Hospitality business ideas you can start for under £5,000
33 ideas
Hospitality doesn't always mean buying a restaurant or a hotel. These 33 ideas all have startup costs of up to £5,000, so they suit people who want to test a market without taking on heavy debt.
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
Boat trip booking agent
Sell other operators' boat trips to visitors through a simple local website, earning commission on each booking.
- £400-2k
- Side hustle
- Online
Local day tours for visitors
Put together and run guided day tours of your area for visitors, using local guides, transport and venues.
- £500-5k
- Side hustle
- Out and about
Small-scale catering kit hire from home
Hire out urns, chafing dishes, crockery and glassware for parties and community events from a garage or outbuilding.
- £1k-5k
- Side hustle
- From home
Home-based travel agent
Plan and book holidays for friends, family and local people from your own home, earning commission on each booking.
- £200-2k
- Side hustle
- From home
Spare room guest stays
Rent a spare room in your own home to paying guests by the night, with a simple breakfast if you like.
- £200-1.5k
- Side hustle
- From home
Balloon flight booking agency
Sell hot-air balloon flights and gift experiences from licensed local operators through your own website.
- £500-3k
- Side hustle
- Online
Spare room B&B in your own home
Welcome guests into one to three spare rooms and serve them a home-cooked breakfast.
- £1k-5k
- Side hustle
- From home
Bartender for private parties and weddings
Serve cocktails and drinks at parties, weddings and birthdays, using your own kit and skills.
- £300-1.5k
- Side hustle
- Out and about
Local guided day walks
Lead small groups on guided day walks through the hills and countryside you know best.
- £300-1.5k
- Side hustle
- Out and about
Multi-day guided walking holidays
Plan and lead walking trips over several days, with routes, stays and luggage sorted for guests.
- £1k-5k
- Part-time
- Out and about
Managing holiday flats for owners
Run several holiday flats for owners, handling guests, cleaning and bookings for a share of the income.
- £500-3k
- Part-time
- Out and about
Short-stay let of an annexe or spare home
Let a self-contained annexe, cabin or spare property to holidaymakers when it would otherwise sit empty.
- £1k-5k
- Side hustle
- From home
Farm tours and visit days
Show visitors your working farm on guided tours, with animal feeding and a cuppa.
- £500-2.5k
- Side hustle
- Own premises
Home-based cruise travel adviser
Help friends, family and local people choose and book cruises from home, earning commission from the cruise lines.
- £200-2k
- Side hustle
- From home
Local holiday cottage letting agent
Market and manage holiday cottages and cabins for local owners, and earn commission on each booking.
- £500-3.5k
- Side hustle
- From home
Serviced accommodation manager for owners
Run furnished short-stay lets for owners who want guests and bookings handled for them, and earn a share of the rent.
- £300-2k
- Side hustle
- From home
Holiday let in your spare room or annexe
Let a spare room, annexe or garden room to short-stay guests and keep your start-up costs low.
- £1k-5k
- Side hustle
- From home
Guided walking tours for visitors
Lead small groups on themed walks of your town or city, sold online and through booking platforms.
- £200-1.5k
- Side hustle
- Out and about
Home-based rail travel adviser
Plan and book rail journeys for people who find fares and routes confusing, working by phone and online.
- £200-1.5k
- Side hustle
- From home
Spare rooms for lodgers or guests
Rent a spare room in your home to a lodger, worker or traveller by the night, week or month.
- £300-1.5k
- Side hustle
- From home
Online disposable tableware shop
Sell cups, plates, cutlery and takeaway packaging online to cafes, caterers and event organisers.
- £1k-5k
- Side hustle
- Online
Local holiday let manager
Look after a few local holiday homes for owners: bookings, guests and turnovers, for a commission.
- £300-2.5k
- Side hustle
- From home
Holiday let and short-stay manager
Look after second homes and holiday lets for owners: bookings, guest messages, cleaning changeovers and keys.
- £500-3.5k
- Part-time
- From home
About these ideas
Some are service-led, such as managing holiday flats for owners or working as a home-based cruise travel adviser. Others are more hands-on, like a pop-up afternoon tea room or local day tours for visitors. Before you choose, think about your local demand, how much time you can give at evenings and weekends, and whether you already have the skills or contacts to get started. It also helps to check what permissions, insurance or food hygiene steps might apply to the idea you like, as these can affect your real costs.
More ideas
- Weekend bartending courses in hired bars
- Murder mystery dinners for private events
- Pop-up afternoon tea room
- Pop-up mahjong club nights
- Pop-up LGBTQ+ bar nights
- Salsa nights in an existing bar
- Pop-up queer bar nights
- Pop-up karaoke nights
- Independent food and drink consultant
Questions
What should I check before starting a hospitality business on a small budget?
Start by checking local demand, your likely running costs and whether you will need insurance, licences or registrations. Requirements vary by idea and by council area, so ask your local authority and an insurer before you spend money.
Do I need permission to run a holiday let or food-based pop-up in the UK?
It may depend on the activity and location. For holiday lets, check planning rules, your lease or mortgage terms and insurance. For food, check food business registration and hygiene requirements with your local council.
Can I start a hospitality business alongside a job?
Often yes, particularly with flexible ideas such as travel advising, pop-up events or managing short-stay properties. Check your employment contract for restrictions, think about when customers expect you to be available, and plan your time realistically.