Trades business ideas you can start for up to £5,000
65 ideas
These 65 trades business ideas all have startup costs of up to £5,000, so you can get going without a large loan or a workshop lease. Some are hands-on, such as a home painter and decorator, a wallpaper hanger for local homes or home saw and blade sharpening.
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
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
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
Home workshop instrument repairer
Repair and set up guitars, violins or brass from a spare room or garage for local players and teachers.
- £800-4k
- Side hustle
- From home
Home workshop clock repairer
Repair and service mantel, wall and longcase clocks from a bench at home, taking jobs from owners and dealers.
- £800-4k
- Side hustle
- From home
Home painter and decorator
Paint and decorate rooms, hallways and woodwork in local homes, working on your own.
- £400-2k
- Side hustle
- Out and about
Home bench jewellery repairer
Fix clasps, resize rings and mend chains at a home workbench for local shops and private customers.
- £1k-4k
- Side hustle
- From home
Lock changes for landlords and agents
Book-in lock changes and security upgrades for rental properties, mostly at set times that suit you.
- £800-3k
- Side hustle
- Out and about
Solo builder for small repairs and renovations
Take on small building jobs on your own, such as repairs, brickwork and refurbishments, with low overheads.
- £1k-5k
- Side hustle
- Out and about
Home saw and blade sharpening
Sharpen saw blades, chisels and knives from a garage or shed for local tradespeople and woodworkers.
- £500-3k
- Side hustle
- From home
TV aerial and satellite dish installer
Fit and repair TV aerials and satellite dishes at homes and rental properties in your area.
- £1k-5k
- Part-time
- Out and about
Made-to-size glass and mirror cutting
Cut glass and mirrors to size from a garage or outbuilding for households, picture framers and local crafters.
- £800-3.5k
- Side hustle
- From home
Subcontract soil sampling technician
Take soil samples and log ground conditions on site for engineers and consultants, paid by the day or job.
- £500-2.5k
- Side hustle
- Out and about
Home workshop tool repair
Repair and service power tools from a garage or outbuilding for local tradespeople and DIYers.
- £500-3k
- Side hustle
- From home
Mobile piano tuner
Visit homes, schools and venues to tune pianos to pitch, with regular yearly clients.
- £500-3.5k
- Side hustle
- Out and about
Home workshop upholsterer
Recover and repair chairs, sofas and footstools from a garage or spare outbuilding for local households.
- £800-4k
- Side hustle
- From home
Wallpaper hanger for local homes
Hang wallpaper in people's homes, from simple feature walls to full rooms, charging for your labour.
- £300-1.5k
- Side hustle
- Out and about
Domestic plasterer for local homeowners
Skim walls and ceilings, patch up and re-plaster rooms for homeowners and landlords in your area.
- £800-4k
- Part-time
- Out and about
Home workshop mower and engine repairs
Fix and service garden machinery in a garage or shed workshop, with drop-off or collection.
- £800-3.5k
- Side hustle
- From home
Antique furniture restorer from a home workshop
Repair and refinish antique chairs, tables and cabinets for private owners and dealers from a garage or outbuilding.
- £1k-5k
- Side hustle
- From home
Home lighting installer
Fit downlights, garden lighting and new circuits in people's homes as a qualified electrician working on your own.
- £1.5k-5k
- Part-time
- Out and about
Home luggage and bag repair
Fix zips, wheels, handles and linings on suitcases and bags from a workbench at home, taking work by post or drop-off.
- £500-2.5k
- Side hustle
- From home
Heating oil ordering service for your area
Gather local orders, get a better price from a supplier, and take a small fee per delivery without owning a tanker.
- £300-3k
- Side hustle
- Online
Subcontract site carpenter
Work for builders and developers on first fix, second fix and roofing carpentry jobs.
- £800-4k
- Part-time
- Out and about
About these ideas
Others are sales-led, like an online retaining wall block supplier, where you coordinate stock rather than lay it yourself. They suit people with a skill or trade background, and those who want to move from employment to working for themselves. Before choosing, think about which qualifications or insurance your customers will expect, how much you need for tools and a van, and whether you want physical work or to run orders from home. Check the costs against your own situation first.
More ideas
- Wood floor fitting for builders and flooring shops
- Specialist paperhanger for trade and offices
- Self-employed bricklayer for builders
- Bricklayer for garden walls and repairs
- Heritage advice and reports from home
- Play equipment reseller working from home
- Online trade light bulb supplier
- Home jewellery engraving studio
- Deck repair and refresh service
- Mobile key cutting van or market stall
- Gutter, roofline and roof access services
- Online door and ironmongery shop
- Gazebo and pergola builder
- Online pump supplier for trade and farms
- Garden shed installer
- Online fire safety equipment shop
- Home-based timber frame components agent
- Online glass block shop
- Building materials sales agent
- Online hose and fittings shop
- Floor sanding for builders and flooring firms
- Plasterboarding for homeowners and builders
- Ceiling materials supplier, delivered to site
- Online landscaping stone seller
- Online hot water systems trade supplier
- Air compressor reseller working from home
- Water butt and garden tank fitting
- Online solar hot water parts shop
- Online plywood and sheet board shop
- Furniture and door paint stripping
- Commercial fridge reseller working from home
- Sports pitch and court line marking
- Made-to-order window supply for local trades
- Online air filter shop
- Online ladder and access equipment shop
- Online retaining wall block supplier
- Online trade scale reseller
- Online trade equipment supplier
- Self-employed steel erector
- On-site paint stripping for homes and trades
- Boiler servicing and landlord safety checks
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 jobs, may need specific registration or certification, while decorating generally does not. Check the rules for your trade and what customers or insurers expect before you take on paid work.
What costs should I plan for beyond tools?
Look at public liability insurance, a vehicle or fuel, consumables, and any accreditation fees. If you work from home, check your lease or mortgage terms. It also helps to budget for quiet weeks while you build up regular customers.
Should I register as self-employed or set up a limited company?
Many people begin as sole traders because it is simple, but a limited company may suit some businesses. Check HMRC guidance on registering, and consider asking an accountant about tax, record keeping and personal liability before you decide.