52 Low Capital Civil Engineer Business Ideas

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Updated: June 18th, 2021

52 Low Capital Civil Engineer Business Ideas

Looking to start a civil engineering related business but not quite sure what to start?  

The good news is, there are so many opportunities to become an entrepreneur and build an innovative product/service in this line of work.

  If you're looking to start your own civil engineering related business, there are several low-capital options you can choose from.  

We put a list together below of the most profitable civil engineer business ideas you can start today!  

Here they are:  

1. Start a civil engineering part-time lessons business

Examples of a successful civil engineering part-time lessons business:

Here are some great videos on how to get started with a civil engineering part-time lessons business:

For further info, check out these books and products:

Learn more about starting a civil engineering part-time lessons business ➜

2. Start a childproof services business

Examples of a successful childproof services business:

Here are some great videos on how to get started with a childproof services business:

For further info, check out these books and products:

Learn more about starting a childproof services business ➜

3. Start a blog ($200K/year)

How Much Can You Make?

$200 — $160,000/month

View all 46 case studies

Average Initial Investment

$2,687

Time Commitment Per Week

Min. 5 hours/week

Skills

Self Motivation Skills

Business Savvy Skills

Writing & Research Skills

Creativity

Interests

Books

Work

Examples of a successful blog:

Here are some great videos on how to get started with a blog:

For further info, check out these books and products:

Learn more about starting a blog ➜

Case Study

Hey! We are Kelan and Brittany Kline the founders and co-owners of the popular personal finance blog The Savvy Couple.

We are currently on pace to make over $250,000 this year alone with our personal finance blog!

how-this-28-year-old-couple-quit-their-jobs-and-make-20k-month-running-a-blog

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How This 28-Year-Old Couple Quit Their Jobs And Make $20K/Month Runni... ➜

4. Start a freelance civil engineering business

Examples of a successful freelance civil engineering business:

Here are some great videos on how to get started with a freelance civil engineering business:

For further info, check out these books and products:

Learn more about starting a freelance civil engineering business ➜

5. Start a construction consulting business

Examples of a successful construction consulting business:

Here are some great videos on how to get started with a construction consulting business:

For further info, check out these books and products:

Learn more about starting a construction consulting business ➜

6. Start a chimney repair business ($252K/year)

How Much Can You Make?

$21,000/month

View all 1 case studies

Time To Revenue

180 days

Skills

Self Motivation Skills

Business Savvy Skills

Customer Service Skills

Business model

Brick & Mortar

Examples of a successful chimney repair business:

Here are some great videos on how to get started with a chimney repair business:

For further info, check out these books and products:

Learn more about starting a chimney repair business ➜

Case Study

Hi everyone, my name is Mitchell and I’m one of the three founders of Patriot Chimney. We sweep, repair, and build chimneys and also service and repair dryer vents around the Roanoke Valley in Virginia.

I studied marketing in college, but my experience in the past few years has been a mix between marketing and sales, so my focus is primarily around building the sales and marketing strategy for us. My brother (Matt) and a friend of his (Billy) focus on the operations, actually getting on the roof and doing some real dirty work.

how-i-started-a-21k-month-chimney-service-company-while-working-full-time

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How I Started A $21K/Month Chimney Service Company While Working Full... ➜

7. Start a construction estimation service business

Examples of a successful construction estimation service business:

Here are some great videos on how to get started with a construction estimation service business:

For further info, check out these books and products:

Learn more about starting a construction estimation service business ➜

8. Start an e-book writing business

How Much Can You Make?

$2,000 — $42,857/month

View all 3 case studies

Average Initial Investment

$67

Skills

Writing & Research Skills

Business Savvy Skills

Self Motivation Skills

Examples of a successful e-book writing business:

Here are some great videos on how to get started with a e-book writing business:

For further info, check out these books and products:

Learn more about starting an e-book writing business ➜

Case Study

I'm Vaibhav Kishnani, an engineer but a passionate writer by profession. I established Content-Whale in 2017 when I was in my third year of engineering. Going by the maxim that quality writing is everything, Content-Whale caters to 42 different content types that form the backstory of every company’s digital presence and marketing efforts.

