Introduction
Every decade or so, a wave of new service businesses quietly starts taking over. And long before people even realize what’s happening, they don’t trend on social media. They’re definitely not sexy, but they turn into the exact generation of six and seven figure businesses that completely reshape local markets. And right now, that next wave is already building.
My name is Johnny Robinson, and I’ve spent the last eight years in the home service space. I’ve built my first company from $150, it was a window cleaning business, into over multiple millions of sales. And that I’ve now helped over thousands of others start their own cleaning and service businesses. And after analyzing hundreds of markets and talking with operators all across the United States, these are seven service businesses that are about to blow up in 2026, the ones that most people are sleeping on. But the early movers will absolutely clean up with it.
And by no means is this me saying you’re going to read this article and you’re going to go make a ton of money or even a dollar. I’m simply showing you these to spark some ideas and potential businesses that you can go start as either a side hustle or jump into full-time if you see it to be fit and give you stats and numbers from people who are seeing success with these business models.
Seven Service Businesses That Are About to Blow Up in 2026
Number Seven – Handyman / Odd Job / Small Repairs Around the House
That being said, number seven is handyman/ odd job/just small repairs around the house. Now, this industry is old school and it’s quietly entering a golden era. Homeowners are staying put longer than ever. And the average home ownership tenure is now over 11 years, up 7 years from just a decade ago. And if you combine that with aging housing stock, 80% of US homes are now over 20 years old.
And you got to think, there’s a lot of maintenance to be done on that when a house gets to be that old. And people don’t want to hire contractors for 10, $20,000 remodels when all they need is a door fixed, maybe a couple shelves hung or drywall patched. They want fast, affordable help. And that’s exactly what modern handyman services deliver.
Apps like Thumbtac, Task Rabbit, and Next Door are flooded with small job requests, and most markets have more demand than supply. All you need to get started is about under $2,000 in tools and marketing and the knowhow to fix random stuff. I’m seeing people all over the United States and all markets charging from $150 to $500 depending on the service.
And many operators I speak to are clearing $800 to $12,000 a month once reviews start to stack up on the local review sites. This is one of those timeless businesses, except in 2026, the shortage of skilled trades is turning handyman into a high margin profession.
Number Six – Mobile or Brick-and-Mortar Device and Electronics Repair
And if you like the idea of solving real problems for homeowners, the next business takes that same mindset, but applies it to something that all of us rely on every single day, and that’s mobile or brick-andmortar device and electronics repair.
Now, our phones break faster than we can upgrade them. And with average smartphone prices now over $1,000, people are repairing instead of replacing. According to Ibisworld, the US phone repair industry grew 10% in 2024 and is expected to hit 5.3 billion by 2026.
Apple’s new right to repairs law have opened the floodgates for third party repair technicians. Parts are now easier to access and consumers trust independent repair shops more than ever. But the biggest opportunity is actually going mobile now. Customers pay a premium for someone to fix their phone, tablet, or console at their location.
Startup cost is around $5,000 for tools and parts. Once steady customers come in, average daily revenues range from $800 to $1,500.
Number Five – Solar Panel Cleaning Business
Now, let’s shift gears into one of my favorite boring but booming industries. Number five is a solar panel cleaning business.
The US added a record 33 gigawatt of solar capacity in 2024, up 55% year-over-year, and analysts expect that number to nearly double by the end of 2026. That means millions of panels on rooftops that need cleaning to perform efficiently.
Dirt and pollen can cut solar output by up to 30%. You can start with a waterfed pole system and pure water filter for under $3,000. Residential jobs range from $200 to $600. Commercial jobs can go into thousands, even $7,000 for large projects.
Number Four – Mobile Pet Services
Americans spent 147 billion on pets in 2024 and it’s projected to pass 170 billion by 2026. This is why mobile pet services are exploding.
Poop scooping, grooming, pet taxis, and even mobile dog gyms are creating recurring income models. One person can manage 100+ weekly clients. Grooming vans charge $80 to $120 per session. Pet taxi services are growing in busy urban markets.
Startup costs range from very low to $50,000 for advanced mobile dog gym vans. You can combine multiple services under one brand.
Number Three – Remote Cleaning Business
This is a business you can run from your laptop. You don’t clean, don’t hire employees, and don’t buy equipment. You act as a referral agency connecting independent cleaners with customers.
The US cleaning industry is worth $97 billion and is highly fragmented. The average household spends $3,700 per year on cleaning. Many beginners are generating $10,000 to $50,000 per month in revenue with strong profit margins.
Number Two – Home Automation and Smart Device Setup
By 2026, over 400 million smart devices will be installed in US homes. People buy devices but struggle to set them up.
You can charge $150 to $500 per setup visit and offer monthly retainers. Startup cost is a few hundred dollars. Profit margins are very high.
Number One – Exterior Home Softwashing and Roof Cleaning
This is one of the most profitable exterior services. The industry is projected to surpass 15 billion by 2026.
Softwashing uses low pressure and eco-safe detergents. Startup cost is around $5,000. Average ticket is $1,000 to $5,000 with 50%+ profit margins. You can upsell window cleaning, gutter cleaning, and holiday lights.
Conclusion
Every one of these businesses checks all the boxes. Low startup, high demand, low competition, and scalability. 2026 is going to be the year of simple service businesses. The people who take action early are going to own their local markets.