Creative business ideas you can start for up to £20,000
71 ideas
A budget of up to £20,000 gives creative people real choice. It can cover a rented studio, specialist equipment or a first season of touring, so you are not limited to what fits on a laptop.
Silver repairs and commissions studio
Repair, resize and remake silver jewellery and objects for local customers from a small rented studio or unit.
- £4k-15k
- Part-time
- Own premises
Online publisher for first-time authors
Help authors get polished books into print and ebook, sharing the work and the sales.
- £1.5k-8k
- Part-time
- Online
Corporate and advert video maker
Make promo films, adverts and training videos for local businesses, working solo or with a few freelancers.
- £1.5k-7k
- Side hustle
- Out and about
Documentary and branded film company
Produce documentaries and longer films for charities, brands and broadcasters, building a small team around each project.
- £3k-15k
- Part-time
- Out and about
Music producer with a rented studio room
Rent a studio room and offer recording, production and rehearsal-to-record sessions.
- £3k-15k
- Part-time
- Own premises
Home embroidery studio
Stitch names, logos and designs onto clothing and gifts using a machine set up at home.
- £1.5k-6k
- Side hustle
- From home
Small video production company
Make promo, corporate and short documentary films for local businesses and organisations from a home base.
- £2k-8k
- Side hustle
- From home
Online Aboriginal art gallery with pop-ups
Sell ethically sourced Aboriginal art online and at pop-up shows to UK collectors and interior buyers.
- £2k-10k
- Side hustle
- Online
Student instrument hire from home
Hire out violins, flutes, clarinets and other starter instruments to local families on a monthly basis.
- £1.5k-6k
- Side hustle
- From home
Free printed community newspaper
Publish a monthly local paper for your town or villages, paid for by local advertisers and delivered free to homes.
- £1.5k-8k
- Part-time
- From home
Small press for printed songbooks
Produce printed songbooks and tutor books and sell them to teachers, music shops and schools.
- £2k-10k
- Part-time
- From home
Freelance video production for small brands
Film and edit short promo, social and explainer videos for local businesses and organisations.
- £1.5k-6k
- Side hustle
- Out and about
Weekend wedding photographer
Photograph a handful of weddings a year at weekends while keeping your day job.
- £1.5k-6k
- Side hustle
- Out and about
Home project recording studio
Record, mix and master for local bands, singers and podcasters from a treated spare room.
- £1.5k-6k
- Side hustle
- From home
Bespoke clothing studio at home
Design and make one-off garments for private clients, with fittings by appointment in a studio at home.
- £1.5k-6k
- Side hustle
- From home
Full-time sculptor for public and corporate work
Rent a studio and bid for larger commissions from councils, developers, businesses and private clients.
- £3k-15k
- Full-time
- Own premises
Small hire studio for commercial shoots
Rent a small unit and offer portraits, headshots and commercial shoots, plus studio hire to other creatives.
- £3k-15k
- Full-time
- Own premises
Handmade guitar and violin maker
Build custom guitars, violins or other stringed instruments to order from a home workshop for players and collectors.
- £2k-10k
- Side hustle
- From home
Guitar and violin repair and setup
Repair, restring and set up guitars, violins and other stringed instruments from a small workshop or unit.
- £1.5k-7k
- Part-time
- Own premises
Stained glass commissions and repairs
Run a workshop making bespoke panels and repairing old windows for homes, churches and businesses.
- £3k-15k
- Part-time
- Own premises
Bespoke suit tailor with a small studio
Make suits, jackets and trousers to measure for men from a small studio or unit.
- £4k-20k
- Full-time
- Own premises
Photography studio in rented premises
Run a dedicated studio unit where clients book sessions, and hire it out to other photographers.
- £4k-15k
- Part-time
- Own premises
Drone video for events and weddings
Add aerial video to weddings, festivals and sports days, working with other event suppliers.
- £2k-6k
- Side hustle
- Out and about
Etched glass for shops and businesses
Supply etched window frosting, door panels, signage and branded glassware to local trade customers.
- £4k-20k
- Full-time
- Own premises
About these ideas
This page brings together 71 ideas, including an own portfolio and headshot studio, a puppet theatre company for festivals and venues, and a bespoke clothing studio at home. They suit makers, performers and visual people who want to turn a skill into regular income. Before you pick one, work out how you will find paying customers, not just how you will make the work. Check what premises, insurance and equipment would really cost, and whether you could test the idea part-time first. Compare ideas by how quickly they could start earning back your outlay.
More ideas
- Full-time wedding photography business
- Bespoke tailoring and alterations studio
- Business photographer on location
- Stocked craft exporter selling at trade fairs
- Niche vinyl and cassette label
- Full-time sculptor in a rented studio
- Home-based vinyl signs and banners
- Full-time modelling agency with an office
- Portrait studio on local premises
- Product and business photographer
- Local community magazine
- Handmade glass neon sign workshop
- Specialist antique doll restoration studio
- Workshop jewellery maker for shops and brands
- Garden room rehearsal space
- Bookbinding workshop for trade and institutions
- Own portfolio and headshot studio
- Small-scale touring theatre show
- Taxidermy studio and commissions
- Small interior design studio
- Small dance company staging ticketed shows
- Bespoke and commission jewellery designer
- Made-to-order clothing designer
- Fashion collection for boutique buyers
- Online airbrush supplies shop
- Puppet theatre company for festivals and venues
- Small pottery classes from a home studio
- Small touring theatre company
- Schools and community theatre company
- Freelance product designer
- Community art studio with classes and hire
- Touring show for schools and venues
- Small branding agency with strategy and design
- Small design agency with monthly retainer clients
- Home longarm quilting service
- Art school in a rented studio
- Project orchestra giving ticketed concerts
- Online bead and findings supplier
- Bead wholesaler selling at craft fairs and shows
- Small brand and marketing design studio
- Private appointment-only tattoo studio
- Craft school in a small rented studio
- Small touring chamber opera company
- Online personalised gifts shop
- Sewing school in a small rented studio
- Flamenco school with its own studio
- Set design and build workshop
Questions
How far does £20,000 go when starting a creative business?
It depends on the idea. A home-based studio or online shop may need far less, while rented premises, staff or touring can use most of the budget. List equipment, rent, insurance, marketing and a cash buffer before deciding.
Do I need insurance or licences for a creative business in the UK?
It varies by activity. Things to check include public liability insurance, permissions for performing or selling at venues and events, and licences for music or images you use. Ask the relevant council or a professional if unsure.
Should I start my creative business full-time or alongside a job?
Starting alongside a job can let you test demand and build a customer base with less risk. Consider how much time the idea needs, when your customers are available, and how many months of costs your savings could cover.