Trades Business Ideas You Can Start in the UK

353 ideas

This page brings together 354 trades business ideas for people who like practical work and want to be paid for a skill. Some are classic self-employed roles, such as a self-employed double glazing fitter or a specialist paperhanger for trade and offices.

Swipe through these ideas →

1k to 5k5k to 20kOver 20kFrom homeOut and aboutOwn premisesOnline
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
Upholsterer re-covering an armchair in a repair workshop.

Furniture restoration and upholstery workshop

Restore, re-glue, refinish and re-upholster furniture in your own workshop or unit.

  • £3k-15k
  • Part-time
  • Own premises
1,955 UK companies in this field, 35% 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
Tradesperson laying ceramic floor tiles with a spirit level and trowel.

Bathroom and kitchen tiler

Tile bathrooms, kitchens and floors in local homes, working on your own for homeowners and landlords.

  • £800-3.5k
  • Part-time
  • Out and about
11,547 UK companies in this field, 25% registered in the last 2 years
A welder in a helmet and gloves joining steel with bright sparks flying.

Mobile welder for repairs and fabrication

Take a van-mounted welding kit to farms, builders and garages to repair gates, trailers and machinery on site.

  • £4k-20k
  • Part-time
  • Out and about
1,709 UK companies in this field, 26% registered in the last 2 years
A welder in a helmet and gloves joining steel with bright sparks flying.

Welding and fabrication workshop

Rent a small unit to make and repair metalwork for local trade customers, from gates to custom brackets.

  • £6k-30k
  • Full-time
  • Own premises
1,709 UK companies in this field, 26% registered in the last 2 years
A worker installing a wooden garden fence panel between posts.

Garden fencing and gates installer

Fit and repair garden fences, panels and gates for homeowners and landlords in your area.

  • £1.5k-7k
  • Part-time
  • Out and about
37,269 UK companies in this field, 29% registered in the last 2 years
A worker installing a wooden garden fence panel between posts.

Farm and commercial fencing team

Put up stock fencing, post and rail and security fencing for farms, estates and business sites.

  • £8k-35k
  • Full-time
  • Out and about
37,269 UK companies in this field, 29% registered in the last 2 years
A technician repairing a wheelchair wheel on a workbench in a workshop.

Mobile wheelchair and mobility aid repairs

Repair and service wheelchairs and scooters at people's homes and care settings from a well-stocked van.

  • £2k-10k
  • Part-time
  • Out and about
1,521 UK companies in this field, 39% registered in the last 2 years
A technician repairing a wheelchair wheel on a workbench in a workshop.

Wheelchair repair and servicing workshop

Run a small unit where wheelchairs and mobility aids are repaired, serviced and refurbished for users and care providers.

  • £5k-25k
  • Full-time
  • Own premises
1,521 UK companies in this field, 39% registered in the last 2 years
A mason carving lettering into a granite headstone in a workshop.

Memorial mason with a small workshop

Design, letter and fit headstones and memorials for local families, funeral directors and cemeteries.

  • £12k-60k
  • Full-time
  • Own premises
1,275 UK companies in this field, 27% registered in the last 2 years
A mason carving lettering into a granite headstone in a workshop.

Mobile memorial repair and inscription service

Visit cemeteries to clean, re-letter, repair and add inscriptions to existing headstones.

  • £2k-10k
  • Side hustle
  • Out and about
1,275 UK companies in this field, 27% registered in the last 2 years
A technician repairing piano action and strings inside an open piano.

Mobile piano repair technician

Visit homes, schools and churches to fix sticking keys, broken strings and worn piano actions.

  • £1.5k-6k
  • Side hustle
  • Out and about
6,795 UK companies in this field, 14% registered in the last 2 years
Construction workers and tradespeople working together on a building site.

Home extension and renovation contractor

Win and manage extensions, loft conversions and refurbishments for homeowners, using trusted subcontractors for each trade.

  • £3k-15k
  • Full-time
  • Out and about
39,961 UK companies in this field, 29% registered in the last 2 years
Construction workers and tradespeople working together on a building site.

