — Stable demand, Ongoing revenue, Wide moat, and Simplicity. They provide services people need regardless of the economy, the political climate, or which social media platform is trending this month. Toilets still clog during recessions. Offices still need cleaning. People still need someone to file their taxes.

This stability creates several advantages that exciting businesses rarely enjoy.

Recurring revenue is built in. Most boring businesses run on contracts, subscriptions, or repeat service schedules. A commercial cleaning company doesn’t need to find new customers every month — the same offices need cleaning every single week. A bookkeeper’s clients don’t leave after one month because their books still need balancing next month.

Competition is lower than you’d expect. Most ambitious people avoid boring industries because they want to build the next big thing. That leaves enormous opportunity for anyone willing to do unglamorous work exceptionally well. You’re not competing against venture-backed startups with unlimited marketing budgets. You’re competing against other small operators, many of whom are doing a mediocre job.

The learning curve is manageable. You don’t need a computer science degree to start a pressure washing business. You don’t need an MBA to run a laundromat. Most boring businesses require skills that can be learned in weeks or months, not years. And because the business models are proven, you’re not experimenting — you’re executing a playbook that’s worked for decades.

They scale predictably. Adding a second cleaning route or a third vending machine follows the same pattern as the first. Growth isn’t dependent on viral moments or algorithmic luck. It’s dependent on doing more of what already works.

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Service-Based Boring Businesses

These businesses trade time and skill for money. They’re the fastest to start and the simplest to understand, though they typically require physical work or client management.

1. Pressure Washing

Pressure washing might be the most accessible boring business you can start this month. Buy or lease a commercial pressure washer ($2,000 to $5,000), learn the basics of surface cleaning, and start reaching out to homeowners and property managers.

Driveways, patios, decks, siding, parking lots, commercial storefronts — everything gets dirty, and most people would rather pay someone than do it themselves. Residential jobs typically run $150 to $500 each. Commercial contracts can hit $1,000+ per job with recurring monthly schedules.

Realistic revenue: $5,000 to $20,000 per month depending on volume and whether you focus residential or commercial.

Startup cost: $2,000 to $8,000 for equipment and basic marketing.

Why it works: Virtually zero barrier to entry, high demand, easy to market locally, and you can start part-time alongside a day job. This is one of those businesses where your first customer can come from a single Facebook post.

2. Commercial Cleaning

Every office, medical facility, school, gym, and retail store needs regular cleaning. Commercial cleaning companies secure contracts — typically monthly — to clean these spaces on a set schedule. Once you have a roster of contracts, the revenue is predictable and recurring.

The business scales naturally. Start by cleaning spaces yourself, then hire cleaners as you add contracts. Many commercial cleaning owners eventually step back from the actual cleaning entirely and manage the operation — scheduling, quality control, and client relationships.

Realistic revenue: $10,000 to $50,000+ per month with a small team. Solo operators typically earn $3,000 to $8,000.

Startup cost: $1,000 to $5,000 for supplies and insurance. One of the lowest startup costs on this list.

Why it works: Contracts create predictable monthly income. Client switching costs are high (nobody wants the hassle of finding and vetting a new cleaning company). And the service is genuinely essential — businesses can’t operate in dirty spaces.

3. Landscaping and Lawn Care

People will always have lawns, and most people hate mowing them. Lawn care is a classic boring business that scales from a solo operator with a truck and mower to a full landscaping company with crews and commercial contracts.

Residential mowing runs $30 to $80 per yard. Add services like mulching, hedge trimming, leaf removal, and seasonal planting, and your revenue per customer climbs significantly. Commercial contracts for office parks, HOAs, and apartment complexes can run $2,000 to $10,000+ per month.

Realistic revenue: $5,000 to $30,000 per month depending on crew size and service area.

Startup cost: $3,000 to $15,000 for equipment and a trailer.

Why it works: Seasonal in some areas, but the off-season opens opportunities for snow removal, holiday light installation, and other add-on services. Lawn care clients tend to stick around for years if you’re reliable.

