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Written by: Natalie Fell
Natalie is a business writer with experience in operations, HR, and training & development within the software, healthcare, and financial services sectors.
Edited by: David Lepeska
David has been writing and learning about business, finance and globalization for a quarter-century, starting with a small New York consulting firm in the 1990s.
Published on June 3, 2022
Updated on March 13, 2024
Investment range
$9,550 - $18,550
Revenue potential
$164,000 - $328,000 p.a.
Time to build
1 - 3 months
Profit potential
$98,000 - $148,000 p.a.
Industry trend
Growing
Commitment
Flexible
Finding parking is one of the great hassles of driving. In cities across the US, frustrated drivers spend countless hours each year searching for a decent spot. More cars are on the road today than ever before, which means demand for parking has never been higher. In addition, as the pandemic recedes, more and more people are heading back out to enjoy the town. The global parking lot and garage industry is expecting strong growth through 2023.
There has never been a better time to start your own parking lot business — you’d be providing an invaluable service while making good money. But before you start, it’s important to understand the fundamentals of running your business. This step-by-step guide will help you build the foundation to succeed as a parking lot entrepreneur.
Looking to register your business? A limited liability company (LLC) is the best legal structure for new businesses because it is fast and simple.
Form your business immediately using ZenBusiness LLC formation service or hire one of the Best LLC Services.
Before starting a parking lot business, it’s important to weigh the pros and cons.
Trends in the parking lot industry include:
Challenges in the parking lot industry include:
Local zoning and real estate regulations may prevent the establishment of parking lots in desirable locations.
Startup costs for a parking lot business range from $9,000 to $18,000. The average cost is around $13,000. This figure includes the parking lot lease, wages for attendants, website setup, and lot maintenance costs.
You’ll need a handful of items to successfully launch your parking lot business, including:
| Start-up Costs | Ballpark Range | Average |
|---|---|---|
| Licenses and permits | $300-$1,000 | $650 |
| Insurance | $100-$300 | $200 |
| Marketing and advertising | $750-$1,500 | $1,125 |
| Website | $1,000-$2,000 | $1,500 |
| Software | $100-$250 | $175 |
| Lot Rental | $5,000-10,000 | $7,500 |
| Attendee Wages | $2,000-$3,000 | $2,500 |
| Maintenance Costs | $300-$500 | $400 |
| Total | $9,550 - $18,550 | $14,050 |
Daily parking rates cost an average of $30. After parking lot lease costs, wages for employees, insurance, and maintenance, your profit margin should be around 60%.
In your first year or two, you could lease a small lot with 15 spaces at a rate of $30 per day, resulting in $164,000 in annual revenue. This would mean $98,000 in profit, assuming that 60% margin. As your business grows, you could lease an additional lot, doubling your capacity to 60 spaces. At this stage, you’ll also be hiring more employees, reducing your profit margin to around 45%. With an annual revenue of $328,000, you’d still make a handsome profit of $147,000.
There are a few barriers to entry for a parking lot business. Your biggest challenges will be:
Now that you know what’s involved in starting a parking lot business, it’s a good idea to hone your concept in preparation to enter a competitive market.
Market research will give you the upper hand, even if you’re already positive that you have a perfect product or service. Conducting market research is important, because it can help you understand your customers better, who your competitors are, and your business landscape.
Research parking lots in your area to examine their services, price points, and customer reviews. You’re looking for a market gap to fill. For instance, maybe the local market is missing a parking lot with valet services or an on-site car wash.
You might consider targeting a niche market by specializing in a certain aspect of your industry, such as parking specifically for mobile homes or local concerts and sporting events.
This could jumpstart your word-of-mouth marketing and attract clients right away.
You’ll be providing parking solutions for customers. You could also offer additional services, such as on-site car wash or valet parking. Here’s a list of potential services:
The cost of a parking space varies greatly depending on location. Many parking lot businesses charge per hour or per day, with some places offering monthly rates. Average daily rates typically range from $20 to $60.
Once you know your costs, you can use our profit margin calculator to determine your mark-up and final price points. Remember, the prices you use at launch should be subject to change if warranted by the market.
To generate the most business, you’ll want to choose a parking lot in a desirable location close to businesses, schools, or local attractions. Here’s what to consider:
Your business name is your business identity, so choose one that encapsulates your objectives, services, and mission in just a few words. You probably want a name that’s short and easy to remember, since much of your business, and your initial business in particular, will come from word-of-mouth referrals.
