Blog>Trade>Van jobs: I have a van and need work
Last updated: 19 December 2024
Van jobs: I have a van and need work
Ever thought about making a living from your van? Here are some van jobs that could be right up your street. In this article we look at a range of tradesperson jobs that you could consider.
If you’re thinking ‘I have a van and need work’, why not make a living by using it to run a business? You could provide a ‘man in a van' service, or set yourself up as a trade if you have the skills.
Trades rely on being able to get themselves and their equipment from job to job. So, if you have a van, you’re already partway there. Plus, you’ll have the added benefit of getting to be your own boss!
Here are some ideas of van jobs you could try.
'Man/woman with a van' jobs
First things first, you could simply hire yourself out as a man (or woman!) with a van. There are various trades where man with a van jobs are in demand.
Wondering how to make money with your van in the UK? Well, as a self-employed ‘man with a van,’ there are various options available.
You could help customers move items, remove rubbish, and complete deliveries. Not to mention any other odd jobs that a van might be needed for.
You’ll normally serve a specific area and will start off carrying out odd jobs at short notice. But as time goes on, you’ll also be able to build up repeat business through loyal customers.
As well as purchasing a van, you’ll probably want to invest in the following:
Boxes, ropes, or ties
Blankets or sheets
A quality toolbox and tools
Heavy-duty gloves
How much can I charge for providing a man with a van service?
Man with a van prices are usually around £35 per hour for a man with a transit van. This can rises to around £93 per hour for a man with a Luton Lorry.
Exactly how much you can charge for man with a van jobs will depend on various factors. These include:
How big your van is
Where you’re based
Whether you’re operating alone
If you need to work in a group
Cleaning jobs
Another van job that might be up your street is starting a cleaning business.
This is slightly different as you won’t be hiring your van out as such. Instead, you’ll be using your van to travel from job to job, transporting your cleaning equipment with you.
As a house cleaner, you’ll be able to take on one-off jobs such as end-of-tenancy cleans. However, most of your business is likely to come from regular clients who require weekly or biweekly home cleaning.
Read Elaine's story to learn more about what it takes to start a cleaning business.
Elaine's story to starting her cleaning business
We were delighted to speak to Elaine Aguiar about her journey to starting and growing her business, Elaine Cleaning Services. What she has achieved is no mean feat. Let's meet Elaine and read her story. Tell us about you and your business After working in catering for nearly 15 years, my mum was
How much can I charge for providing cleaning services?
When you’re deciding how much to charge for cleaning services, there are various factors to consider. These include how fast you are at cleaning, and how long it takes you to get to your clients’ homes.
Generally, house cleaning costs start at £15 per hour for an independent cleaner or £20 per hour for an agency.
You can also charge more for bigger, one-off jobs. For instance, you could charge anywhere from £79 to £199 for an end-of-tenancy clean.
How much do house cleaners earn?
House cleaners are always needed in homes across the UK. Whoever the client, people want their home clean and may not have time, resource, or inclination to do it themselves. Not sure what the potential earnings are? We’ve gone ahead and worked out the average salaries for house cleaners at
Removal van jobs
Another option if you're looking for van jobs is to set up a removal company.
In this case, you’ll help homeowners move house, transporting their belongings from their old to their new home.
When you set up a removal company, you’ll need to work out what size of house removals you can offer. For instance, are you going to stick to one to two-bedroom homes? Or can you take on clients looking to move from a three or four-bedroom house? This is likely to be influenced by the size of your van.
You’ll also need to consider what services you can offer. Will you provide a packing service like many removal companies do? Similarly, some removal companies provide storage services for those looking to temporarily store their belongings.
Remember, you don’t have to provide everything all at once. Simply start out by offering straightforward removals with one van. Then scale this up over time so that you have a whole fleet and even employees!
Get more removal company leads for your business
Keep a full schedule with more house removals leads If you're newly set up as a home moving business, or you're thinking of starting a removals company in the future, you need to make sure your removals business can be found by more people. In addition to showing off your work and reviews, you can
How much can I charge to provide a house removal service?