4. HVAC and Plumbing Services

If you have trade skills or are willing to invest in training, HVAC and plumbing services are among the highest-earning boring businesses. These aren’t services people can delay — when the heating breaks in January or a pipe bursts, they’re calling someone immediately and paying whatever it costs to fix it.

Emergency service calls command premium pricing. Regular maintenance contracts provide stable recurring revenue. And the skilled labor shortage means qualified technicians are in higher demand than ever, which supports strong pricing.

Realistic revenue: $15,000 to $100,000+ per month for established companies with multiple technicians.

Startup cost: $10,000 to $50,000+ for licensing, tools, vehicle, and insurance. Higher barrier to entry than other service businesses, but the revenue reflects that.

Why it works: Essential service with urgent demand, high willingness to pay, and a shrinking pool of skilled providers. If you’re already in the trades, this is arguably the best boring business on the list.

5. Pest Control

Nobody enjoys thinking about roaches, termites, or rodents. But every homeowner and business owner will call pest control the moment they spot a problem. Pest control operates on a recurring service model — monthly or quarterly treatments keep pests at bay, and customers rarely cancel because stopping treatment means the pests come back.

Realistic revenue: $8,000 to $40,000 per month depending on territory and client base.

Startup cost: $5,000 to $20,000 for licensing, equipment, chemicals, and vehicle.

Why it works: High recurring revenue, customers who stay for years, and a service that’s needed in every climate and region. Pest control companies also tend to sell for high multiples when the owner decides to exit — the recurring revenue base makes them attractive acquisitions.

6. Bookkeeping

Every business needs its books balanced, and most business owners despise doing it themselves. Bookkeeping is one of the few boring businesses that can be run entirely from home with nothing more than a laptop and accounting software.

You don’t need to be a CPA. Basic bookkeeping — categorizing transactions, reconciling accounts, preparing financial reports — can be learned through online courses and certifications in a matter of months. Most bookkeepers charge $300 to $2,000 per month per client depending on the complexity of the business.

Realistic revenue: $3,000 to $15,000 per month with 10 to 20 regular clients.

Startup cost: Under $1,000. A laptop, QuickBooks or Xero subscription, and a bookkeeping certification.

Why it works: Extremely low overhead, fully remote, monthly retainer model, and near-zero competition from AI (despite what the headlines say, small business owners still want a human they can call when their books are a mess). If you’re interested in remote work, this is a compelling path — far more lucrative than freelance writing or virtual assistant work for most people.

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Asset-Based Boring Businesses

These businesses require more upfront investment but generate income from physical assets rather than your direct labour. The goal with each is to build a portfolio of income-producing assets that work without you.

7. Laundromats

Self-service laundromats are the poster child for boring passive income. Customers serve themselves, the machines do the work, and revenue flows in seven days a week with minimal staffing.

Modern laundromats increasingly offer premium services — wash-and-fold, pickup and delivery, commercial laundry for restaurants and hotels — that boost margins significantly beyond basic self-service.

Realistic revenue: $15,000 to $40,000+ per month per location depending on area, machine count, and services offered.

Startup cost: $200,000 to $500,000 for a new build-out. $50,000 to $200,000 to buy an existing laundromat. Higher investment, but the returns are proportional.

Why it works: People always need clean clothes. The business runs largely without the owner present. Laundromats in good locations hold value and sell for strong multiples. This is a wealth-building asset, not just a job.

8. Vending Machines

Vending machines earn money 24/7 without employees, rent negotiations, or customer service conversations. You buy or lease machines, place them in high-traffic locations (offices, gyms, hospitals, apartment lobbies), stock them with snacks and drinks, and collect the revenue.

The key variable is location. A machine in a dead hallway earns nothing. A machine in a busy break room earns $200 to $800 per month. Scale to 20 to 30 machines on a restocking route, and the numbers start looking very attractive.

Realistic revenue: $200 to $800 per machine per month. A route of 30 machines can generate $6,000 to $24,000 monthly.

Startup cost: $3,000 to $8,000 per machine. You can start with one and reinvest profits to grow.

Why it works: Low maintenance, no employees needed, scalable one machine at a time, and the product (snacks and drinks) sells itself. It’s also one of the best side hustles you can start while keeping your day job.

