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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 talking about one of those simple, hands-on businesses that’s hiding in plain sight: Driveway Sealing.

It’s messy, it’s hot, and it smells like tar, but that’s part of what makes it work. Most homeowners don’t want to touch this job, which leaves a gap for anyone willing to grab a squeegee and get after it. With the right setup, you can turn a few weekends of work into steady, seasonal income that adds up fast.

Let’s keep it simple.

Goal: $3,000 per month
At $200 per job, that’s 15 driveways a month. About 4 per week.

Goal: $5,000 per month
That’s 25 jobs a month at the same rate. You could handle that on weekends or a few solid weekdays.

Goal: $8,000 or more per month
Once you’re moving efficiently or taking on small commercial work, 40 jobs a month is realistic. With a helper, you could turn this into a strong seasonal business that brings in $50,000 or more per year.

If you’re ready to give this one a shot, here’s how to go from zero to your first driveway job.

Before you buy a single bucket of sealer, figure out if people are actually paying for this near you. Hop on Google or Facebook Marketplace and type “driveway sealing” or “sealcoating.” See who pops up and what they’re charging.

If there’s already a company or two, study how they market themselves. Check their before-and-after photos, what neighborhoods they serve, and how far they travel.
If you find very few results, you might’ve just stumbled into an open lane.

You don’t have to start big. Just start smart.

Option 1: Test Run Setup
If you’re dipping your toes in, grab a few buckets of sealer, a squeegee, and a leaf blower.
This setup fits in the back of a pickup and can have you earning by the weekend.

Option 2: Professional Setup
If you want to go all in, invest in a tank sprayer or tote system. You’ll move faster, look professional, and handle more jobs per day.
This is where you start treating it like a real business.

You don’t need to overthink it. Most homeowners pay $150 to $400, depending on the size of the driveway.

You can price by square footage or just give a flat quote after a quick look. Offer neighbor or same-street discounts to fill up your day with minimal driving.

Your first few customers will likely come from right where you live. Start by posting before-and-after photos in local Facebook groups or Nextdoor.

Hang a few signs, pass out flyers in older neighborhoods, and ask friends if they’ll let you do their driveways for a discount in exchange for photos. Once people see how clean and dark that asphalt looks, you’ll get calls.

Prep every job the same way.

Blow off the debris, fill cracks, and tape off edges before applying the sealer.
Use slow, even strokes and avoid puddles.

When you’re done, leave cones or tape so nobody drives over it too soon.
Finish strong and take those photos, they’ll sell the next job for you.

After each job, add the customer to your list and set a reminder to follow up in two years.
This is how a one-time job turns into recurring income.

Once you’ve built your first round of happy clients, word spreads quickly.

Once you’ve done a few jobs, start thinking like a business owner, not just a worker.

Keep track of your numbers: how long each job takes, what you earn per hour, and which neighborhoods are most profitable.

The goal is to tighten your routes so you spend less time driving and more time sealing.

When your schedule starts filling up, that’s when it gets fun.
You can add a helper, bring on a second setup, or even start offering commercial work like small parking lots or apartment complexes.

Stay consistent with your follow-ups. Most driveways need resealing every couple of years, so each happy customer can turn into a repeat job without any new advertising.

Every clean blacktop you finish is another piece of proof that you know what you’re doing. Stack enough of those, and you’ve got yourself a real business.

If you’ve ever seen a freshly sealed driveway, you know exactly why this side hustle works. There’s something instantly satisfying about it. One minute the pavement looks dull and faded, and a few passes later it’s deep black and brand new again. It’s the kind of before and after that makes people stop and stare.

This one feels a little different from most of the side hustles I cover. You’re not just cleaning something up, you’re improving how a house looks from the street. It’s curb appeal in a bucket.

If I were getting into it, I’d probably start small instead of going all out. A few buckets of sealer, a squeegee, a broom, and a leaf blower would be enough to get the job done. You can do a couple of driveways on the weekend, learn how it works, and see if it’s something you want to keep doing. The visual payoff is the best part. Every clean blacktop becomes free advertising for the next one.

What I like most about it is how simple and satisfying it seems. You’re outside, working with your hands, and the results speak for themselves. There’s no guessing if you did a good job, you can see it right there in front of you.

That said, this isn’t one I feel the pull to start myself. It looks like solid, honest work, but also a tough way to spend a summer in the Florida heat. That said, just because it doesn’t sound like a fit for me, doesn’t mean it might be for you! Still, I’d love to spend a day with someone who does it full-time just to see how they run their routes and handle their equipment.

It’s the kind of side hustle that reminds you there’s real money in hard work and attention to detail. Simple process, visible results, and happy customers. Sometimes that’s all it takes.

Come back for the next one! Sign up here for free.

What side hustle should I try or research next? Let me know.