Business Ideas That Cost Over £20,000 to Start in the UK

1393 ideas

These 1393 ideas need more than £20,000 to get going, usually because of premises, vehicles, machinery or stock. That might mean a self-service jet wash site, a wedding and event marquee hire business or a ballet school with your own studio.

Swipe through these ideas →

Installer fitting a frameless glass shower door in a bathroom.

Shower door showroom and fitting service

Run a small showroom selling shower doors and enclosures, with a fitting team for homeowners and builders.

  • £10k-50k
  • Full-time
  • Own premises
7,568 UK companies in this field, 19% registered in the last 2 years
Recruiter meeting a senior executive candidate in a modern office.

Boutique executive search firm

Build a small team that runs retained searches for leadership roles, with a serviced office and a few repeat clients.

  • £8k-35k
  • Full-time
  • Own premises
29,439 UK companies in this field, 29% registered in the last 2 years
A beekeeper in a protective veil lifts a honeycomb frame from a hive.

Honey farm with hives across local sites

Run dozens of hives on farmland sites, with your own honey brand sold to shops, online and at markets.

  • £8k-35k
  • Full-time
  • Own premises
1,696 UK companies in this field, 27% registered in the last 2 years
Jars of dried herbs and teas on shelves in a traditional remedy shop.

East Asian herbs and teas shop

Open a small shop selling herbs, teas and wellness products from East Asian traditions to walk-in customers.

  • £10k-40k
  • Full-time
  • Own premises
2,916 UK companies in this field, 25% registered in the last 2 years
Boxes of desk accessories and stationery stacked in a supplier's warehouse.

Local office supplies trade counter and delivery

Run a small stockroom supplying offices, shops and resellers in your area with desk accessories and stationery.

  • £8k-35k
  • Full-time
  • Own premises
729 UK companies in this field, 16% registered in the last 2 years
Families picking fresh berries from rows on a farm field.

Pick-your-own farm with a farm shop

Run a larger pick-your-own site with several crops, a small farm shop and a team of seasonal helpers.

  • £20k-90k
  • Full-time
  • Own premises
562 UK companies in this field, 18% registered in the last 2 years
Shelves of power tools and construction equipment in a trade supply store.

Mobile trade tools and supplies van

Drive a stocked van to building sites and trade yards selling tools, fixings and consumables.

  • £8k-30k
  • Part-time
  • Out and about
905 UK companies in this field, 27% registered in the last 2 years
Shelves of power tools and construction equipment in a trade supply store.

Local tool and equipment hire shop

Run a small unit hiring and selling power tools and site equipment to trades and homeowners.

  • £25k-100k
  • Full-time
  • Own premises
905 UK companies in this field, 27% registered in the last 2 years
Pallets of boxed computer components and hardware stacked in a large warehouse.

Computer parts distributor from a small unit

Hold stock of components and systems in a small unit and supply local resellers and repair shops quickly.

  • £15k-60k
  • Full-time
  • Own premises
4,389 UK companies in this field, 40% registered in the last 2 years
Team of sled dogs pulling a sled across a snowy mountain trail.

Dryland sled dog ride centre

Run guided wheeled-rig rides with your own team of sled dogs on forest tracks or farmland for tourists and day-trippers.

  • £12k-55k
  • Full-time
  • Own premises
7,667 UK companies in this field, 33% registered in the last 2 years
Team of sled dogs pulling a sled across a snowy mountain trail.

Sled dog rides on a partner estate

Offer sled dog rides on an estate, farm park or holiday site that already has visitors, and share the income with the landowner.

  • £6k-30k
  • Part-time
  • Out and about
7,667 UK companies in this field, 33% registered in the last 2 years
A machinist checking a machined metal component at a workbench in a workshop.

Jobbing machine shop in a small unit

Make and repair one-off and short-run metal parts for local firms, farms and workshops from a rented unit.

  • £15k-60k
  • Full-time
  • Own premises
3,013 UK companies in this field, 11% registered in the last 2 years
Shelves of paper, pens and folders in a stationery store.

Local stationery and office supplies shop

Run a small high street shop selling stationery, paper and office basics to nearby businesses, schools and households.

  • £15k-60k
  • Full-time
  • Own premises
2,265 UK companies in this field, 25% registered in the last 2 years
Workers producing cheese and yoghurt in a clean dairy processing facility.

