Are you a mechanical
engineer and you are seeking for a source of extra income? Or you need a
business that you can do part time? Then below are the top 20 small business
ideas for engineers.
As a mechanical
engineer, you really do not need to wait for a company to employ you before you
can start your career. There may be scarcity of jobs for people in other career
fields but not for a mechanical engineer because most of the things we see and
use every day are designed by mechanical engineers. From our automobiles, to
our light switches, heating and air-conditioning system, generators and even
household gadgets. There’s hardly any product we use today that doesn’t have
the touch of a mechanical engineer.
There are several businesses
you could start as a mechanical engineer and you really don’t need thousands of
dollars to start your business. You could even start with making and selling
toys for children or helping your friends and family members fix their vehicles
when it is down. The most important thing is to analyze your market and
determine what gaps exist therein that you could fill.
For instance, pounded
yam is a popular staple in the Eastern and Western parts of Nigeria but the
process of making it is very strenuous. The conventional way of making pounded
yam is to use a mortar and pestle to pound it until it’s very smooth. A group
of mechanical engineers decided to find ways to make it easier for people to
enjoy pounded yam without going through the strenuous process of pounding it.
So they came up with a
product known as a yam pounder which mechanically grinds the yam to smoothness
within minutes. Yam pounders are now very popular in the market. There are
several of such creations that are now popular today like coffee makers, vacuum
cleaners, carpet washers, chemical sprayers etc.
As a mechanical
engineer, opportunities exist for you in almost every industry. For instance in
the agricultural industry, you could build tools like tractors, shell removing
machines, irrigation and water supply equipment, food processors etc. There are
several other businesses you can do, some of which include-:
Top 20 Small Business
ideas for Mechanical Engineers
1. Auto-parts store-: As a trained
mechanical engineer, you would most definitely be able to identify quality
spare parts. You could open a spare parts store in your area for people who
need to replace a damaged part in their motor vehicle.
2. Solar panel building and installation-:
This is a business that would do well in any country in the world because
everywhere in the world, people are looking for alternative sources of power to
cut high energy costs.
3. Auto-repair shop-: You could also start a repair shop for motor
vehicles, motor cycles, bicycles and other automobiles. You should consider
adding mobile auto repair to your services for more patronage and profit.
4. HVAC installation and repair-: Another
business opportunity for mechanical engineers is to set up a heating,
ventilation and air conditioning business. You would help people install or
repair their HVAC systems and you could also sell new systems and parts and
gadgets like air conditioners, home and office heating systems, refrigerators
etc.
5. Auto-parts assembling plant-: You could
also start a business of importing motor vehicle parts, assembling them and
marketing them as your own products.
6. Training school-: If you have a flair for teaching, you could
either become a lecturer, teaching mechanical engineering in universities or
set up a training school to train and brush up mechanical engineers.
7. Mechanical Engineering Consultancy Firm-:
Another smart business idea is to start a consultancy business to offer support
to industries and companies in need of mechanical engineering services.
8. Machine building & Design-: As a
mechanical engineer, you could build machine prototypes or conduct research and
design different kinds of machines for use in different industry. You could
also seek out intelligent individuals who have developed unique innovations but
do not have funds to market them. You could take such people under your wings
and give them the exposure they need.
9. Aircraft maintenance-: You could also
start a business that helps airlines service and maintain their aircrafts to
avoid air disasters.
10. Waste Management-: The waste management
industry is very broad and as a mechanical engineer, there are opportunities
for you in the waste management industry too. You could help to design and
construct machines that would make waste disposal and recycling easier.
11. Supply-Chain Management-: Supply chain
management is every activity involved in production, from deigning the
products, to getting raw materials, to the actual production, quality control
and distribution to consumers. As a mechanical engineer, you can design cost
effective ways to make this process easier for manufacturers.
12. Recruiting firm-: You could also help
companies who need to recruit good hands to head hunt, conduct interviews and
tests and negotiate remunerations for mechanical engineers.
13. Mechatronics-: Mechatronics is derived
from two words; mechanical and electronic. Mechatronics involves developing
gadgets that need both mechanical and electronic skills such as video cameras,
electronics, motor vehicles, aeroplanes etc.
14. Developing household gadgets-: As a
mechanical engineer, you could also develop household gadgets like vacuum
cleaners, blenders, window cleaners, coffee makers and several other gadgets
which make housekeeping easier.
Industry-Specific
Business Opportunities for Mechanical Engineers
15. Chemical industry-: You could put your
skills to use in the chemical manufacturing industry by helping to design
machines that would be used to produce chemicals.
16. Manufacturing Industry-: Opportunities
also exist for mechanical engineers in the manufacturing industry. You could
help to design produce and install new machinery or service existing ones.
17. Defense industry-: You could also
design safety and defense equipment like Guns, Tasers or use your knowledge and
skills to provide support in the defense industry.
18. Marine industry-: Mechanical engineers
are responsible for developing, operating and maintaining vessels used in the
shipping industry. As a mechanical engineer, you could even build vessels for
sale or start your own shipping company.
19. Telecommunications industry-: A
mechanical engineer also designs and manufactures components and equipment for
telecommunications companies or companies that manufacture mobile phones. As a
mechanical engineer, you could also develop your own communication gadget.
20. Mining Industry-: You could also
provide support services in the mining industry by helping to develop mining
equipment, safety gadgets and electrical powering systems.