9. Self-Storage Facilities

People accumulate stuff, and they need somewhere to put it. Self-storage is one of the most recession-resistant businesses in America — demand actually increases during economic downturns as people downsize homes and need storage for their belongings.

Storage facilities generate revenue through monthly rental payments. Once units are built and rented, the operational costs are minimal — no inventory, no manufacturing, just facility maintenance and customer management.

Realistic revenue: $20,000 to $100,000+ per month depending on location, size, and occupancy rate.

Startup cost: $500,000+ for land and construction. Buying an existing facility can range from $200,000 to several million. This is a capital-intensive play, but the returns over time are exceptional.

Why it works: Monthly recurring revenue, high occupancy rates (85-95% is typical for well-located facilities), low operating costs, and strong appreciation. Storage facilities are one of the best-performing commercial real estate asset classes.

10. ATM Machines

ATM ownership is the most overlooked boring business on this list. You purchase ATMs ($2,000 to $8,000 each), place them in locations where people need cash (bars, convenience stores, barbershops, laundromats), and earn the surcharge fee every time someone withdraws money — typically $2.50 to $3.50 per transaction.

Realistic revenue: $200 to $800 per machine per month. An operator with 30 machines can generate $6,000 to $24,000 monthly.

Startup cost: $2,000 to $8,000 per machine plus cash loading requirements.

Why it works: Despite the shift toward digital payments, cash transactions persist — especially in service industries, small businesses, and entertainment venues. The machines require minimal maintenance (primarily cash refills and receipt paper), and the income per transaction is pure profit after the machine cost is covered.

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Online Boring Businesses

These businesses leverage the internet to generate income without the physical labour or capital requirements of traditional service and asset businesses. They’re the most accessible for people starting from scratch.

11. Local Lead Generation Websites

This is the model I use personally, so I’ll be transparent about my bias — but it earns a spot on this list regardless because the economics are genuinely excellent.

You build simple websites targeting local service keywords like “plumber in Austin” or “roofer in Charlotte.” Once the site ranks in Google, local business owners pay you monthly for the leads it generates. Each site costs a few dollars per month to maintain and can produce $500 to $1,500 in monthly revenue.

The boring part? The sites are usually two pages. The design is basic. The content is straightforward. There’s nothing creative or exciting about a lead generation site for a locksmith in Tampa. But the income is predictable, the overhead is nearly zero, and you can build a portfolio of sites that collectively generate substantial monthly income.

Realistic revenue: $500 to $1,500 per site. A portfolio of 10 to 20 sites generates $5,000 to $30,000 per month.

Startup cost: Under $500 for hosting, a domain, and basic tools.

Why it works: Recurring monthly income from business owners who depend on leads, very low overhead, and the sites continue generating traffic long after they’re built. If you want to learn more about this model specifically, check out my #1 recommendation here.

12. Niche Affiliate Websites

Building content websites around specific niches — product reviews, buying guides, comparison articles — and monetizing them through affiliate commissions and display ads is one of the oldest boring online businesses. The sites are unglamorous. Nobody brags about running a website that reviews vacuum cleaners or garden hoses.

But successful niche sites generate $1,000 to $20,000+ per month through Google search traffic. Once the content is written and the site ranks, the income is largely passive.

Realistic revenue: $500 to $10,000+ per month for a mature site. Portfolio operators running multiple sites can earn $20,000 to $50,000+ monthly.

Startup cost: $100 to $2,000 for hosting, a domain, and initial content.

Why it works: Search traffic is free and consistent. Product reviews capture people at the point of purchase. And the sites can run for years with occasional content updates. If you’re considering this, my guide on how to start a blog covers the fundamentals, and affiliate marketing for beginners explains the monetization side.

13. Online Bookkeeping (Repeated for Online Context)

I mentioned bookkeeping in the service section, but it deserves a second mention as an online business specifically. Services like QuickBooks Online and Xero have made fully remote bookkeeping not just possible but preferred by many small business clients. You can serve clients anywhere in the country without ever meeting them in person.

The online model eliminates geographic limitations. Instead of competing for clients in your town, you can target any niche or region. Many online bookkeepers specialize in specific industries — e-commerce sellers, restaurants, real estate agents — which lets them charge premium rates and build a reputation within a niche.

