Business services ideas you can start for up to £20,000

99 ideas

These 99 business services ideas are for people who want to sell to other businesses rather than the public, with a startup budget of up to £20,000. That range covers very different options.

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Under 1k1k to 5kOver 20kFrom homeOut and aboutOwn premisesOnline
Boxes of desk accessories and stationery stacked in a supplier's warehouse.

Home-based desk accessories wholesaler

Buy desk accessories and stationery in bulk and sell on to shops and small offices from a spare room or garage.

  • £1.5k-8k
  • Side hustle
  • From home
729 UK companies in this field, 16% registered in the last 2 years
A consultant reviewing building plans and documents with a construction site behind.

Building consultant for small developers

Guide small developers and landlords through budgets, contractors and compliance on larger building projects, on site and in meetings.

  • £1.5k-8k
  • Full-time
  • Out and about
38,095 UK companies in this field, 28% registered in the last 2 years
Uniformed security guard standing at a building entrance checking access.

Site and premises guarding company

Win regular contracts to guard building sites, empty properties and business premises with a small team of licensed guards.

  • £3k-15k
  • Full-time
  • Out and about
14,354 UK companies in this field, 36% registered in the last 2 years
Customer service agents wearing headsets taking calls at desks in an office.

Small team contact centre

Run a small team handling customer calls and enquiries for local businesses, paid per hour or per call.

  • £5k-20k
  • Full-time
  • Own premises
1,530 UK companies in this field, 38% registered in the last 2 years
A creative team planning an advertising campaign around a whiteboard in a modern office.

Small full-service marketing agency

Build a small team offering campaigns, content and ads to growing businesses from a shared or rented office.

  • £3k-15k
  • Full-time
  • Own premises
52,296 UK companies in this field, 45% registered in the last 2 years
Notary stamping and signing a legal document on a desk at an office.

Full-time notary office

Once you are an appointed notary, run a practice from small premises serving walk-in clients, businesses and solicitors.

  • £4k-20k
  • Full-time
  • Own premises
9,924 UK companies in this field, 27% registered in the last 2 years
An agent handing house keys to a tenant in front of a rental home.

Home-based lettings agent for landlords

Find tenants, run viewings and handle paperwork for local landlords, working from home and on the road.

  • £1.5k-6k
  • Side hustle
  • From home
37,124 UK companies in this field, 28% registered in the last 2 years
Estate agent shows a couple around a house with keys in hand.

Home-based local estate agent

Sell homes in your area from home, with online listings, viewings and a low-overhead fee.

  • £1.5k-7.5k
  • Part-time
  • From home
37,124 UK companies in this field, 28% registered in the last 2 years
Rows of coin-operated storage lockers in a busy public venue.

Coin-operated lockers in local venues

Place pay-to-use storage lockers in venues like pools, gyms or attractions and share the takings with the owner.

  • £1k-6k
  • Side hustle
  • Out and about
1,108 UK companies in this field, 41% registered in the last 2 years
Smiling estate agent handing house keys to a new homeowner.

Local hybrid estate agent working from home

Sell and let homes in your area from a home office, with no high street shop to pay for.

  • £1.5k-6k
  • Part-time
  • From home
37,124 UK companies in this field, 28% registered in the last 2 years
Agent wearing headset making calls at a desk in an office.

Small outbound calling and survey team

Run a small team making sales and survey calls for several clients, paid per hour or per result.

  • £3k-12k
  • Full-time
  • Own premises
1,530 UK companies in this field, 38% registered in the last 2 years
Recruitment consultant meeting a job candidate across a desk in an office.

Temporary staffing agency

Supply reliable temporary workers to local businesses that need cover at short notice.

  • £3k-15k
  • Full-time
  • Own premises
29,439 UK companies in this field, 29% registered in the last 2 years
Financial adviser discussing pension and savings plans with a client at a desk.

Financial adviser with an adviser network

Advise people on pensions, savings and investments under an established network's regulatory umbrella, working from home.

  • £3k-12k
  • Part-time
  • From home
9,891 UK companies in this field, 26% registered in the last 2 years
Heaps of sorted scrap metal stacked in an outdoor recycling yard.