Small-batch cheese and yoghurt maker

Buy in local milk and make cheese, yoghurt or butter in a small rented unit for delis and markets.

  • £15k-60k
  • Part-time
  • Own premises
294 UK companies in this field, 13% registered in the last 2 years
Workers producing cheese and yoghurt in a clean dairy processing facility.

On-farm dairy using your own milk

Process milk from your own goats, sheep or cows into cheese, yoghurt or butter and sell direct.

  • £30k-150k
  • Full-time
  • Own premises
294 UK companies in this field, 13% registered in the last 2 years
Removal workers carrying boxes and furniture into a house on a moving day.

Full-service house removals firm

Run a small crew with a larger van to pack, move and unload whole family homes.

  • £8k-40k
  • Full-time
  • Out and about
7,340 UK companies in this field, 46% registered in the last 2 years
Bonsai trees displayed on benches in a nursery greenhouse.

Bonsai grower supplying garden centres

Run a small nursery growing bonsai and supplies for garden centres, gift shops and trade buyers.

  • £5k-25k
  • Part-time
  • Own premises
858 UK companies in this field, 21% registered in the last 2 years
Shelves of motorcycle parts, helmets and gear in a shop.

Motorcycle parts and gear shop

Open a small local shop selling parts, accessories and riding gear to riders and workshops.

  • £15k-60k
  • Full-time
  • Own premises
3,631 UK companies in this field, 28% registered in the last 2 years
Wheelchairs and walking aids displayed for customers in a supplier showroom.

Mobility equipment hire with delivery

Hire out wheelchairs, scooters and walkers for holidays, recovery or events, delivered and collected by you.

  • £5k-25k
  • Part-time
  • Out and about
2,916 UK companies in this field, 25% registered in the last 2 years
Wheelchairs and walking aids displayed for customers in a supplier showroom.

Mobility and daily living showroom

Open a local shop where people can try, buy and hire mobility aids, with friendly advice and after-sales help.

  • £25k-80k
  • Full-time
  • Own premises
2,916 UK companies in this field, 25% registered in the last 2 years
Vinyl decals being cut and weeded on a plotter in a sign-making workshop.

Vehicle and shopfront graphics studio

Print, cut and fit decals for vans, cars and shop windows from a small unit.

  • £8k-35k
  • Full-time
  • Own premises
8,677 UK companies in this field, 19% registered in the last 2 years
Bright self-catering holiday cottage living room with a no-smoking sign.

Whole-property non-smoking holiday cottage

Run a cottage, flat or house as a self-catering holiday let with a no-smoking rule, rented by the stay.

  • £5k-25k
  • Side hustle
  • Own premises
15,500 UK companies in this field, 34% registered in the last 2 years
Machinist working on a precision metal die in an industrial workshop.

Small-unit toolmaking workshop

Make precision moulds, dies and fixtures for local manufacturers from a rented workshop unit.

  • £25k-120k
  • Full-time
  • Own premises
937 UK companies in this field, 15% registered in the last 2 years
Machinist working on a precision metal die in an industrial workshop.

Tool repair and one-off jigs service

Repair worn dies and moulds and make one-off jigs and fixtures from a small workshop bay.

  • £8k-35k
  • Side hustle
  • Own premises
937 UK companies in this field, 15% registered in the last 2 years

About these ideas

They suit people with savings, a redundancy payout, investor backing or a loan, and who are comfortable committing to a longer payback period. Before you look at any idea, work out how much you can afford to lose, what your fixed monthly costs would be, and how long you could run before the business pays you. Check lease terms, insurance, planning needs and finance options early, and price in a cash buffer on top of the headline startup figure. Use the filters to narrow the list by sector and workplace.

More ideas

Questions

How can I fund a business costing over £20,000 in the UK?

Common routes include personal savings, a bank or specialist business loan, asset finance for equipment or vehicles, and outside investors. Check interest rates, repayment terms and whether you would be asked for personal guarantees before signing anything.

What should I check before signing a lease for business premises?

Look at the lease length, rent review terms, break clauses, repair duties and permitted use. Check whether planning permission or a change of use may be needed. It is sensible to have a solicitor read the lease before you commit.

Do higher-cost businesses need more permissions or insurance?

Often they do, especially with premises, staff, vehicles or machinery. Check which licences, planning rules, health and safety duties and insurance policies could apply to your idea, and speak to your local council or an adviser for confirmation.