Crack repair, line striping, and sealcoating have been your bread and butter for many years.
But the market has become competitive and you need something new to offer to new and existing customers. Something profitable and something that would make your company stand out as the season kicks into high gear.
Most of all, an opportunity that you can start right now with as little capital as possible.
If this is the case, then check out these 5 lucrative opportunities for asphalt maintenance contractors that you can start now.
Painting Bike Lanes and Multi-Use Paths
The use of bicycles as transportation and for recreation has skyrocketed in the past couple of years and this has encouraged the governments to invest more in bike lanes, bike networks, and multi-use paths. This is why line striping and painting bike lanes and multi-use paths are a good opportunity to explore this year.
How to Get Started
Bike paths and networks are typically state and local government projects, so submit your bid to the relevant government agency should you find a request for proposal.
There are also a few instances when a federal department or agency puts out a request for proposals, so be on the lookout for these lucrative projects.
Visit SAM.gov and GovernmentBids.com to check for bike lane striping and stenciling opportunities and request for proposals (RFPs) in your area.
Supplies and Equipment You Need to Get Started
- An assortment of BIKE and LANE stencils
- 48" and 72" FHWA/DOT Bike Rider Stencils
- Directional arrow stencils
- A line striping machine
- White oil-based or water-based paint (check with the agency/department, county, or municipality if they require green and yellow paint)
- Paint squeegee or roller if you're required to paint the entire cycle lane green
It's also crucial to know everything about painting and stenciling bicycle lanes and multi-use paths. Please refer to FHWA's Guide for the Development of Bicycle Facilities or your city's Bicycle and Pedestrian Master Plan for guidelines and specifications.
You can also check out NACTO's Urban Street Design Guide or if you want something more in-depth, then invest in the Crow Design Manual for Bicycle Traffic.
Related: Top 12 Summer Business Ideas to Try
Parking Lot Sweeping
Chances are high that you already have the tools and equipment in your arsenal for parking lot sweeping, so why not make the most out of them and offer this additional service on top of standard asphalt maintenance?
With this service, you're not just limited to outdoor parking lots. You can also sweep the establishment's driveway, as well as the grounds surrounding the building as long as the surface is made of concrete or asphalt.
Note: The street in front of the business is generally off-limits because the city has sweepers to do that job. But you can still do it if you and the building owner/facility manager can come to an agreement.
How to Get Started?
Simply add this service on your website or flyer to get started. Or give your customers a heads up before you offer parking lot sweeping.
Supplies and Equipment You Need
You don't have to invest in a vehicle mount sweeper or a dedicated parking lot sweeper truck if you want to keep this as a side hustle. Some of the equipment you're already using in asphalt maintenance and surface prep can also be used in parking lot sweeping, and these include:
- A rotary broom
- A walk-behind leaf blower or a Billy Goat debris blower
- Traffic cones
- Attention ribbon
- Poly street broom
Related: Asphalt Maintenance Contractors: How to Stay Safe at Work This Summer
Warehouse Striping
Another profitable opportunity you can explore now is warehouse striping. This is another side hustle that you can do on top of asphalt maintenance and line striping since you already have the equipment for it.
How to Get Started?
Simply add warehouse striping service on your website or flyer to introduce it to your existing and prospective customers.
Supplies and Equipment You Need
- Chalk line reel
- Parking line paint (water-based or oil-based traffic paint)
- A line striping machine
- Some surface prep equipment
- Caution tape
- Traffic cones
- Warehouse stencils (eg. EXIT, WARNING, and Fire Extinguisher safety symbol stencils)
Custom Striping and Stenciling
Line striping parking lots has been one of your steady sources of income for many years. But if you want to offer something different, then you can expand your services to custom striping and stenciling.
This service can include playground, football field, basketball court, and athletic field stenciling. You can also provide custom retail stenciling to restaurants and retail chain stores, including McDonald's, Starbucks, Walmart, Target, etc.
How to Get Started?
Before you include this service in your website or flyers, make sure to find a reliable supplier for custom logos and stencils online or in your area.
Next, add custom striping and stenciling on your website and other marketing collateral before visiting any prospective customers.
Supplies and Equipment You Need
- Playground stencils including hopscotch pattern, shuffleboard court stencil, and more
- Restaurant and retail chain store stencils (McDonald's, Starbucks, etc.)
- Custom stencils (school logos, mascot illustrations, college team logos, etc.)
- Aerosol paint and traffic paint
- Line striping machine with a detachable gun
Looking for a starter line striper with a detachable gun? Then check out the PowrLiner 850 Line Striping Machine or PowrLiner 3500.
Note: Mascot illustration stencils, team logo stencils, playground stencils, and other custom patterns can be ordered from a specialty stencil manufacturers.
Related: 8 Mistakes That Can Negatively Affect Your Asphalt Maintenance Business
Line Striping Removal
There are many reasons why business owners or property managers want to have traffic removed. The paint is probably peeling or flaking already, or the first line striping contractor made a mistake and everything needs to be redone.
Or they probably want to have the hopscotch pattern or pickleball court removed so they can turn the area into a parking lot.
In any case, you can offer paint removal as a service separate from line striping itself.
How to Get Started?
Check out this page for everything you need to start a line striping removal service.
Supplies and Equipment You Need
- A durable wire brush
- A scarifying machine for removing traffic paint from concrete pavements
- A shot blaster for removing line striping paint from asphalt pavements
Conclusion:
Whether you're a new asphalt maintenance contractor or you've been in this business for many years, it's always a good idea to learn an additional skill, expand your list of services, and make more money. So choose one from the list and start earning more from these additional opportunities now!
