Curbside Cashflow
Welcome back to Niche Riches, your weekly dose of real businesses and side hustles that put extra money in your pocket!
This week, we’re getting our hands a little dirty and stepping into the world of car flipping.
It’s a hustle that’s been around for decades and still works in today’s market. People will always need cars. People will always underestimate the value of what they’re selling. There will always be hustlers, like us, ready to connect the dots, clean things up, and move them for a profit.
Let’s take a look at the good, the bad, and the ugly with this one.
The Opportunity
Big Profit Potential: Car flipping has some of the highest margins of any hands-on side hustle. A single well-bought vehicle can net $1,000–$3,000 in profit, and sometimes much more if you find the right deal. Car flipping also scales with your skill: the better you get at spotting undervalued cars, negotiating deals, and getting sale-ready fast, the bigger your profits grow.
High Demand: Most of our infrastructure is built around vehicles, which keeps demand steady year-round. Even during slow economies, people still need reliable transportation to get to work or haul their families around. That constant need means there’s always a market for clean, dependable vehicles, and smart flippers can profit from that consistency.
Time Flexibility: Car flipping is one of those hustles that bends around your life instead of the other way around. You can scout deals from your phone in your free time, work on a car over the weekend, and post it for sale Monday morning. It’s a flexible game that pays you for effort, not hours, which makes it perfect for anyone juggling work, family, or other commitments.
Compounding Skill Growth: Every flip you do sharpens your skill set. You start spotting hidden deals faster, negotiating smoothly, and fixing small issues with confidence. The cool part is that every bit of experience stacks, so your flips get cleaner, faster, and more profitable over time. Eventually, your knowledge becomes your edge.
The Starting Line
Ready to take the wheel? Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to start.
Step 1: Learn the market
Spend a week browsing Facebook Marketplace, Craigslist, and OfferUp.
Search for common makes/models in your area. Note the average prices for cars in different conditions.
Pay attention to:
Year, mileage, and trim level.
“Needs work” or “as-is” listings.
Cars with lazy photos and descriptions.
Use tools like Kelley Blue Book (KBB) or NADA to check what a car should actually sell for.
Step 2: Set a Budget
For your first flip, keep the budget in a safe range for you. For some, that may be $3,000, for others, it may be $10,000. You know what you feel comfortable with. But let’s not jump to risky plays right off the bat. This keeps your risk manageable while still leaving room for some decent profits while you’re learning.
Avoid luxury brands or rare cars at first; repairs and parts can be expensive. Stick with reliable workhorses that are household names. Just to name a few: Honda Civic, Toyota Corolla, Ford F-150, Toyota Tacoma.
Step 3: Inspect Before You Buy
Bring along:
OBD2 scanner ($50): plug it in to check for engine codes.
Flashlight + magnet": look for rust or hidden body damage.
Ensure a clean title: Nothing is worse than multiple DMV trips. Make sure the title is clean and clear from the jump!
Mechanic buddy (recommended): You may have to pick up the tab for lunch if they give you a hand, but a second set of eyes can save thousands, especially if they are mechanically inclined.
Don’t be afraid to negotiate hard. I know it can be uncomfortable! But you have to start lower than you think and be ready to walk away. Remember: profit is made on the buy, not the sell.
Step 4: Do the Easy Fixes
You don’t need to rebuild engines. Focus on things that give a big resale bump:
Deep clean and detail
Replace worn tires, batteries, or headlights.
Fix small cosmetic issues
Most buyers care about how the car looks and drives today. Clean, reliable, and safe sells fast.
Step 5: List Like a Pro
I beg you, if you take anything away from this newsletter today, it’s that your pictures are more important than you think. This is universally true for any business that requires online listings.
Bad photos kill good deals. Take your car to a clean, well-lit spot and shoot from multiple angles.
When writing your description, highlight the car’s strengths: “Low miles, new tires, fresh detail, ice-cold AC.”
Be honest about any issues. Serious buyers appreciate transparency and it’s better to avoid any fallout from being dishonest during the sales process.
Post your listing on Facebook Marketplace, Craigslist, OfferUp, and maybe even websites like cars.com and autotrader.com.
Step 6: Sell Safe and Smart
Always meet in a public place. A police station parking lot is about as good as it gets here.
Only accept cash or bank-certified checks. No Venmo or PayPal. Tell them to save their IOUs for their momma, you are to be paid in full at the time of the sale.
Have the title in hand and check your state’s requirements for bill of sale and title transfer.
Step 7: Rinse & Repeat
After your first flip, track:
Purchase price
Repairs/cleaning cost
Time invested
Final sale price
This will show you your true profit margin and help you scale smarter.
I’ve flipped a handful of cars and motorcycles over the years, and I’ll be real with you… this is one of those hustles I’d only do if you actually enjoy working with cars. The opportunity’s legit. There’s solid money to be made if you can find undervalued vehicles, clean them up, and move them fast. The margins are real, and it’s one of the few hustles where your effort can turn directly into a few thousand bucks in profit.
But let’s be honest, there’s some hidden danger here. Cars can bite you. It’s way too easy to miss a big mechanical issue that doesn’t show up until after you’ve handed over the cash. One bad buy can wipe out your profits and leave you with a driveway full of regret.
Then you’ve got the red tape. Titles, registration, and state limits on how many cars you can sell each year… it’s not hard, but it’s annoying. I like momentum and quick wins, so once I get buried in paperwork or slow processes, I start to lose interest fast.
And don’t forget the competition. Car flipping’s been around forever. You’re not the only one scrolling Facebook Marketplace looking for a deal, so when a good one pops up, you’ve got to move quick.
So here’s my honest take: flipping cars can absolutely make you money, but it’s best for people who actually like cars. Folks who don’t mind getting greasy, dealing with DMV lines, and learning on the fly. If that’s you, this hustle has serious upside. If not, you’re better off putting that energy into a business that fits your strengths and moves at your pace.
If you enjoyed today’s read, do me a solid before you go:
Come back for the next one! Sign up here for free.
What side hustle should I try or research next? Let me know.