14. Course Creation and Digital Products

Creating online courses, templates, spreadsheets, checklists, and other digital products is boring in the best possible way. You create the product once, and it sells repeatedly with zero marginal cost.

The key is targeting practical, specific problems. A course on “how to do your own bookkeeping as a small business owner” will outsell a generic “how to be successful” course every time. Templates, SOPs, and training materials for specific industries are the quietly profitable digital products most people overlook.

Realistic revenue: $1,000 to $20,000+ per month for a successful product. Revenue can be lumpy unless you build a content pipeline that drives consistent traffic.

Startup cost: Under $500 for course creation tools and hosting.

Why it works: Zero inventory, infinite scalability, and high margins. The boring part — recording 40 videos of yourself explaining QuickBooks features — is exactly why most people won’t do it, which means less competition for those who will.

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Trade and Specialty Boring Businesses

15. Septic Tank Services

Nobody wants this job. That’s exactly why it pays so well. Septic tank pumping, maintenance, and repair serves the millions of homes and businesses not connected to municipal sewer systems.

Regular pumping schedules (every 3 to 5 years per household) create predictable demand. Emergency calls for backups and failures command premium pricing. And because very few people are willing to enter the industry, competition stays low.

Realistic revenue: $15,000 to $50,000+ per month for established operations.

Startup cost: $50,000 to $150,000 for a pump truck and equipment. Significant upfront investment, but the revenue and profit margins are exceptional.

16. Waste Management and Junk Removal

Trash collection, dumpster rental, and junk removal services operate in an industry that generates over $80 billion annually in the US. Every home and business produces waste, and someone needs to handle it.

Junk removal is the most accessible entry point — start with a truck and some advertising, haul away unwanted items for homeowners and businesses, and charge $200 to $800 per load. Dumpster rental requires more capital but generates steady recurring revenue from construction sites and commercial clients.

Realistic revenue: $8,000 to $40,000+ per month depending on services and fleet size.

Startup cost: $5,000 to $30,000 for a truck and basic equipment. Dumpster rental requires $50,000+ for inventory.

17. Property Management

If you’re organised and good with people, property management is one of the highest-margin boring businesses available. Property managers handle the day-to-day operations of rental properties on behalf of landlords — tenant screening, rent collection, maintenance coordination, and lease management.

The typical fee is 8% to 12% of monthly rent collected. A portfolio of 50 rental units averaging $1,500/month in rent generates $6,000 to $9,000 monthly in management fees. Scale to 200 units and you’re looking at $24,000 to $36,000 per month.

Realistic revenue: $5,000 to $40,000+ per month depending on portfolio size.

Startup cost: Under $5,000 for licensing, software, and marketing.

18. Mobile Car Detailing

Mobile car detailing takes the boring car wash concept and adds a premium, convenience-based twist. You go to the customer’s location — their home, office parking lot, or wherever their car sits — and provide interior and exterior detailing services.

Interior details run $100 to $250. Full exterior and interior packages command $200 to $500+. Ceramic coating and paint correction push into the $500 to $2,000 range per vehicle.

Realistic revenue: $5,000 to $20,000 per month for a solo operator. Add employees and the ceiling rises.

Startup cost: $3,000 to $10,000 for supplies, equipment, and a van.

19. Handyman Services

A licensed handyman who shows up on time, communicates clearly, and does quality work is worth their weight in gold — because finding one feels nearly impossible for most homeowners. That gap between demand and reliable supply is where the money lives.

Handyman services cover everything from minor repairs and furniture assembly to painting, drywall patching, and fixture installation. Hourly rates range from $50 to $150 depending on location and skill level.

Realistic revenue: $5,000 to $15,000 per month as a solo operator. Multi-technician operations can push much higher.

Startup cost: $2,000 to $10,000 for tools, insurance, and licensing.

20. Pool Cleaning and Maintenance

In areas with a high concentration of residential pools, pool cleaning services build easy recurring revenue. Most pool owners want someone to handle weekly chemical balancing, skimming, and equipment checks. Monthly contracts typically run $100 to $200 per pool.