Mobile scrap metal collector

Collect scrap metal from homes, builders and small firms in your van, then sell it on to a processor.

  • £2k-8k
  • Side hustle
  • Out and about
2,643 UK companies in this field, 23% registered in the last 2 years
Security patrol officer walking past a commercial building at dusk.

Mobile security patrols and key holding

Check on local shops, units and yards in a marked car, and respond to alarm call-outs.

  • £1.5k-7.5k
  • Part-time
  • Out and about
14,354 UK companies in this field, 36% registered in the last 2 years
Large technical blueprints being printed and laid out on a table.

Plan and drawing print shop

Print and copy large-format plans for builders, architects and engineers from a small unit near local trade.

  • £4k-20k
  • Part-time
  • Own premises
8,677 UK companies in this field, 19% registered in the last 2 years

Online plan printing with local delivery

Take plan files online, print them from a home workspace and deliver rolled or folded sets to sites and offices.

  • £1.5k-7k
  • Side hustle
  • From home
8,677 UK companies in this field, 19% registered in the last 2 years
Broker showing a white sailing yacht to a prospective buyer at a marina.

Independent yacht broker

Sell used boats for owners and find boats for buyers, earning commission on each sale.

  • £1k-6k
  • Side hustle
  • From home
4,307 UK companies in this field, 18% registered in the last 2 years
People working at shared desks in a bright modern coworking space.

Coworking desks in spare office or studio space

Turn unused space you already rent or own into a few shared desks for local freelancers.

  • £1.5k-8k
  • Side hustle
  • Own premises
13,756 UK companies in this field, 25% registered in the last 2 years
An insurance adviser reviews home policy documents with a couple at a desk.

Home insurance adviser working from home

Arrange home and contents cover by phone and online under an authorised broker's permissions, earning commission.

  • £1.5k-6k
  • Side hustle
  • From home
8,071 UK companies in this field, 19% registered in the last 2 years
A recruiter meeting a candidate across a desk during a job interview in an office.

Temp staffing agency for outsourcing companies

Supply temporary and contract workers to outsourcing firms and earn a margin on every hour worked.

  • £3k-15k
  • Full-time
  • From home
14,284 UK companies in this field, 27% registered in the last 2 years
Passport and visa forms on a desk during an immigration advice meeting.

Home-based visa and immigration adviser

Guide individuals and families through UK visa applications from home, once registered to give immigration advice.

  • £1.5k-6k
  • Part-time
  • From home
9,924 UK companies in this field, 27% registered in the last 2 years

Employer visa and sponsor licence support

Help small UK employers with sponsor licence applications and hiring overseas workers, working remotely.

  • £2.5k-9k
  • Part-time
  • Online
9,924 UK companies in this field, 27% registered in the last 2 years
People working at desks in a shared serviced office with meeting rooms.

Meeting rooms and virtual office address

Hire out bookable meeting rooms and offer business addresses and mail handling from a small central unit.

  • £5k-20k
  • Part-time
  • Own premises
459,005 UK companies in this field, 26% registered in the last 2 years

About these ideas

You might open a meeting rooms and virtual office address operation, train as a family mediator for separating couples, or set up a pallet supply and delivery service. Others, such as an independent local business broker, rely more on experience and contacts than on equipment. Before you choose, think about who would pay you and how you would reach them. Check whether the work needs qualifications, insurance, accreditation or a licence, and whether your budget must cover stock, vehicles or premises as well as marketing. Start with the ideas that match skills you already have.

More ideas

Questions

What business services can I start with up to £20,000?

It depends on whether the idea is skills-led or equipment-led. Advisory and support roles often need less capital, while vehicles, machines or premises use more. Compare each idea's costs against your budget, including insurance, training and a cash buffer for slow early months.

Do I need qualifications or licences for a business services idea?

Some do and some don't. Areas such as mediation, immigration advice, financial handling or waste collection may involve accreditation, registration or permits. Check the relevant regulator and the government's guidance for your idea before spending money or promising services to customers.

How do I find my first business customers?

Start with people and firms you already know, then approach local businesses that fit your service. Referrals, networking groups and a clear website often help. Check what similar providers charge and test your offer with a few customers before investing heavily in marketing.