I started this content agency with a mere sum of Rs. 2,500. Today, we have drawn a revenue turnover of Rs. 4 Crores! In my opinion, it is not individual progress. Instead, a start-up is about connecting with the right individuals at the right time, who keep the show running ahead with their strife for perfection.

how-we-started-a-514k-year-content-curation-agency-with-just-35-from-india

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How We Started A $514K/Year Content Curation Agency With Just $35 [Fr... ➜

9. Start a roof repair business

Examples of a successful roof repair business:

Here are some great videos on how to get started with a roof repair business:

For further info, check out these books and products:

Learn more about starting a roof repair business ➜

10. Start a roads construction business

Examples of a successful roads construction business:

Here are some great videos on how to get started with a roads construction business:

For further info, check out these books and products:

Learn more about starting a roads construction business ➜

11. Start an air conditioner installation business

How Much Can You Make?

$200,000/month

View all 1 case studies

Average Initial Investment

$1,000

Skills

Business Savvy Skills

Customer Service Skills

Self Motivation Skills

Negotiation Skills

Examples of a successful air conditioner installation business:

Here are some great videos on how to get started with a air conditioner installation business:

For further info, check out these books and products:

Learn more about starting an air conditioner installation business ➜

Case Study

We are most proud about our obsession in building systems to maximize customer experience and as a result we have built quite the fan base among homeowners in Canada.

launching-a-furnace-filter-store-and-growing-to-60k-month

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Launching a Furnace Filter Store and Growing to $60k/month ➜

12. Start a bitumen and tar supplying business

Examples of a successful bitumen and tar supplying business:

Here are some great videos on how to get started with a bitumen and tar supplying business:

For further info, check out these books and products:

The World Market For Paper And Paperboard Internally

Learn more about starting a bitumen and tar supplying business ➜

13. Start a water closet production business

Examples of a successful water closet production business:

Here are some great videos on how to get started with a water closet production business:

For further info, check out these books and products:

Learn more about starting a water closet production business ➜

14. Start an iron rods suppling business

Examples of a successful iron rods suppling business:

Here are some great videos on how to get started with a iron rods suppling business:

For further info, check out these books and products:

Learn more about starting an iron rods suppling business ➜

15. Start a house painting business

Examples of a successful house painting business:

Here are some great videos on how to get started with a house painting business:

For further info, check out these books and products:

Learn more about starting a house painting business ➜

16. Start an overhead and underground tanks supply business

Examples of a successful overhead and underground tanks supply business:

Here are some great videos on how to get started with a overhead and underground tanks supply business:

For further info, check out these books and products:

Learn more about starting an overhead and underground tanks supply business ➜

17. Start a ceiling production business

Examples of a successful ceiling production business:

Here are some great videos on how to get started with a ceiling production business:

Learn more about starting a ceiling production business ➜

18. Start a transport and logistics business

How Much Can You Make?

$12,000 — $415,000/month

View all 3 case studies

Average Initial Investment

$86,666

Skills

Business Savvy Skills

Customer Service Skills

Self Motivation Skills

Negotiation Skills

Examples of a successful transport and logistics business:

Here are some great videos on how to get started with a transport and logistics business:

For further info, check out these books and products:

Learn more about starting a transport and logistics business ➜

Case Study

My name is Johnny Van, I am the President and Owner of Finish Line Towing & Auto Repair. I have always been interested in cars, trucks, motorcycles, snowmobiles… you name it. My father was a major contributor to my love for automobiles, he started a towing company when I was a child. He always had about 2 or 3 trucks while working a full-time job also and he did this for around 25 years.

FLT does around $5,000,000 in sales a year between all our services and we are focusing on growing to other markets in Wisconsin and soon Illinois.

i-quit-my-full-time-job-launched-a-5m-year-towing-auto-repair-business

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I Quit My Full-Time Job & Launched A $5M/Year Towing & Auto Repair Bu... ➜

19. Start a floor cleaning business

How Much Can You Make?

$20,000 — $250,000/month

View all 2 case studies

Skills

Business Savvy Skills

Customer Service Skills

Self Motivation Skills

Negotiation Skills

Examples of a successful floor cleaning business:

Here are some great videos on how to get started with a floor cleaning business:

For further info, check out these books and products:

Learn more about starting a floor cleaning business ➜

Case Study

Debbie Gartner is the founder of The Flooring Girl. Since the company's founding in 2016, she has assisted clients in choosing the appropriate colors and optimizing design layouts for floors.
Debbie is an expert in online marketing, which includes blogging and content marketing. Through her blogs, she educates customers on the ins and outs of flooring and helped them decide what was best for them.
Other than flooring solutions, her website also offers guides and resources on care tips, home decor ideas, carpet and painting trends clean, cleaning tips, and so on.
Debbie had won the Angie’s List Super Service Awards for 7 years in a row.

