Commercial Door Hardware Repair vs Parking Lot Striping

Which unglamorous business is actually worth starting?

Short answer: Commercial Door Hardware Repair costs $4k$25k to start at ~40% margins; Parking Lot Striping costs $4k$22k at ~40%. Commercial Door Hardware Repair is cheaper to start; Commercial Door Hardware Repair has the higher typical margin.
Commercial Door Hardware RepairParking Lot Striping
Startup cost$4k–$25k$4k–$22k
Typical net margin40%40%
Revenue potential$100k-$450k/yr solo-to-small crew$100k-$500k/yr seasonal solo-to-crew
Profit score8/108/10
Ugliness score5/106/10
Category📠 Boring B2B📠 Boring B2B

⚖️ The verdict

Commercial Door Hardware Repair and Parking Lot Striping both sit around 40% margins, but they behave differently. Door repair starts at $4,000-$25,000 and can reach $100k-$450k/yr solo-to-small crew. It is year-round, technical, and full of locks, closers, hinges, and buildings with opinions. Striping starts at $4,000-$22,000 and can reach $100k-$500k/yr seasonal solo-to-crew. More upside, more weather dependency, more evenings in reflective clothing.

Start Commercial Door Hardware Repair if you want recurring facility work, practical troubleshooting, and steadier scheduling. Start Parking Lot Striping if you can handle seasonality, sell fast to property owners, and like work where the finished product is literally visible from space, spiritually speaking.

FAQ

Is Commercial Door Hardware Repair or Parking Lot Striping cheaper to start?

Commercial Door Hardware Repair is typically cheaper to start, from around $4,000 versus $4,000 for Parking Lot Striping.

Which has higher margins, Commercial Door Hardware Repair or Parking Lot Striping?

Commercial Door Hardware Repair reports the higher typical net margin at about 40%, compared with 40% for Parking Lot Striping.

Should I start Commercial Door Hardware Repair or Parking Lot Striping?

It depends on your capital and stomach: Commercial Door Hardware Repair runs $4,000–$25,000 at ~40% margin, while Parking Lot Striping runs $4,000–$22,000 at ~40%. The full verdict is on the page.