Automotive Startup & Car Business Ideas

If your passion lies in the automotive industry, you’re in luck. With approximately 276 million vehicles owned in the United States, car care is essential; it can also be lucrative when you choose the right business. If you’re ready to get started, read on to discover nine ways to break into the auto industry with your own auto startup business. 

Remember to keep all these options at your fingertips with our free Small Business Startup app—available for both Apple and Android. Start with a quick quiz to instantly find the best opportunities in your region.

Car Upholstery Restoration

Car upholstery restoration is essential in that time takes its toll on every vehicle's interior. In 2019, the market for automotive upholstery services was valued at roughly $7.63 billion. The automotive upholstery services’ forecast period of 2020 to 2025 is poised to register a compound annual growth rate of over 6.5%.

Oil Changes

The U.S. oil change services industry is an employer to some 93,000 people and generates approximately $10 billion in revenue every year. If you’re looking for an automotive industry where it’s certain that folks will need your services every day, then oil changes make perfect sense.

Window Tinting

If you live in an area with plenty of year-round sunshine, you may want to consider window tinting. The tinting business can be quite lucrative with the average window tint costing anywhere from $200 to $850. In 2021, the tinting film market size was valued at $3.65 billion. Within the next several years leading up to 2030, the industry is predicted to progress at a compound annual growth rate of 5.1%

Glass Repair

Auto glass replacement and repair businesses enjoy a high potential for profits along with low startup and recurring material costs. In 2021, the global automotive glass industry was valued at $20.52 billion, and by 2030, the market valuation is expected to reach over $35.81 billion. 

Carbon Cleaning

In a competitive market like the automotive industry, savvy business owners may do well to offer unique services that benefit drivers. Carbon removal remains a lucrative sector of the industry with near-zero running costs. The average carbon-cleaning business serves four to six vehicles per day at an average cost of anywhere from $800 to $1,200 per vehicle.

Accessory Enhancements

In 2021, the auto accessory market was worth roughly $416 billion. And now is a great time to get in the game. Why? By 2028, the industry is expected to grow to approximately $604.1 billion. That predicted growth puts the industry at a compound rate of more than 6.4% over the next six years.

Electrical Repair

The auto electrical services market in the U.S. is predicted to surpass over $64 billion in value by 2024. A mere ten years ago, the market revenue was just over $40 billion. And that data doesn’t take into account the rise of electric vehicles. When it comes to EVs, the market is expected to grow from $163 billion in 2020 to a whopping $823.75 by 2030.

Auto Paint Shop

The auto paint shop industry was valued at nearly $9 billion in 2018, and it’s on track to reach almost $12.5 billion by 2026. The industry registers a compound annual growth of about 4.2%, which is anticipated to grow throughout 2026 and beyond.

Car Rentals

The car rental industry is the eighth-largest real estate and rental industry by market size! In fact, the car rental industry earned just over $28 billion in 2021—an enormous jump of 21% from the year prior. Families going on vacation, business travelers, and drivers with their regular cars in the shop for repairs all need rentals. No matter which way you look at it, the car rental industry is one of the most solid and fastest-growing auto industries.

Explore the Automotive Industry Today

We hope this guide helps get your wheels turning with ideas on how to break into the auto industry. Launching your own business is an exciting opportunity, and we know you’re probably eager to get started. But remember, take your time to explore all your options. Yes, you always have the “opportunity” to start a small business, but sometimes, it makes more sense to invest in an opportunity that already exists and doesn’t require you to do all the heavy lifting alone. These are called “Franchise Opportunities.”

If you’re ready to explore your options, we’ve handpicked a few automotive franchise opportunities, below! Remember to download the free Small Business Startup app to keep all these opportunities at your fingertips—available for both Apple and Android.