Here are some ideas for brainstorming your business name:
Once you’ve got a list of potential names, visit the website of the US Patent and Trademark Office to make sure they are available for registration and check the availability of related domain names using our Domain Name Search tool. Using “.com” or “.org” sharply increases credibility, so it’s best to focus on these.
Finally, make your choice among the names that pass this screening and go ahead with domain registration and social media account creation. Your business name is one of the key differentiators that sets your business apart. Once you pick your company name, and start with the branding, it is hard to change the business name. Therefore, it’s important to carefully consider your choice before you start a business entity.
Every business needs a plan. This will function as a guidebook to take your startup through the launch process and maintain focus on your key goals. A business plan also enables potential partners and investors to better understand your company and its vision:
If you’ve never created a business plan, it can be an intimidating task. You might consider hiring a business plan specialist to create a top-notch business plan for you.
Registering your business is an absolutely crucial step — it’s the prerequisite to paying taxes, raising capital, opening a bank account, and other guideposts on the road to getting a business up and running.
Plus, registration is exciting because it makes the entire process official. Once it’s complete, you’ll have your own business!
Your business location is important because it can affect taxes, legal requirements, and revenue. Most people will register their business in the state where they live, but if you are planning to expand, you might consider looking elsewhere, as some states could offer real advantages when it comes to parking lot businesses.
If you’re willing to move, you could really maximize your business! Keep in mind, it’s relatively easy to transfer your business to another state.
Business entities come in several varieties, each with its pros and cons. The legal structure you choose for your parking lot business will shape your taxes, personal liability, and business registration requirements, so choose wisely.
Here are the main options:
We recommend that new business owners choose LLC as it offers liability protection and pass-through taxation while being simpler to form than a corporation. You can form an LLC in as little as five minutes using an online LLC formation service. They will check that your business name is available before filing, submit your articles of organization, and answer any questions you might have.
Choose Your State
The final step before you’re able to pay taxes is getting an Employer Identification Number, or EIN. You can file for your EIN online or by mail or fax: visit the IRS website to learn more. Keep in mind, if you’ve chosen to be a sole proprietorship you can simply use your social security number as your EIN.
Once you have your EIN, you’ll need to choose your tax year. Financially speaking, your business will operate in a calendar year (January–December) or a fiscal year, a 12-month period that can start in any month. This will determine your tax cycle, while your business structure will determine which taxes you’ll pay.
The IRS website also offers a tax-payers checklist, and taxes can be filed online.
It is important to consult an accountant or other professional to help you with your taxes to ensure you are completing them correctly.
Securing financing is your next step and there are plenty of ways to raise capital:
Bank and SBA loans are probably the best option, other than friends and family, for funding a parking lot business. You might also try crowdfunding if you have an innovative concept.
Starting a parking lot business requires obtaining a number of licenses and permits from local, state, and federal governments.
Federal regulations, licenses, and permits associated with starting your business include doing business as (DBA), health licenses and permits from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), trademarks, copyrights, patents, and other intellectual properties, as well as industry-specific licenses and permits.
You may also need state-level and local county or city-based licenses and permits. The license requirements and how to obtain them vary, so check the websites of your state, city, and county governments or contact the appropriate person to learn more.
You could also check this SBA guide for your state’s requirements, but we recommend using MyCorporation’s Business License Compliance Package. They will research the exact forms you need for your business and state and provide them to ensure you’re fully compliant.
This is not a step to be taken lightly, as failing to comply with legal requirements can result in hefty penalties.
If you feel overwhelmed by this step or don’t know how to begin, it might be a good idea to hire a professional to help you check all the legal boxes.
Before you start making money, you’ll need a place to keep it, and that requires opening a bank account.
Keeping your business finances separate from your personal account makes it easy to file taxes and track your company’s income, so it’s worth doing even if you’re running your parking lot business as a sole proprietorship. Opening a business bank account is quite simple, and similar to opening a personal one. Most major banks offer accounts tailored for businesses — just inquire at your preferred bank to learn about their rates and features.
Banks vary in terms of offerings, so it’s a good idea to examine your options and select the best plan for you. Once you choose your bank, bring in your EIN (or Social Security Number if you decide on a sole proprietorship), articles of incorporation, and other legal documents and open your new account.
