The Six-Figure Side Venture for Cleaning Parking Lots - Side Hustle Nation

      Side Hustle Nation is focused on enhancing your personal profits. To achieve this, we frequently collaborate with companies that align with our mission. If you register or make a purchase via one of our partner links, we may earn compensation at no additional expense to you. Learn more. This week's guest embarked on his side hustle aiming to generate an extra $1,000 monthly. Four summers later, it has evolved into a six-figure business!

      Blademir Hernandez, a listener of the Side Hustle Show, drew inspiration from Brian Winch's story in episode 266, prompting him to launch his business. Brian managed to create a $650k annual operation by collecting litter and cleaning parking lots—a task Blademir felt he could also undertake. He reached out to Brian to discuss the idea before seeking property managers in his vicinity to pitch his litter-picking service.

      This narrative exemplifies the potential outcomes when one draws inspiration from a successful business model and implements their own strategy. Tune in to The Side Hustle Show interview to learn about:

      - How he found his first customers

      - How to price and market a local lot sweeping service

      - How Blademir has expanded his business

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      The Inspiration to Start Cleaning Up Parking Lots

      “Actually, I was exploring your website and discovered 99 ideas for making extra money, which included the trash-picking service,” Blademir shared. Curious to learn more, he clicked through and read the article from episode 266 featuring Brian Winch, where Brian discussed how he transformed his litter-picking venture into a $650k business and how anyone could begin earning $30-$50 per hour in their spare time. “This is something I felt at ease with and capable of doing,” Blademir expressed.

      Blademir contacted Brian to ask if a similar cleaning business would be viable in his region. Brian responded affirmatively, indicating it could work “anywhere there are parking lots.” That was all Blademir needed to know. Since parking lots are prevalent, he decided to launch his business. (Brian also offers a guidebook for getting started.)

      Starting a Parking Lot Cleaning Business and Securing His First Customers

      Blademir mentioned that he began his venture as a sole proprietor, opening a business checking account and immediately starting to identify lots to clean. He drove around his neighborhood, reaching out to tenants in apartments, businesses in commercial lots, and plazas featuring parking areas. Blademir would inquire with tenants for the manager's contact information for the lot.

      When Blademir reached a manager on the phone, he would introduce himself: “Hi, my name is Blademir, I'm a local vendor and my company specializes in cleaning litter and debris from parking lots. Are you interested in this service?” His first customer was a plaza near his home, where he arranged to meet the manager in person. It turned out the manager oversaw eight additional locations, and Blademir was eager to take on the job. Before his arrival, tenants had been managing the clean-up themselves, so they were thrilled to have Blademir start cleaning the area.

      Pricing A Parking Lot Clean-Up Service

      To set the price for his initial job, Blademir stated, “I walked around the property and estimated, ‘How long will it take me to sweep this parking lot?’” After surveying the lot and simulating a dry run of sweeping, he approximated it would take 15-20 minutes to sweep the area. He then multiplied that duration by the number of days the manager requested for sweeping to formulate a monthly price. “Initially, I aimed to achieve $35 per hour, which translated to about $450-500 monthly,” he clarified. Blademir admits he questioned whether it was worth his time. Still, as it was his first customer and he wanted to gain experience, he was willing to proceed. He submitted a proposal to the lot's manager and quickly received a signed agreement.

      Startup Costs

      Blademir's startup expenses included:

      - Legal fees – He utilized LegalZoom to register as a sole proprietorship.

      - Equipment – He purchased a blower, push broom, rake, and a Litter Licker scooper.

      Logistics and Cleaning the Lots

      Blademir needs to clean lots when there are no vehicles present, which necessitates working late at night or very early in the morning. This aspect makes it an ideal side hustle, as he can operate before or after his regular day job. When cleaning, Blademir primarily uses a blower to gather trash and debris into one spot. He then employs a rake and his Litter Licker scoop to collect