Home services business ideas with your own premises
17 ideas
These 17 home services ideas all work from a unit, shop or workshop of your own rather than a van or spare room. They suit people who like practical work, want customers to come to them and are comfortable carrying a lease and running costs.
Small carpet warehouse with trade counter
Hold popular carpet rolls and underlay in a small unit and supply local fitters and flooring shops quickly.
- £30k-70k
- Full-time
- Own premises
Shoe repair shop
Resole, reheel and restore shoes and bags from a small high street unit, with key cutting as an extra.
- £8k-30k
- Full-time
- Own premises
Tool hire shop or trade counter
Open a small unit hiring tools and equipment to builders, tradespeople and homeowners.
- £15k-60k
- Full-time
- Own premises
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
Electrical repair shop on the high street
Open a small local shop repairing household appliances and electronics, with walk-in trade and business customers.
- £15k-50k
- Full-time
- Own premises
Local patio enclosure supply-and-fit firm
Run a small unit with a display area, selling and fitting patio covers, conservatories and garden enclosures.
- £15k-50k
- Full-time
- Own premises
Lamp repair with collection and market stalls
Collect lamps from homes and dealers, repair them in your workshop and return them, with a stall at antique fairs.
- £1.5k-6k
- Part-time
- Own premises
Fridge repair and refurbishment workshop
Repair and refurbish fridges and freezers from a small unit, for customers, shops and landlords.
- £15k-50k
- Full-time
- Own premises
Vacuum repair and spares shop
Run a small high street shop or unit repairing vacuums and selling bags, filters and spares.
- £5k-20k
- Full-time
- Own premises
Garden and tool hire shop
Run a small unit hiring garden machinery to homeowners and tradespeople, with servicing and walk-in customers.
- £10k-40k
- Full-time
- Own premises
Local radiator shop and trade counter
Sell, replace and repair radiators from a small unit for homeowners, landlords and heating engineers.
- £8k-40k
- Full-time
- Own premises
Bathroom showroom and trade counter
Open a small local showroom and trade counter selling bathroom products to homeowners and installers.
- £15k-60k
- Full-time
- Own premises
Bark and mulch yard
Run a small yard selling loose and bagged bark to trade and the public, with delivery as an extra.
- £8k-35k
- Full-time
- Own premises
Local blinds and shutters showroom
Run a small shop with blind and shutter displays, offering advice, measuring and fitting for local customers.
- £8k-35k
- Full-time
- Own premises
Wood burner and stove showroom
Open a small showroom selling stoves, fireplaces and accessories, with installation arranged through qualified fitters.
- £15k-60k
- Full-time
- Own premises
Gas fire showroom with fitting service
Open a small showroom selling gas log fires and fittings, with installation by a Gas Safe engineer.
- £15k-50k
- Full-time
- Own premises
Landscaping supplies yard
Run a small yard selling soil, gravel, bark and paving to local landscapers, builders and homeowners.
- £15k-60k
- Full-time
- Own premises
About these ideas
Examples include a small appliance repair shop, a shoe repair shop and a local blinds and shutters showroom. Others, such as a tool hire shop or trade counter, rely on stock and repeat trade customers. Before anything else, think about location and rent: footfall matters for a high street shop, while a workshop can sit on a cheaper industrial estate. Check the lease terms, business rates, planning use class and insurance, and work out how much stock and equipment you need to buy before the first sale.
Questions
Do I need planning permission to open a shop or workshop?
Possibly. Premises are grouped into use classes, and changing from one use to another may need permission from your local council. Check the current use of any unit you are considering and ask the planning department before signing a lease.
What costs should I check before taking on premises?
Look beyond rent. Check business rates, service charges, buildings and contents insurance, utilities, deposits and any repair obligations in the lease. Ask the council about rates relief you might be eligible for, and budget for fit-out and stock before opening.
Do I need qualifications or licences for repair and supply work?
It depends on the trade. Electrical, gas, refrigerant and some fitting work can have competence or registration requirements, and hire shops may need specific safety checks. Check the rules for your chosen idea with the relevant trade body or your local council.