Business entrepreneur 101: Exploring business ideas beyond food trucks.

The wide adoption of wireless technology has forever transformed the way people buy and sell goods and services. Whether you are just starting your business, are tired of being confined to a physical building, or want to supplement your existing brick-and-mortar or online operations, launching a mobile business is more realistic and attainable than ever. Perhaps most exciting of all for merchants who are not interested in entering the food industry, these burgeoning mobile companies don’t need to be food-related.

The allure of mobile businesses.

Several compelling reasons are driving business owners’ interest in mobile businesses. The major ones include the following.

• Low startup costs. It will set you back well over $10,000 per year to rent just 1000 square feet of commercial space, and that doesn’t include taxes and other charges. Contrast that with the one-time cost of anywhere between $5,000 and $25,000 for a mobile trailer or truck, and you are probably getting the picture.
• Expanded customer base. Taking your wares to the people who want them allows you to deepen your existing buyer pool. You are only limited by your staff resources, time, and the number of locations you are willing to visit. Approaching your target market instead of waiting for them to come to you can even save you big bucks on marketing costs. In fact, your customers can become your best ambassadors. Anything you give them in incentives is nothing compared to what you would have formerly paid for a sleek multi-media marketing campaign.
• Smaller inventory can be an advantage. On one hand, you don’t have a lot of room in your vehicle to store massive amounts of inventory. On the other hand, this “lean and mean” approach can inspire you to find out exactly what your niche customers want and to be sure you have it every time you come into their area.
• Easy payments. In the past, businesses on the go only accepted cash from their customers. However, mobile point of sale technology and payment processing for food trucks now makes it possible for nontraditional businesses of all kinds to securely accept credit and debit cards. This additional flexibility leads to more sales and means that you and your patrons can keep clunky cash to a minimum.

Of course, mobile enterprises have their own pitfalls: marketing challenges, local laws, and customer retention. However, the upsides of the industry are quite compelling and may be enough to inspire you to enter the fray.

Mobile business ideas.

Here are just a few on-the-move retail ideas to get your creative juices flowing.

• Pet care. Tap into humanity’s love for Fido by launching your very own dog grooming company. Our recent tendency to work from home has not diminished consumers’ love of convenience, and nothing says efficiency louder than a fully-equipped van complete with every accouterment required to make your best friend best in show.
• Shoes. Let your feet do the walking, and meet your customers where they love to shop with your innovative mobile shoe store. You can run it right out of a van and feature the popular designer boots, slides, sneakers, and sandals your buyers want the most.
• Craft supplies. If you have ever attended a farmers market, fair, or craft show, you have already seen numerous displays of finished handiwork available for sale. But how often have you come across a vendor selling the needles, yarn, and other accessories necessary to create these beautiful objects? If you have a passion for giving crafters what they need to make their creations possible, this might be the mobile opportunity for you.
• Music on the move. Whether you want to feature CDs or old-school vinyl, there is no need for a brick-and-mortar record shop. Just take your music emporium on the road to where your in-the-know buyers congregate. If you have the space and the connections, you could even use your truck as a performance venue that travels to festivals and concert spots.
• Pampering on wheels. There is nothing worse than feeling relaxed and rejuvenated after a pedicure or massage and then needing to go through the stress of driving or taking the bus home. You can solve this irritating problem by bringing the spa right to your patrons. Whether you feature Swedish massage, nail care, or eyebrow threading, people will quickly come to realize the benefits of at-home pampering.
• Smoking on the go. These days, laws have made consuming tobacco products indoors illegal in most states. Even so, people still love to indulge in a high-end cigar now and then. If you’re looking for an innovative way to give this group of people what they want, why not outfit an Airstream trailer as a lounge? With wood paneling, televisions, and humidors available for use, renting this lounge on wheels for an evening can be a great way to have a party to remember.

Whichever type of mobile business you choose to start, one fact remains the same: You need to find ways to let people know it exists. Thanks to sites like Twitter, Facebook, Snapchat, and TikTok, technology can do a lot of the work for you. The key is to make sure you are diligent about updating your pages with upcoming locations and specials. Furthermore, it is vital to incentivize your customers to provide video testimonials and reviews that can help the news about your mobile business quickly go viral.

We live in difficult times that are challenging entrepreneurs to be both creative and nimble. With prices on a meteoric rise and supplies unpredictable, you need to do everything you can to help your business rise above the rest. One of the most profitable and economical things you can do? Build a mobile business!