30 Classic Cars Business Ideas You Can Start Today [2024]

Updated: July 24th, 2023

Interested in starting a classic cars business in 2024?

We put together 30 of the best classic cars businesses you can start in today.

For each business idea, we’ll show you real-world examples of other classic cars businesses to help you see what it really takes.

Here's the full list:

1. Start a youtube channel

For anyone looking to start a successful YouTube channel, there are plenty of YouTube channel success stories that can be used as inspiration and encouragement. In addition, YouTube has an established monetization system and boasts incredible popularity, making it a potential platform for revenue generation.

In this article, we'll look at different approaches you can use to help promote your channel and grow your viewers. While there's no quick and easy way to success, you can take these tips to build your own YouTube Channel Success story. If you love content creation, you can capitalize on YouTube's popularity to earn extra income.

If you want to join the Youtube partner program to monetize your channel, you will need to reach a minimum of 1,000 subscribers and 4,000 watch hours in the previous 12 months.

How much you can make: $800 — $4,500,000/month

How much does it cost to start: $500 (?)

How long does it take to build: 48 days (?)

Time commitment per week: Min. 5 hours/week

How This Couple Makes $5K/Month Generating Content About Ways To Make Money Online

Learn how this entrepreneurial couple made $5-7k a month by helping others find legitimate work from home jobs and creative ways to make money online through their blog and YouTube channel, as well as offering two flagship products designed to help beginner freelancers and new bloggers accelerate growth.

About
Chhavi started Mrs Daaku Studio almost 6 years ago
Revenue
Chhavi grew the business to $5K/month
Costs
It cost Chhavi $500 to start the business
Read by 13,571 founders

2. Start a digital magazine

A digital magazine is an electronic publication that takes a digital format rather than printed on paper.

Ideally, digital publications and traditional print magazines are not all that different. The only difference is the medium of delivery. To start a digital publication, decide the publication’s goals and pick a topic or theme. Then, create a content strategy and choose the right software.

How much you can make: $50,000 — $800,000/month

How much does it cost to start: $500 (?)

How long does it take to build: 52 days (?)

How We Started A Digital Flipbook Making Tool That Makes $9.6M/Year

Flipsnack is an online tool that allows anyone to create digital flipbooks and has increased its business revenue by over 50% year over year, with YoY growth rates between 50% - 84%, shifting from a B2C approach and focusing more on B2B.

About
Janina started Flipsnack almost 13 years ago
Revenue
Janina grew the business to $800K/month
Read by 7,992 founders

3. Start a car rental business

Starting a car rental business can be a profitable venture for those interested in the auto industry.

Retail and corporate are the main segments within the car rental industry. Retail car rentals focus on individuals who rent cars for shorter periods, while corporate car rental targets companies that want to transport clients or employees.

If you are starting a car rental business , target airports, hotels, railway stations, commercial offices, and other high-traffic areas.

Market your business, hire employees who will manage the operations and keep records, and purchase business insurance for both cars and employees.

How much you can make: $2,000 — $583,333/month

How long does it take to build: 90 days (?)

How We Started A Camper Van Rental Business and Quit Our Full Time Jobs

ROAMERICA, a campervan rental company founded by Taylor Hood and Gretchen Bayless who quit their full-time jobs to focus on their business and have expanded their fleet quickly to meet the demand of adventure-seeking customers, with most of their web traffic coming from organic Google searches and a focus on social media and brand awareness.

About
Gretchen started ROAMERICA over 8 years ago
Revenue
Gretchen grew the business to $10K/month
Costs
It cost Gretchen $25000 to start the business
Read by 36,214 founders

4. Start an auto parts shop

If you want to start a retail business in the automobile industry, consider an auto parts business.

The auto parts business is one of the most successful businesses in the world. There are many Auto Parts Businesses in the United States, Canada, and the UK, where most are part-time.

Listed are the steps on how to start an auto parts shop business.

  • Pick a location
  • Do your market research
  • Secure all permits and licenses
  • Open a bank account for business transactions

How much you can make: $45,000 — $600,000/month

How I Started A $12K/Month Aftermarket Vehicle Accessories

This case study follows an inspiring 22-year-old entrepreneur who started an eCommerce store for aftermarket vehicle accessories, making 5x the amount of money he used to make per month, and generated over $90,000 in sales last year.

