Side Hustle Business Ideas You Can Start in the UK

1973 ideas

These 1,1973 ideas are for people who want to build something on the side without giving up their day job or other commitments. Some work well in evenings and weekends, such as a bagel stall at markets and events or a home studio painter taking commissions.

Swipe through these ideas →

A craftsman shaping a metal bracket at a bench in a small workshop.

Mobile welding and metal repairs

Take a portable welder to customers and repair gates, railings, trailers and fittings on site.

£3k-12k
Side hustle
Out and about

8,779 UK companies in this field, 13% registered in the last 2 years

Installer fitting a frameless glass shower door in a bathroom.

Mobile shower door supply and fit

Measure, supply and fit glass shower doors and enclosures at customers' homes, with no shop needed.

£800-4k
Side hustle
Out and about

7,568 UK companies in this field, 19% registered in the last 2 years

A beekeeper in a protective veil lifts a honeycomb frame from a hive.

Small-scale local honey producer

Keep a handful of hives and sell jars of local honey at markets, to neighbours and to local shops.

£600-2.5k
Side hustle
Out and about

1,696 UK companies in this field, 27% registered in the last 2 years

Upholsterer re-covering an armchair in a repair workshop.

Mobile furniture repair and touch-up

Fix scratches, loose joints and damaged finishes on furniture at customers' homes and businesses.

£500-3k
Side hustle
Out and about

1,955 UK companies in this field, 35% registered in the last 2 years

Jars of dried herbs and teas on shelves in a traditional remedy shop.

Online East Asian herbs and teas store

Sell teas, herbs and wellness products from East Asian traditions through your own website, run from home.

£1.5k-7k
Side hustle
Online

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.

Home-based desk accessories wholesaler

Buy desk accessories and stationery in bulk and sell on to shops and small offices from a spare room or garage.

£1.5k-8k
Side hustle
From home

729 UK companies in this field, 16% registered in the last 2 years

Families picking fresh berries from rows on a farm field.

Small pick-your-own fruit or veg plot

Grow strawberries, raspberries or veg on a few rented acres and let local families pick their own in season.

£3k-15k
Side hustle
Own premises

562 UK companies in this field, 18% registered in the last 2 years

Rows of potted shrubs and seedlings growing in a plant nursery.

Home plant nursery selling online and locally

Grow perennials, herbs or veg plants in your garden and sell them through online listings, gate sales and local plant fairs.

£500-3k
Side hustle
From home

858 UK companies in this field, 21% registered in the last 2 years

Shelves of power tools and construction equipment in a trade supply store.

Online power tool and trade supplies shop

Sell power tools, accessories and site kit to tradespeople online, without needing a shop.

£800-4k
Side hustle
Online

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.

Home-based refurbished kit trade supplier

Buy used or surplus computers and parts in bulk, then sell to local repair shops and resellers.

£2k-10k
Side hustle
From home

4,389 UK companies in this field, 40% registered in the last 2 years

An artist working on a painting on an easel in a bright studio.

Home studio painter taking commissions

Paint to order from a spare room: pet portraits, houses and landscapes for people who want something personal.

£150-800
Side hustle
From home

41,489 UK companies in this field, 27% registered in the last 2 years

Silversmith shaping a silver ring with hand tools at a bench.

Home studio silver jewellery maker

Make handmade silver jewellery in a small home workshop and sell it online, at craft fairs and to local shops.

£1.5k-5k
Side hustle
From home

3,801 UK companies in this field, 32% registered in the last 2 years

Students working quietly at shared desks in a bright study centre or library.

Home-based tuition and study group

Run small after-school tuition and study sessions from a spare room or dining room at home.

£300-1.5k
Side hustle
From home

41,442 UK companies in this field, 34% registered in the last 2 years

Shelves of colourful fabric bolts in a shop for dressmakers.

Online fabric and haberdashery shop

Sell curated fabrics, trims and sewing supplies to UK makers through your own website or marketplaces.

£1k-5k
Side hustle
Online

4,072 UK companies in this field, 29% registered in the last 2 years

Technician repairing a camera lens with small tools on a workbench.

Home camera and lens repair bench

Repair and service cameras and lenses from a home workbench, with customers posting items to you.

£500-3k
Side hustle
From home

1,549 UK companies in this field, 32% registered in the last 2 years

Rows of plain and printed paper bags stacked on supplier shelves.

Online paper bag reseller

Buy paper bags in bulk from manufacturers and sell plain and printed ranges to small shops and cafes.

£1k-5k
Side hustle
Online

182 UK companies in this field, 20% registered in the last 2 years

Instructor leading a group aerobics class in a bright gym studio.

Aerobics classes in a hired hall

Run weekly aerobics classes in a village hall or community centre for local people who pay per session.

£400-1.5k
Side hustle
Out and about

16,288 UK companies in this field, 37% registered in the last 2 years

Online aerobics classes

Teach live aerobics classes over video from home to members who join from their living rooms.

£300-1.2k
Side hustle
Online

16,288 UK companies in this field, 37% registered in the last 2 years

A worker buffing a metal component on a polishing wheel.

Small-batch metal polishing from home

Polish small metal items like motorbike parts, brass and trim from a garage or outbuilding in your spare time.

£500-2.5k
Side hustle
From home

1,263 UK companies in this field, 15% registered in the last 2 years

Shelves of paper, pens and folders in a stationery store.

Office supplies delivered to local businesses

Supply stationery, paper and consumables to small local firms from home, with an easy order form and next-day local delivery.

£1.5k-8k
Side hustle
From home

2,265 UK companies in this field, 25% registered in the last 2 years

A craftsperson repairing a leather bag at a workbench with tools.

Home leather repair workshop

Repair bags, jackets and shoes from a spare room or garage, with customers posting or dropping items off.

£500-2.5k
Side hustle
From home

374 UK companies in this field, 28% registered in the last 2 years

Small guest house bedroom with a breakfast table set for visitors.

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

18,586 UK companies in this field, 25% registered in the last 2 years

Removal workers carrying boxes and furniture into a house on a moving day.

Man and van home removals

Move flats, small homes and single items with a hired or owned van, mostly on a local patch.

£1k-12k
Side hustle
Out and about

7,340 UK companies in this field, 46% registered in the last 2 years

A consultant reviewing building plans and documents with a construction site behind.

Independent building consultant working from home

Advise homeowners and small developers on costs, plans and building compliance, working from a home office and visiting sites.

£500-3k
Side hustle
From home

38,095 UK companies in this field, 28% registered in the last 2 years

About these ideas

Others, like a home-based custom decal and sticker shop, can fit around your own timetable. Before you pick one, think about how many hours you can realistically give each week, how much you can afford to spend upfront, and whether customers expect you at set times. Check your employment contract for any limits on outside work, and consider whether the idea needs a licence, insurance or registration. Start with the ones that suit your free time, then narrow down by cost and skills.

More ideas

Questions

How much time does a side hustle usually need?

It varies a lot by idea. Event-based work such as a market stall is tied to set days, while online or commission work can be done flexibly. Check how much of the work is fixed-time and compare it with the hours you genuinely have free.

Do I need to tell HMRC about a side hustle?

You may need to register as self-employed or report income if your trading income goes above the allowance. Rules and thresholds change, so check current guidance on GOV.UK or speak to an accountant before you start trading.

Can I run a side hustle while employed?

Often yes, but check your employment contract for clauses on outside work, conflicts of interest or using employer resources. It is sensible to read the terms and, if in doubt, ask your employer or get advice before launching.