Read the full story on drewduboff.com ➜

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Debbie Gartner: How to Make $20,000 Per Month With a Niche Blog ➜

20. Start a roofing materials manufacturing business

Examples of a successful roofing materials manufacturing business:

Here are some great videos on how to get started with a roofing materials manufacturing business:

For further info, check out these books and products:

Learn more about starting a roofing materials manufacturing business ➜

21. Start an aluminum products manufacturing business

Examples of a successful aluminum products manufacturing business:

Here are some great videos on how to get started with a aluminum products manufacturing business:

For further info, check out these books and products:

Learn more about starting an aluminum products manufacturing business ➜

22. Start a plumbing business

How Much Can You Make?

$40,000/month

View all 1 case studies

Average Initial Investment

$7,000

Skills

Negotiation Skills

Business Savvy Skills

Customer Service Skills

Self Motivation Skills

Examples of a successful plumbing business:

Here are some great videos on how to get started with a plumbing business:

For further info, check out these books and products:

Learn more about starting a plumbing business ➜

Case Study

Innovation Plumbing started as an idea in 1990, and officially in 1991 when my dad got his C 36 plumbing license for the state of California. I was two years old at the time.

Over the years Innovation Plumbing has grown and evolved into a devoted list of repeat customers who are more like family to us. Makes sense, in a family business!

i-run-a-family-plumbing-business-that-makes-40k-month

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I Run A Family Plumbing Business That Makes $40K/Month ➜

23. Start a gathers rental business

Examples of a successful gathers rental business:

Here are some great videos on how to get started with a gathers rental business:

For further info, check out these books and products:

Learn more about starting a gathers rental business ➜

24. Start a construction equipment rentals company

Examples of a successful construction equipment rentals company:

Here are some great videos on how to get started with a construction equipment rentals company:

For further info, check out these books and products:

Learn more about starting a construction equipment rentals company ➜

25. Start a cement selling business

Examples of a successful cement selling business:

Here are some great videos on how to get started with a cement selling business:

For further info, check out these books and products:

Learn more about starting a cement selling business ➜

26. Start a safety gadgets production business

Examples of a successful safety gadgets production business:

Here are some great videos on how to get started with a safety gadgets production business:

For further info, check out these books and products:

Learn more about starting a safety gadgets production business ➜

27. Start a bricklaying services business

Examples of a successful bricklaying services business:

Here are some great videos on how to get started with a bricklaying services business:

For further info, check out these books and products:

Learn more about starting a bricklaying services business ➜

28. Become an interior designer ($1.32M/year)

How Much Can You Make?

$100,000 — $415,000/month

View all 3 case studies

Average Initial Investment

$2,000

Skills

Writing & Research Skills

Design Skills

Business Savvy Skills

Customer Service Skills

Self Motivation Skills

Examples of a successful interior designer:

Here are some great videos on how to get started with a interior designer:

For further info, check out these books and products:

Learn more about starting an interior designer ➜

Case Study

Well, to make a long story short, my mother and I started this company together in 1996. I was working as a staff interior designer at a private firm in NYC, and my mother, Rosemarie was the manager of the Estate and Trust department at a large Law Firm. We both HATED our jobs and dreamed of doing our 'own thing'. We had no idea what that looked like, and so we turned to our passion..antiques and design.

That passion has morphed into a boutique design firm that boasts over 1M in annual revenue and has completed hundreds of trophy projects.

how-we-mother-and-daughter-started-a-1m-year-boutique-design-firm

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How We (Mother And Daughter) Started A $1M/Year Boutique Design Firm ➜

29. Start a property development business

How Much Can You Make?

$200,000/month

View all 1 case studies

Skills

Writing & Research Skills

Design Skills

Business Savvy Skills

Customer Service Skills

Self Motivation Skills

Examples of a successful property development business:

Here are some great videos on how to get started with a property development business:

For further info, check out these books and products:

Learn more about starting a property development business ➜

Case Study

We are Eugenio Ferrante and Ahmed Nizar, co-founders of Casa Mia Coliving.

