Home services business ideas you can start for up to £20,000
49 ideas
This page lists 49 home services business ideas with startup costs of up to £20,000. They suit practical people who want to work with their hands or manage jobs for local households and landlords, whether solo or with a small team.
Solo kitchen fitter
Fit new kitchens in homes, working directly for homeowners or fitting for local kitchen showrooms.
- £1.5k-6k
- Part-time
- Out and about
Alarm and CCTV installer for homes and small firms
Design, fit and maintain wired alarms and CCTV for homes, shops and offices, with servicing contracts.
- £5k-15k
- Full-time
- Out and about
Man and van rubbish clearance
Clear unwanted items and household rubbish from homes and gardens using a hired or owned van.
- £500-6k
- Side hustle
- Out and about
Building site rubble and waste clearance
Clear rubble, plasterboard and offcuts for builders and renovation projects on a regular basis.
- £3k-15k
- Part-time
- Out and about
Mobile lawn mower servicing and repair
Service and repair mowers and garden tools at customers' homes from a van or car.
- £1.5k-6k
- Side hustle
- Out and about
Home shoe repair workshop
Repair shoes and bags from a spare room or garage, taking jobs by post, local drop-off or collection.
- £1.5k-6k
- Side hustle
- From home
Lawn treatment and restoration
Go beyond mowing: scarify, aerate, feed and reseed tired lawns for better results.
- £1.5k-6k
- Part-time
- Out and about
Mobile emergency locksmith
Get locked-out homeowners and businesses back inside, and fit new locks, from your own van.
- £1.5k-6k
- Part-time
- Out and about
Garden design and project manager
Design gardens, then oversee local builders and planters to deliver the finished project for clients.
- £1.5k-7k
- Part-time
- Out and about
Mobile burglar alarm supplier and fitter
Sell and fit intruder alarms at homes and small businesses, working from a van with no shop to pay for.
- £2k-8k
- Part-time
- Out and about
Garden lighting design and installation
Design and fit outdoor lighting for gardens, patios and building exteriors, from first visit to switch-on.
- £2k-9k
- Part-time
- Out and about
Awning supply and fitting service
Sell and fit patio and shop awnings for homes and small businesses in your area.
- £1.5k-6k
- Part-time
- Out and about
Grounds care for landlords and businesses
Win regular contracts to keep communal gardens, offices and rental portfolios neat with a small team.
- £4k-15k
- Full-time
- Out and about
Smart home design and install company
Design and install whole-home smart lighting, heating and security for owners and renovators.
- £4k-20k
- Full-time
- Out and about
Local tool hire with delivery
Rent out power tools and small equipment from home storage, delivered to DIYers and small builders nearby.
- £2k-8k
- Side hustle
- Out and about
Mobile fridge and freezer repair
Visit homes and small businesses to diagnose and fix broken fridges and freezers on the spot.
- £1.5k-6k
- Part-time
- Out and about
Small appliance repair shop
Open a small high-street repair counter for walk-in customers with kettles, vacuums, mixers and other household gadgets.
- £4k-15k
- Full-time
- Own premises
Skylight and rooflight installer
Fit and replace skylights and rooflights in homes, extensions and loft conversions for local owners and builders.
- £2k-8k
- Part-time
- Out and about
Independent asbestos surveyor and sampler
Survey older buildings, take samples and send them to a lab for landlords, builders and owners planning work.
- £3k-12k
- Part-time
- Out and about
Subcontract uPVC window fitter
Fit uPVC windows and doors for installers and builders who need skilled extra hands, without selling to homeowners yourself.
- £1.5k-6k
- Part-time
- Out and about
Local uPVC window and door installer
Quote, supply and fit uPVC windows and doors for homeowners and landlords in your area under your own name.
- £4k-20k
- Full-time
- Out and about
Carpet supply and fit service
Measure, quote, supply and fit carpets for homeowners and landlords, and build your own local customer base.
- £2k-8k
- Part-time
- Out and about
Worktop supply and fit service
Supply and fit kitchen and bathroom worktops for homeowners and small builders, working from a van and a local supplier.
- £2.5k-9k
- Part-time
- Out and about
Mobile washing machine and dryer repair
Visit homes and rentals to diagnose and fix washing machines and tumble dryers on the spot.
- £1.5k-6k
- Part-time
- Out and about
About these ideas
Ideas such as a mobile appliance repair engineer, a mobile emergency locksmith or garden lighting design and installation rely mostly on skill, tools and a van rather than premises. Before you choose, think about what training or qualifications you already hold and what you would need to gain. Check what insurance the work calls for, how you will find your first customers locally, and whether your budget covers tools, stock and vehicle costs as well as a cushion for slow weeks.
More ideas
- Independent home survey practice
- Freelance associate home surveyor
- Damp and basement waterproofing
- Patio cover and garden room fitter
- Local home help agency run from home
- Mobile commercial microwave repair
- Mobile appliance repair engineer
- Solo rendering and repair specialist
- Mobile water damage drying service
- Lamp repair with collection and market stalls
- Smoke and soot cleaning specialist
- Garden machinery hire from home
- Conservatory fitting subcontractor
- Pest control contracts for businesses
- Gutter cleaning for shops and flats
- Vacuum repair and spares shop
- Rendering crew for whole-house jobs
- Garden irrigation installer
- Mobile radiator supply and replacement
- Property maintenance contractor with a small team
- Solo house cladding installer
- Local trade bathroom supplier with delivery
- Local bark and mulch delivery
- Full home staging with your own furniture
- Mobile gas log fire supplier and fitter
Questions
Do I need qualifications to start a home services business in the UK?
It depends on the trade. Some work, such as gas or electrical installation, may require specific registration or certification, while others do not. Check the rules for your chosen service with the relevant trade body or regulator before taking on paid jobs.
What should I include in my £20,000 startup budget?
Think beyond tools and stock. Check costs for a suitable vehicle, public liability insurance, training, uniforms, marketing and software for quotes and invoices. Keep some money back for slow early weeks, since customers can take time to build.
How do I find my first customers for a home services business?
Start locally. Check whether listings on Google Business Profile, community groups and trade platforms suit your service, and ask early customers for reviews. Landlords, letting agents and small businesses may offer repeat work, so consider approaching them directly.