Small building works and repairs firm

Take on smaller jobs like garden walls, repairs and finishing work for landlords and homeowners, starting with a tradesperson or two.

  • £1.5k-8k
  • Part-time
  • Out and about
39,961 UK companies in this field, 29% registered in the last 2 years
Locksmith fitting a new lock on a residential front door.

Mobile locksmith

Get people back into their homes and fit better locks, travelling to customers in a van or car.

  • £1.5k-6k
  • Part-time
  • Out and about
10,030 UK companies in this field, 26% registered in the last 2 years
Engineer servicing a fire extinguisher and checking a wall-mounted alarm in an office.

Mobile fire extinguisher servicing

Visit shops, offices and pubs each year to inspect, service and replace fire extinguishers.

  • £3k-12k
  • Part-time
  • Out and about
37,269 UK companies in this field, 29% registered in the last 2 years
Engineer servicing a fire extinguisher and checking a wall-mounted alarm in an office.

Fire alarm installation and servicing

Fit and maintain fire alarm systems in small commercial and residential buildings, alone or with a small team.

  • £3k-15k
  • Full-time
  • Out and about
37,269 UK companies in this field, 29% registered in the last 2 years
Technician repairing an air compressor unit in a workshop.

Mobile air compressor repair and servicing

Travel to garages, workshops and building firms to service and repair their air compressors on site.

  • £3k-12k
  • Part-time
  • Out and about
5,811 UK companies in this field, 21% registered in the last 2 years
Technician repairing an air compressor unit in a workshop.

Air compressor repair workshop

Run a small unit where customers bring compressors for repair, rebuilds and servicing, with parts sold on top.

  • £8k-35k
  • Full-time
  • Own premises
5,811 UK companies in this field, 21% registered in the last 2 years
Blacksmith hammering heated iron on an anvil in a forge.

Home forge for hand-made metalwork

Forge hand-made items like fire tools, hooks and decorative pieces in a garage or outbuilding and sell them locally and online.

  • £1.5k-6k
  • Side hustle
  • From home
8,779 UK companies in this field, 13% registered in the last 2 years
Blacksmith hammering heated iron on an anvil in a forge.

Blacksmith workshop for gates and ironwork

Rent a small unit and make gates, railings, balustrades and repairs to order for homes, builders and businesses.

  • £8k-35k
  • Full-time
  • Own premises
8,779 UK companies in this field, 13% registered in the last 2 years
A building contractor supervising workers on a house renovation site.

Renovation project manager

Run home renovations for owners and bring in trusted tradespeople for each stage of the job.

  • £1.5k-6k
  • Part-time
  • Out and about
92,967 UK companies in this field, 30% registered in the last 2 years
A building contractor supervising workers on a house renovation site.

Small domestic building firm

Build extensions, conversions and refurbishments with a small crew of your own, plus specialists when needed.

  • £5k-25k
  • Full-time
  • Out and about
92,967 UK companies in this field, 30% registered in the last 2 years

About these ideas

Others are more niche, like a mobile swimming pool repair service or a jewellery and watch repair workshop. They suit experienced tradespeople going it alone, as well as career changers willing to train first. Before you choose, think about the qualifications or accreditation your chosen work may need, the tools and van you would have to buy, and how you will find your first customers. Check insurance needs too, and whether you want to work on customers' premises or from your own workshop.

More ideas

Questions

Do I need qualifications to start a trades 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 trade, and consider whether training would help you win customers' trust.

What insurance should I check for before taking on trade work?

Public liability insurance is commonly expected by customers and commercial clients, and you may want cover for tools, vehicles and any employees. Ask an insurer or broker what suits your trade, and check whether any contracts you want specify minimum levels of cover.

Should I work from home, a workshop or on customers' sites?

Consider what the work physically needs: space, noise, equipment and storage. Mobile services keep premises costs low but add vehicle costs. Workshops suit repair work. Check your lease, planning rules and any restrictions before using a home or unit for trade activity.