Today, we have 150 bedrooms in central Singapore across popular neighborhoods such as River Valley, Tiong Bahru, and Orchard. We have reached an annualized revenue of $2.5M, and we’re growing fast!

we-started-a-2-4m-year-coliving-business-in-singapore

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We Started A $2.4M/Year Coliving Business In Singapore ➜

30. Start a construction company ($4.2M/year)

How Much Can You Make?

$10,000 — $10,000,000/month

View all 6 case studies

Average Initial Investment

$16,687,333

Time To Revenue

360 days

Skills

Self Motivation Skills

Crafty Skills

Customer Service Skills

Business Savvy Skills

Design Skills

Business model

Consulting

Examples of a successful construction company:

Here are some great videos on how to get started with a construction company:

For further info, check out these books and products:

Learn more about starting a construction company ➜

Case Study

With a little luck, and a lot of gaming the YouTube algorithm, I was able to experience the viral effects of the internet. It has now been seen by over 25m people through my channel and other media networks.

how-i-gamed-the-youtube-algorithm-and-went-viral-with-25m-views

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How I Gamed The YouTube Algorithm and Went Viral With 25M Views ➜

31. Start a furniture polishing business

How Much Can You Make?

$166,000/month

View all 1 case studies

Skills

Design Skills

Business Savvy Skills

Customer Service Skills

Crafty Skills

Self Motivation Skills

Examples of a successful furniture polishing business:

Here are some great videos on how to get started with a furniture polishing business:

For further info, check out these books and products:

Learn more about starting a furniture polishing business ➜

Case Study

John Blunt established IsGood Woodworks as a Seattle-based community woodworking shop.
Since the business was founded in 1992, he has transformed IsGood from a small, independently funded contract woodworking business into a well-known neighborhood woodworking shop that brings in about $2 million annually.
IsGood Woodworks provides the equipment, resources, education, one-on-one mentoring, and equipment as well as certifications.
Since 2008, thousands of students and independent shop workers have passed through their doors in search of professional mentoring, up-to-date tools, and priceless woodworking knowledge while saving time and money.

Read the full story on upflip.com ➜

—

How to Start a Woodworking Business and make 30K/month ➜

32. Start a wall paper fixing business

Examples of a successful wall paper fixing business:

Here are some great videos on how to get started with a wall paper fixing business:

For further info, check out these books and products:

Learn more about starting a wall paper fixing business ➜

33. Start a landscaping business

How Much Can You Make?

$2,500,000/month

View all 1 case studies

Average Initial Investment

$129,000

Skills

Business Savvy Skills

Customer Service Skills

Self Motivation Skills

Negotiation Skills

Examples of a successful landscaping business:

Here are some great videos on how to get started with a landscaping business:

For further info, check out these books and products:

Learn more about starting a landscaping business ➜

Case Study

I'm Bryan Clayton CEO of GreenPal which is best described as Uber for Lawn Care.

Good thing early investors told us no because with their capital they would have owned and controlled 30% of our business.e are self-funded and my cofounders and I own it all.

uber-for-lawn-care-how-i-built-a-30m-software

—

Uber For Lawn Care: How I Built A $30M Software ➜

34. Start a bricks and blocks manufacturing business

Examples of a successful bricks and blocks manufacturing business:

Here are some great videos on how to get started with a bricks and blocks manufacturing business:

For further info, check out these books and products:

Learn more about starting a bricks and blocks manufacturing business ➜

35. Start a logging business

Examples of a successful logging business:

Here are some great videos on how to get started with a logging business:

For further info, check out these books and products:

Learn more about starting a logging business ➜

36. Start a tile repair business

Examples of a successful tile repair business:

Here are some great videos on how to get started with a tile repair business:

For further info, check out these books and products:

Learn more about starting a tile repair business ➜

37. Start a borehole drilling business

Examples of a successful borehole drilling business:

Here are some great videos on how to get started with a borehole drilling business:

For further info, check out these books and products:

Learn more about starting a borehole drilling business ➜

38. Start a marbles manufacturing business

Examples of a successful marbles manufacturing business:

Here are some great videos on how to get started with a marbles manufacturing business:

For further info, check out these books and products:

Learn more about starting a marbles manufacturing business ➜

39. Start a cement manufacturer

Examples of a successful cement manufacturer:

Here are some great videos on how to get started with a cement manufacturer:

For further info, check out these books and products:

Learn more about starting a cement manufacturer ➜

40. Start a metal gates construction business

Examples of a successful metal gates construction business:

Here are some great videos on how to get started with a metal gates construction business:

For further info, check out these books and products:

Learn more about starting a metal gates construction business ➜

41. Start a construction nails manufacturing business

Examples of a successful construction nails manufacturing business:

Here are some great videos on how to get started with a construction nails manufacturing business:

For further info, check out these books and products:

Learn more about starting a construction nails manufacturing business ➜

42. Sell construction equipment

How Much Can You Make?