How much you can charge for house removals depends on how big your clients’ homes are and your expertise. You can charge more to move clients from a three-bedroom house than you can from a one-bedroom house. Similarly, you can charge homeowners more if you’re providing a packing service alongside the removal service itself.
As a rough guide, you can charge between £50 and £60 per hour if you’re working with a partner.
Use your van to start a business
Read our tips and tricks for thriving as a new trade startup
Gardening jobs
Like the idea of working outdoors? Then why not consider starting a gardening business from your van? You could invest in quality garden tools, then use your van to travel from house to house!
If you’re fairly new to the world of gardening, you could offer services like garden clearance or grass cutting. Or, if you’re green-fingered, you could even offer full gardening services, including landscape gardening!
You could end up with a mix of one-off and regular clients, giving you a decent amount of local work.
How much can I charge to provide a gardening service from my van?
When it comes to how much you can charge, it’ll all depend on your experience and services. The typical garden clearance cost is around £185 for an overgrown garden. Meanwhile, you could charge between £70 and £290 for garden waste removal or £25 per hour for residential grasscutting services.
Or, perhaps you’re skilled enough to offer a full gardening service? If so, prices can go up to £200 per day or up to £280 per day for landscape gardening!
Read Ali's story to learn how he set up his gardening business from scratch.
Ali's story to starting up his business
We were delighted to talk to Ali Ahmad about starting his gardening and landscaping business, Al's Gardening Services. It's a great story, with a ton of great advice for fellow tradespeople and entrepreneurs. Tell us about you and your business "I run a gardening and landscaping business in Southsea
Handyperson jobs
Handymen are jacks-of-all-trades, also known as fixers or handy workers. Fancy yourself a bit of a pro when it comes to DIY? If so, starting a handyman business might be ideal for you.
As a handyman, you’ll travel from job to job in your van with a selection of tools. You’ll help homeowners with everything from quick repairs to regular maintenance. Here are some things you’ll typically get asked to help with:
Building flat pack furniture
Putting up shelves
Installing curtain rails
Hanging pictures, mirrors, and toilet roll holders
Fixing fences
Minor electrical or plumbing work
Painting woodwork
Just remember to only accept work that you have the knowledge and experience to complete to a high standard.
How much can I charge as a handyman?
The average handyman price in the UK is £30 per hour. Exactly how much you charge will usually depend on the specific job, your skillset, and your location.
It’s also worth noting that lots of handymen have a minimum call-out fee – often around £40 to £50. It’s worth considering something like this, so you know that it will be worth your time travelling to each job.
How to set up my new van job
Decided on a man with a van job and ready to get started? Here’s what you’ll need to do:
Decide what service you offer
Buy the necessary equipment (packing materials and protective equipment if you’re starting a removal company, or cleaning products if starting a cleaning business)
Decide the nitty gritty (what locations you’re going to cover and how much you’re going to charge)
Get insured (this should include getting public liability insurance and commercial van insurance)
Start marketing your business
When it comes to getting your business off the ground, Checkatrade can help.
By becoming a member, you’ll be listed on the number 1 trade directory in the UK. This is a great way to get more leads!
Plus, approved Checkatrade members get exclusive benefits deals with partner brands. These include tool discounts, van insurance, business breakdown cover and more – making it cheaper and easier to start your business.
Want leads for your new van job?
Becoming a Checkatrade member is a great way to get new leads
Man with a van FAQs
How much does a man with a van earn?
Generally, you can earn around £35 per hour for providing a man with a van service from a transit van.
However, exactly how much you can earn will depend on different factors. These include: location, van size, whether you’re operating alone or in a team, and how much work you book.
How can I make money with my van in the UK?
If you want to make money with your van in the UK, register your company or register as self-employed. You’ll also need to make sure you have the proper insurance in place.
Usually, you’ll need commercial van insurance if you want to make money with your van. This is because typical insurance policies won’t cover using your van for business.
Use your van to start a business
Read our tips and tricks for thriving as a new trade startup