About
Mitchel started Adrenaline Offroad over 6 years ago
Revenue
Mitchel grew the business to $45K/month
Read by 18,168 founders

5. Start an antique and classic auto dealership business

6. Start a flip and sell classic cars business

7. Start an online classic car forum business

8. Start a classic car restoration business

9. Start a classic car reality shows organization business

10. Start a classic car speculator business

11. Start a software program for classic cars business

12. Start a classic car insurance business

13. Start a classic car hire service business

14. Start a classic car valeter business

15. Start a classic car club business

16. Start a billboard rentals business

17. Start an auto financing business

18. Start a classic car shows organization business

19. Start a classic car storage business

20. Start a classic car collection business

21. Start a car washing and detailing business

The carwash business is already a multi-billion-dollar industry with room for growth.

With the number of vehicles per household increasing daily, starting a car wash and detailing business could be a profitable idea.

If you have a piece of vacant land in the right location, you can get into the carwash business. You can set up an in-bay automatic carwash, self-washing carwash, touch-free carwash, or a wide range of other options.

22. Start a lubricant oil retail shop

As the economy grows, manufacturing production increases and motor vehicles become more prevalent, the demand for lubricants will keep growing.

You can profit from the increasing demand by setting up a lubricant retail shop. To start a lubricant retail business, find a location, select the products, and decide on pricing.

Create an online presence to maximize your reach and ensure you have enough inventory for your customers.

23. Start a classic car products affiliate marketing business

24. Start a 3D car printing business

25. Start a battery reconditioning business

26. Start a classic car parts manufacturing business

How much you can make: $202,000/month

How long does it take to build: 500 days (?)

How Two Brothers Make $2.4M/Year Selling Custom License Plates (Since Early 2000's)

Licenseplates.tv, founded by Jerome Bulkan and his brother Andy in 1987, manufactures authentic-look license plates for over 140 countries and over 90 states and provinces, with monthly revenues exceeding $200,000, and went live with their eCommerce store that enabled shoppers to customize their license plates online and review them before adding to the shopping cart back in 2003, serving automotive collectors, museums, high-end automobile auctioneers, and virtually all motion picture studios in Hollywood.

About
Jerome started Custom License Plates about 22 years ago
Revenue
Jerome grew the business to $202K/month
Costs
It cost Jerome $200000 to start the business
Read by 3,267 founders

27. Start a garage organizer business

Starting a garage organizer business can be an excellent opportunity for those looking to provide a much-needed service to homeowners and businesses. With many people struggling to find space and organization in their garages, this business can help clients declutter and create functional and efficient spaces.

To start a garage organizer business, you must understand how to organize and utilize space effectively. You should also be able to work with clients to understand their needs and preferences to create a customized plan for their garage. This may include installing shelving, cabinets, and other storage solutions.

To run a successful garage organizer business, it’s essential to have good customer service skills and the ability to communicate effectively with clients. You should also be able to manage your time effectively, as you will likely be working on multiple projects simultaneously.

Marketing and networking will also be necessary to grow your business and attract new clients.

28. Start an auto interior shop

29. Start a classic car auction business

30. Become an auto locksmith

An auto locksmith business is a service that specializes in providing solutions for individuals who have lost their car keys or locked themselves out of their vehicles. These services are often in high demand, as people frequently misplace their keys or accidentally lock them in their cars.

To start an auto locksmith business, you will need a strong background in automotive systems and a deep understanding of how car locks and keys work. You will also need to invest in specialized tools and equipment, such as lock picks, key-cutting machines, and diagnostic equipment.

In addition to technical skills, you will also need excellent customer service skills, as you will be interacting with people who are often stressed or frustrated due to their situation. It is also important to have strong attention to detail and the ability to problem-solve quickly and effectively.

To run a successful auto locksmith business, it is important to have a reliable vehicle that can transport you and your equipment to job sites and a clean and organized workspace. You should also have a strong marketing plan to attract new customers and keep your business top-of-mind for repeat business.

Overall, an auto locksmith business can be rewarding and lucrative for those with the right skills and dedication. You can build a strong reputation and a loyal customer base by providing valuable service to your community.

meet the author
Pat Walls

I'm Pat Walls and I created Starter Story - a website dedicated to helping people start businesses. We interview entrepreneurs from around the world about how they started and grew their businesses.