The mini-van has been much maligned over the years due to the stodgy, soccer mom image that the word conjures up. It is true that the main purpose of the vehicle is to carry a family sized load of people and their belongings from one place to another, but today’s mini-vans offer many features that make them ideal for a wide variety of purposes, some of which can be quite profitable.
Make the Most of Your Commute
For most people, the carrying capacity of their van goes under-utilized. After the kids are dropped off at school and your spouse at the park and ride you have spare seating going to waste. A good idea is to offer yourself as a convenient shuttle for others who are heading back from your last drop off and ask for tips to offset gas usage, you’d be surprised how fast it can add up.
Get Paid to Taxi
If you’re going to taxi your family on a regular basis why not make a part-time gig out of it? With apps like Uber or Lyft you can use your van to make extra cash in your free time as a community driver. The best part of using these services is that you get to set your own schedule, so you can really use spare-time profitably.
Be the Delivery Driver
People will purchase large items at yard sales or thrift stores that will not fit in their passenger cars, leaving them to try to find someone who will deliver it for them. You can offer your delivery services to local businesses, and put up flyers offering yourself as a delivery van driver for anyone needing quick cheap large item transport. If you like to drive you might also offer long distance delivery. Making long distance pick-up and delivery is not without risks though; a reliable vehicle is a must. Be prepared and have a plan to get back on the road quickly just in case something goes wrong. When it comes to car trouble like this it is a good idea to use businesses like U Pull & Pay that cheaply let you find the any part you need to get moving again. Utilizing businesses like this is a great way to avoid getting stuck with expensive repairs because you didn’t know anyone reliable ahead of time.
Use Your Imagination
There is no reason your mini-van should sit still if you have a little entrepreneurial flair and a need for extra cash, just find a need you and your van can provide and find a way to let people know.
Overall, there are tons of great things you can do with a mini-van. They can be more than just a family van, they can be a really useful tool to utilize in most any situation.
