Back to all listings

Dirt & Duty

Commercial High-Street Awning Crank Mechanism Lubricator

Scrub road grime and apply silicone lubricant to manual gearboxes and retractable arms on storefront canvas awnings.

Startup Cost: £25 Location: Local/Outdoors Difficulty: Easy Potential repeatable business Regular weekly commitment

Earning and time figures are our broad estimates, not guarantees — actual results depend on your area, your effort and demand.

Why it's left-field

Cafe owners pay you to climb step-ladders to oil rusty awning winding gears so canvas shades roll out without squeaking.

How it works

  1. 1Offer seasonal storefront awning mechanism maintenance to local high street cafes and bakeries.
  2. 2Clean road soot off folding metal awning support arms using degreaser and stiff nylon brushes.
  3. 3Spray waterproof silicone lubricant into gear winding boxes and verify smooth extension.

Official platforms

Some links on this page are affiliate links. If you sign up through one, we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you — it helps fund the sanctuary, and we only recommend platforms we'd use ourselves.

Get the Commercial Cleaning Pitch Kit (£5)

Explore similar

Dirt & Duty

Gutter Guard Brush Installer

Foam or brush gutter guards keep leaves out for years — fitting them from a ladder is a one-visit job homeowners pay well for because it removes a chore forever.

Startup cost: Startup Cost: £60-£120Location: Location: Local/OutdoorsDifficulty: Difficulty: MediumEarning potential: Potential repeatable businessTime needed: Regular weekly commitment

Why it's left-field

The materials cost a fraction of the fitted price, and the skill ceiling is low — the ladder is the real barrier that keeps competitors away.

Dirt & Duty

Conservatory Roof Panel Cleaner

Polycarbonate conservatory roofs turn green and grimy within a few years, and owners can't face the ladder — a careful clean restores the light for a solid fee.

Startup cost: Startup Cost: £40-£80Location: Location: Local/OutdoorsDifficulty: Difficulty: MediumEarning potential: Potential repeatable businessTime needed: Regular weekly commitment

Why it's left-field

It's the awkward height, not the skill, that's paid for. Most customers book once a year, which makes it quietly repeatable income.

Dirt & Duty

Grave Plot Tidy and Flowers Service

Families living far from a loved one's grave pay for regular tidying, planting and fresh flowers — quiet, dignified work with steady monthly income.

Startup cost: Startup Cost: £10-£20Location: Location: Local/OutdoorsDifficulty: Difficulty: EasyEarning potential: Potential repeatable businessTime needed: Regular weekly commitment

Why it's left-field

The need is invisible and constant: hundreds of families per cemetery, most of them a motorway away, all grateful rather than haggling.