Business Ideas You Can Start for Up to £5,000

1284 ideas

A budget of up to £5,000 is enough to launch a surprising range of businesses without borrowing heavily. This page lists 1,1284 ideas, from a home screen printing studio to event sweet and dessert buffets, children's drama classes in a hired hall and online career guidance and coaching.

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Installer fitting a frameless glass shower door in a bathroom.

Mobile shower door supply and fit

Measure, supply and fit glass shower doors and enclosures at customers' homes, with no shop needed.

£800-4k
Side hustle
Out and about

7,568 UK companies in this field, 19% registered in the last 2 years

Recruiter meeting a senior executive candidate in a modern office.

Solo niche headhunter

Find senior hires for employers in one sector you know well, paid a fee when your candidate is placed.

£500-4k
Part-time
From home

29,439 UK companies in this field, 29% registered in the last 2 years

A beekeeper in a protective veil lifts a honeycomb frame from a hive.

Small-scale local honey producer

Keep a handful of hives and sell jars of local honey at markets, to neighbours and to local shops.

£600-2.5k
Side hustle
Out and about

1,696 UK companies in this field, 27% registered in the last 2 years

Upholsterer re-covering an armchair in a repair workshop.

Mobile furniture repair and touch-up

Fix scratches, loose joints and damaged finishes on furniture at customers' homes and businesses.

£500-3k
Side hustle
Out and about

1,955 UK companies in this field, 35% registered in the last 2 years

Rows of potted shrubs and seedlings growing in a plant nursery.

Home plant nursery selling online and locally

Grow perennials, herbs or veg plants in your garden and sell them through online listings, gate sales and local plant fairs.

£500-3k
Side hustle
From home

858 UK companies in this field, 21% registered in the last 2 years

Shelves of power tools and construction equipment in a trade supply store.

Online power tool and trade supplies shop

Sell power tools, accessories and site kit to tradespeople online, without needing a shop.

£800-4k
Side hustle
Online

905 UK companies in this field, 27% registered in the last 2 years

Silversmith shaping a silver ring with hand tools at a bench.

Home studio silver jewellery maker

Make handmade silver jewellery in a small home workshop and sell it online, at craft fairs and to local shops.

£1.5k-5k
Side hustle
From home

3,801 UK companies in this field, 32% registered in the last 2 years

Students working quietly at shared desks in a bright study centre or library.

Home-based tuition and study group

Run small after-school tuition and study sessions from a spare room or dining room at home.

£300-1.5k
Side hustle
From home

41,442 UK companies in this field, 34% registered in the last 2 years

Shelves of colourful fabric bolts in a shop for dressmakers.

Online fabric and haberdashery shop

Sell curated fabrics, trims and sewing supplies to UK makers through your own website or marketplaces.

£1k-5k
Side hustle
Online

4,072 UK companies in this field, 29% registered in the last 2 years

Technician repairing a camera lens with small tools on a workbench.

Home camera and lens repair bench

Repair and service cameras and lenses from a home workbench, with customers posting items to you.

£500-3k
Side hustle
From home

1,549 UK companies in this field, 32% registered in the last 2 years

Rows of plain and printed paper bags stacked on supplier shelves.

Online paper bag reseller

Buy paper bags in bulk from manufacturers and sell plain and printed ranges to small shops and cafes.

£1k-5k
Side hustle
Online

182 UK companies in this field, 20% registered in the last 2 years

Instructor leading a group aerobics class in a bright gym studio.

Aerobics classes in a hired hall

Run weekly aerobics classes in a village hall or community centre for local people who pay per session.

£400-1.5k
Side hustle
Out and about

16,288 UK companies in this field, 37% registered in the last 2 years

Online aerobics classes

Teach live aerobics classes over video from home to members who join from their living rooms.

£300-1.2k
Side hustle
Online

16,288 UK companies in this field, 37% registered in the last 2 years

A worker buffing a metal component on a polishing wheel.