Build a route of 60 to 80 pools and you’re looking at $6,000 to $16,000 per month in recurring revenue with relatively short work days (an experienced pool tech can service 15 to 20 pools per day).

Realistic revenue: $6,000 to $20,000 per month with a full route.

Startup cost: $2,000 to $5,000 for chemical testing equipment, supplies, and a vehicle.

Why it works: Pools need service year-round in warm climates and during swim season everywhere else. Clients rarely switch providers if the service is consistent. The passive income potential is strong once routes are established.

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Revenue Comparison: All 20 Boring Businesses

Business	Startup Cost	Monthly Revenue Potential	Recurring Revenue?	Physical Labor?
Pressure Washing	$2K–$8K	$5K–$20K	Moderate	Yes
Commercial Cleaning	$1K–$5K	$10K–$50K+	High	Yes (initially)
Landscaping	$3K–$15K	$5K–$30K	High	Yes
HVAC/Plumbing	$10K–$50K+	$15K–$100K+	High	Yes
Pest Control	$5K–$20K	$8K–$40K	Very High	Yes
Bookkeeping	Under $1K	$3K–$15K	Very High	No
Laundromats	$50K–$500K	$15K–$40K+	Very High	Minimal
Vending Machines	$3K–$8K/unit	$6K–$24K (route)	High	Minimal
Self-Storage	$200K+	$20K–$100K+	Very High	Minimal
ATM Machines	$2K–$8K/unit	$6K–$24K (route)	High	Minimal
Lead Gen Websites	Under $500	$5K–$30K (portfolio)	Very High	No
Niche Affiliate Sites	$100–$2K	$500–$10K+	Moderate	No
Digital Products	Under $500	$1K–$20K+	Moderate	No
Septic Services	$50K–$150K	$15K–$50K+	High	Yes
Waste/Junk Removal	$5K–$30K	$8K–$40K+	Moderate	Yes
Property Management	Under $5K	$5K–$40K+	Very High	No
Car Detailing	$3K–$10K	$5K–$20K	Moderate	Yes
Handyman	$2K–$10K	$5K–$15K	Moderate	Yes
Pool Cleaning	$2K–$5K	$6K–$20K	Very High	Yes

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How to Pick the Right Boring Business for You

Looking at a list of 20 options can feel overwhelming. Here’s a simple framework for narrowing it down.

Start with your tolerance for physical work. If you want to avoid manual labour entirely, focus on bookkeeping, lead generation, affiliate sites, digital products, and property management. If you don’t mind physical work and want faster cash flow, service businesses like pressure washing, cleaning, and detailing get you earning quickly.

Consider your available capital. If you’re starting with under $5,000, your best options are bookkeeping, lead generation websites, pressure washing, handyman services, and digital products. If you have $50,000+, asset-based businesses like vending routes, laundromats, and storage facilities offer higher ceilings.

Think about recurring revenue. The businesses with the highest recurring revenue — commercial cleaning, pest control, bookkeeping, pool cleaning, and lead generation — build the most predictable income over time. This matters enormously if your goal is to eventually step back from day-to-day operations.

Evaluate local demand. Pool cleaning makes sense in Arizona but not Minnesota. Septic services make sense in rural areas but not dense cities. Pressure washing works everywhere but is most profitable where properties get dirty fast (humid climates, areas with lots of pollen or dust).

The best boring business is one where your skills, capital, and local market conditions align. Don’t overthink it — pick one, start small, and learn by doing.

If you’re building from scratch and want to start something online, my broader guide on the best online business ideas and best ways to make money online cover additional options beyond what’s here.

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The Boring Business Bottom Line

The most exciting thing about boring businesses is the income they generate while everyone else is chasing trends.

Every business on this list has real operators making real money right now. Not hypothetical projections or best-case scenarios — actual revenue from services and assets that people pay for month after month, year after year.

The question isn’t whether boring businesses work. It’s which one you’re going to start.

If you want to see the boring business model that’s produced the best results for me personally — building simple websites that generate $500 to $1,500 per month each — go here to see the exact system I use.

Boring builds wealth. Start building.