$20,000/month

View all 1 case studies

Skills

Business Savvy Skills

Customer Service Skills

Self Motivation Skills

Examples of a successful sell construction equipment:

Here are some great videos on how to get started with a sell construction equipment:

For further info, check out these books and products:

Learn more about starting a sell construction equipment ➜

Case Study

My name is Mat Hofma, and I created Mini Materials. We sell miniature masonry and woodworking supplies like cinder blocks, red bricks, pallets, lumber, and even molds to pour your own cinder blocks.

Since then we've expanded to different styles of mini masonry and even kits to build models.

selling-mini-construction-supplies-and-making-17k-mo

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Selling Mini Construction Supplies and Making $17k/mo ➜

43. Start a mosaic tile creation business

Time To Revenue

300 days

Skills

Self Motivation Skills

Crafty Skills

Customer Service Skills

Business Savvy Skills

Business model

Brick & Mortar

Examples of a successful mosaic tile creation business:

Here are some great videos on how to get started with a mosaic tile creation business:

For further info, check out these books and products:

Learn more about starting a mosaic tile creation business ➜

44. Start a land surveys business

Examples of a successful land surveys business:

Here are some great videos on how to get started with a land surveys business:

For further info, check out these books and products:

Learn more about starting a land surveys business ➜

45. Start a tractors selling business

Examples of a successful tractors selling business:

Here are some great videos on how to get started with a tractors selling business:

For further info, check out these books and products:

Big Rig Business Startup: How to Start, Run & Grow a Successful Trucking Company

Learn more about starting a tractors selling business ➜

46. Start a building wiring business

Examples of a successful building wiring business:

Here are some great videos on how to get started with a building wiring business:

For further info, check out these books and products:

Learn more about starting a building wiring business ➜

47. Start a construction cleanup business

Examples of a successful construction cleanup business:

Here are some great videos on how to get started with a construction cleanup business:

For further info, check out these books and products:

How To Start Your Own House Cleaning Company: Go From Startup To Payday In One Week

Learn more about starting a construction cleanup business ➜

48. Start a burglary proofs construction business

Examples of a successful burglary proofs construction business:

Here are some great videos on how to get started with a burglary proofs construction business:

For further info, check out these books and products:

Learn more about starting a burglary proofs construction business ➜

49. Start a fixing POP business

Examples of a successful fixing POP business:

Here are some great videos on how to get started with a fixing POP business:

For further info, check out these books and products:

Learn more about starting a fixing POP business ➜

50. Start a sand and gravel supplying business

Examples of a successful sand and gravel supplying business:

Here are some great videos on how to get started with a sand and gravel supplying business:

For further info, check out these books and products:

Learn more about starting a sand and gravel supplying business ➜

51. Become a ceramic tile manufacturer

Examples of a successful ceramic tile manufacturer:

Here are some great videos on how to get started with a ceramic tile manufacturer:

For further info, check out these books and products:

Learn more about starting a ceramic tile manufacturer ➜

52. Start a lawn care service

How Much Can You Make?

$2,500,000/month

View all 1 case studies

Average Initial Investment

$250,000

Skills

Business Savvy Skills

Customer Service Skills

Self Motivation Skills

Negotiation Skills

Examples of a successful lawn care service:

Here are some great videos on how to get started with a lawn care service:

For further info, check out these books and products:

Learn more about starting a lawn care service ➜

Case Study

I'm Bryan Clayton CEO of GreenPal which is best described as Uber for Lawn Care.

Good thing early investors told us no because with their capital they would have owned and controlled 30% of our business.e are self-funded and my cofounders and I own it all.

uber-for-lawn-care-how-i-built-a-30m-software

—

Uber For Lawn Care: How I Built A $30M Software ➜

Pat Walls, Founder of Starter Story

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