Business insurance is an area that often gets overlooked yet it can be vital to your success as an entrepreneur. Insurance protects you from unexpected events that can have a devastating impact on your business.
Here are some types of insurance to consider:
As opening day nears, prepare for launch by reviewing and improving some key elements of your business.
Being an entrepreneur often means wearing many hats, from marketing to sales to accounting, which can be overwhelming. Fortunately, many websites and digital tools are available to help simplify many business tasks.
You may want to use industry-specific software, such as Parkable, Wayleadr, or Premium Parking to manage lot capacity, collect payments, and run financial reports.
Website development is crucial because your site is your online presence and needs to convince prospective clients of your expertise and professionalism.
You can create your own website using services like WordPress, Wix, or Squarespace. This route is very affordable, but figuring out how to build a website can be time-consuming. If you lack tech-savvy, you can hire a web designer or developer to create a custom website for your business.
They are unlikely to find your website, however, unless you follow Search Engine Optimization (SEO) practices. These are steps that help pages rank higher in the results of top search engines like Google.
Starting a parking lot business can be a lucrative venture, and to ensure success, it’s essential to implement effective marketing strategies beyond just creating a website and networking. Here are practical tips to boost your parking lot business.
Unique selling propositions, or USPs, are the characteristics of a product or service that sets it apart from the competition. Customers today are inundated with buying options, so you’ll have a real advantage if they are able to quickly grasp how your parking lot meets their needs or wishes. It’s wise to do all you can to ensure your USPs stand out on your website and in your marketing and promotional materials, stimulating buyer desire.
Global pizza chain Domino’s is renowned for its USP: “Hot pizza in 30 minutes or less, guaranteed.” Signature USPs for your parking lot business could be:
You may not like to network or use personal connections for business gain. But your personal and professional networks likely offer considerable untapped business potential. Maybe that Facebook friend you met in college is now running a parking lot business, or a LinkedIn contact of yours is connected to dozens of potential clients. Maybe your cousin or neighbor has been working in parking for years and can offer invaluable insight and industry connections.
The possibilities are endless, so it’s a good idea to review your personal and professional networks and reach out to those with possible links to or interest in parking lots. You’ll probably generate new customers or find companies with which you could establish a partnership.
If you’re starting out small from a home office, you may not need any employees. But as your business grows, you will likely need workers to fill various roles. Potential positions for a parking lot business include:
At some point, you may need to hire all of these positions or simply a few, depending on the size and needs of your business. You might also hire multiple workers for a single role or a single worker for multiple roles, again depending on need.
Free-of-charge methods to recruit employees include posting ads on popular platforms such as LinkedIn, Facebook, or Jobs.com. You might also consider a premium recruitment option, such as advertising on Indeed, Glassdoor, or ZipRecruiter. Further, if you have the resources, you could consider hiring a recruitment agency to help you find talent.
Driving around and looking for parking before a big meeting or event is one of life’s major headaches. Becoming a parking lot business owner allows you to help frustrated drivers and make great money doing so. Over time, as you scale your business and enhance your reputation, you could start building yourself a local parking empire!
Now that you’ve reviewed this guide and studied the parking lot business basics, it’s time to begin your entrepreneurial journey.
Parking lot businesses can be extremely profitable. Securing a lot in a viable, high-demand location is the key to a lucrative venture.
Rates will depend on your geographic location and the lot’s proximity to desired places. Daily rates for parking can range from $10 to $30.
Determine the number of parking spaces needed based on the expected capacity, plan the layout for efficient vehicle circulation, designate entry and exit points, and incorporate features like lighting, signage, and markings to enhance safety and organization.
The minimum size of a parking space can vary depending on local regulations and specific requirements. In the United States, a typical standard size for a parking space is 9 feet wide by 18 feet long. However, accessible or ADA-compliant parking spaces are generally wider to accommodate wheelchair accessibility.
To differentiate your parking lot business from competitors, focus on providing exceptional customer service, maintaining a clean and well-maintained facility, and implementing technology solutions like parking apps or automated payment systems.
The material commonly used for parking lot striping is paint or thermoplastic. Paint striping is typically done with durable and reflective traffic paint, while thermoplastic striping involves using heated thermoplastic material that adheres to the pavement and offers enhanced longevity and visibility.
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This is a very well-written and informative article on setting up a parking lot business business. I have gleaned valuable info on how to proceed with setting up this venture. Thank you.