Ideas on How to Make Money With a Truck
Your pickup truck is a key tool for transporting your family, belongings, and work equipment. However, it can also be a way to generate extra funds for the household. Below are ideas on how to make money using your Ford pickup truck:
Using Other Sites to Help Get Customers (For a Share of the Profits)
There are pros and cons to joining sites like GoShare, Bungii, Lyft, etc. These sites have hundreds of thousands of customers in your area and growing brand recognition. This means that customers will (hopefully) come to you rather than you needing to find them and promote yourself.
Of course, such sites take a percentage of the money you earn. Another downside? You often don't get to set your own wages or build a base of loyal customers who will use your services time and time again.
These options are ideal if you want to test the waters or want a low-commitment way to make money with your truck.
- Rent your truck on car-sharing websites. In 2021 rental car rates skyrocketed, creating booming interest around alternatives. Individuals stepped in to help travelers (and make cash) by renting their vehicles using sites like Turo. Not comfortable with someone stepping behind the wheel of your truck? Rest easy knowing that Turo offers $750,000 in liability insurance from Liberty Mutual and optional add-ons for further protection.
- So how much money can you get from renting your truck? Location will play a significant role in determining the details. However, in St. Louis, pickup trucks are rented for rates between $78 to $292 per day. In some regions, you can earn more than $300. Plus, if renters drive a significant number of miles, you can charge them extra.
- Look for appropriate gigs via TaskRabbit. If you visit the TaskRabbit site, you'll see a variety of ways individuals can make money. This ranges from hanging pictures to furniture assembly to lighting installation. However, your Ford pickup truck makes you uniquely positioned to earn money in ways not available to everyone. For example, you can move furniture, remove mattresses, deliver larger items, or transport the equipment needed for tasks like extensive yard work.
- Drive for Uber and Lyft. These multi-billion-dollar companies have large customer bases across the country, so we would be remiss not to add them to the list. However, they currently do not offer specialized requests for pickup trucks. Additionally, they require that your vehicle have four doors, disqualifying some pickup trucks.
- Deliver food. Similar to Uber and Lyft, you can make money delivering food through sites like Uber Eats, Caviar, Instacart, etc. However, the only benefit that comes from utilizing a truck is the potential for (a lot) more storage than you'll probably need for most customer requests. So, all and all, is this the best way to leverage your truck to make cash? Probably not.
Independent Ways to Make Money
Don't like the idea of paying a middle-man (or site)? Cut them out and keep 100% of the profits! Of course, this means that it's on your shoulders to spread the word about your new enterprise. Try promoting your services through Craigslist and social media, as well as within your personal network. Perhaps even promote your budding business on the side of your Ford truck with an eye-catching wrap.
These money-making strategies are ideal if you're willing to commit for the foreseeable future. Don't expect customers to come flooding in right away; rather, you will probably build a loyal following over time through word-of-mouth and a bit of luck.
- Rent out your truck or offer services for hauling and moving. As you very well know, your truck has capabilities beyond that of a normal car. Why not let people pay you to use these added benefits (perhaps combined with your manpower). This could mean furniture pick-up and transportation or general moving services. Such services are particularly in-demand in heavily-populated environments like St. Louis; many city-dwellers don't own a vehicle, let alone one with significant storage capabilities.
There are a number of sites that let you list your truck and/or personal assistance. Sites like Uber, Fetch, and Bungi will help you get customers, though know they will take a percentage of the money you earn. Perhaps use these sites in the short term while simultaneously finding customers independently.
- Trash and junk removal. No doubt, you've seen the advertisements for 1-800-JUNK. The company turned this simple concept into an operation estimated to be worth over $300 million in 2020. Get in on the action by presenting yourself as a local, affordable alternative!
Just make sure that you're physically up to the task of lifting heavy items. Communicate your limits upfront with customers rather than committing to a project you ultimately cannot do. Similarly, make clear what you will and will not haul away. For example, dangerous chemicals and similarly hazardous materials may put your risk (and truck) at risk, as well as require special licensing.
While junk removal isn't as dependent on weather conditions as much as snow plowing, seasonality will play a factor. Expect more business during the spring and summer than the latter half of the year.
- Use your truck as the foundation of a business, such as towing or snow plowing. Getting a truck with significant towing capabilities is the first step to creating a towing or snow plowing company. However, don't expect your expenses to end there. Both services require additional equipment which will run you thousands. Plus, there's the hassle of advertising.
Simply put, starting either type of business can be quite lucrative, but only works if you're willing to invest significant upfront money and time. All and all, it's quite a commitment.
One consideration is whether you want to form an LLC for your new side-hustle. Nothing is stopping you from helping out friends and acquaintances in exchange for cash, but an LLC is a recommended step if you want to eventually hire help and legally protect yourself from potential lawsuits. To learn more, click here.
Zero-Work Ways to Turn Your Truck Into Cash
Turn your truck into a moving billboard - For a nearly effort-free way to make some extra cash using your truck, wrap an advertisement around the exterior. Using sites like Carvertise, you can connect with different companies eager to pay drivers like yourself to spotlight their brand on your vehicle. Even better? The bigger your truck, the more you'll get paid! As noted on the site, you can earn between $350 to $1,500 each month.
The companies will pay for the decals to be professionally added and removed from your truck. And, rest assured, you have some say regarding what you will and won't display on your vehicle.
As you can see, there are many ways you can turn your truck into a cash-making machine! Depending on how you plan on using your pickup, consider making strategic investments to improve the overall experience. This means taking care of your truck with regular service, as well as potentially upgrading your Ford with cool accessories or quality parts.
Visit Bo Beuckman today to get your hands on a new Ford pickup or discuss how you can prep your current truck to start making you cash.