Small-batch metal polishing from home

Polish small metal items like motorbike parts, brass and trim from a garage or outbuilding in your spare time.

£500-2.5k
Side hustle
From home

1,263 UK companies in this field, 15% registered in the last 2 years

A craftsperson repairing a leather bag at a workbench with tools.

Home leather repair workshop

Repair bags, jackets and shoes from a spare room or garage, with customers posting or dropping items off.

£500-2.5k
Side hustle
From home

374 UK companies in this field, 28% registered in the last 2 years

Small guest house bedroom with a breakfast table set for visitors.

Spare-room bed and breakfast

Let a few spare rooms in your own home to tourists and business travellers, with breakfast included.

£1k-5k
Side hustle
From home

18,586 UK companies in this field, 25% registered in the last 2 years

A consultant reviewing building plans and documents with a construction site behind.

Independent building consultant working from home

Advise homeowners and small developers on costs, plans and building compliance, working from a home office and visiting sites.

£500-3k
Side hustle
From home

38,095 UK companies in this field, 28% registered in the last 2 years

Bonsai trees displayed on benches in a nursery greenhouse.

Home bonsai nursery selling online

Grow and train bonsai at home, then sell trees, pots and tools to hobbyists and gift buyers online.

£500-3k
Side hustle
From home

858 UK companies in this field, 21% registered in the last 2 years

Vinyl decals being cut and weeded on a plotter in a sign-making workshop.

Home-based custom decal and sticker shop

Cut vinyl decals and stickers at home and sell them online to small businesses, clubs and hobbyists.

£400-2k
Side hustle
From home

8,677 UK companies in this field, 19% registered in the last 2 years

Event planners setting up a conference hall with tables and stage for guests.

Freelance meeting and conference planner

Plan and run business meetings, away days and small conferences for companies, working from your own home office.

£300-2k
Side hustle
From home

6,379 UK companies in this field, 43% registered in the last 2 years

A technician repairing a laptop on a workbench with tools and circuit boards.

Computer repair at people's homes

Visit homes and small offices to fix slow, broken or virus-hit laptops and PCs.

£300-1.5k
Side hustle
Out and about

4,732 UK companies in this field, 23% registered in the last 2 years

A technician replacing a cracked screen on a smartphone at a repair counter.

Mobile phone repairer who comes to you

Fix cracked screens and tired batteries at people's homes, workplaces or market stalls, with no shop rent.

£500-2.5k
Side hustle
Out and about

1,514 UK companies in this field, 34% registered in the last 2 years

A colourful buffet table with snacks and sandwiches laid out for a children's party.

Children's party buffets from home

Prepare party food in your home kitchen for parents to collect or have delivered to the venue.

£300-1.5k
Side hustle
From home

27,708 UK companies in this field, 40% registered in the last 2 years

Party buffet served at the venue

Bring, set up and serve the buffet at halls and homes, so parents can enjoy the party.

£1k-5k
Part-time
Out and about

27,708 UK companies in this field, 40% registered in the last 2 years

About these ideas

They suit people who want to start small, test demand and grow from their own earnings. Before choosing, think about where the money will actually go: equipment, stock, venue hire, insurance, software and early marketing. Check whether the idea needs training, qualifications, licences or registrations, and how much of your time it will take each week. Compare how quickly each idea could bring in its first paying customer, because that often matters more than the headline startup cost.

More ideas

Questions

What can I realistically start in the UK with up to £5,000?

Service businesses, online shops, classes and small production setups often fit this budget. Compare what each idea needs for equipment, stock, insurance and marketing, and leave some money spare for the first few months.

Do I need licences or insurance for a low-cost business?

It depends on the idea. Food, children's activities, financial advice and counselling can have extra requirements. Check with your local council, relevant professional bodies and GOV.UK, and ask an insurer what cover is sensible.

Should I register as self-employed or set up a company?

Many small businesses start as sole traders, but the right structure depends on your circumstances. Check the current HMRC guidance on registering and tax, and consider speaking to an accountant before you begin trading.