Trade business ideas you can start from home

31 ideas

These 31 ideas cover skilled trades and trade supply that can be run from a spare room, garage or shed rather than a shop or yard. Some are hands-on crafts, such as a home workshop upholsterer, an antique furniture restorer or a home bench goldsmith doing repairs and resizing.

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1k to 5k 5k to 20k Over 20k Out and about Own premises Online

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

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

Technician repairing a violin at a workbench in a repair shop.

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

1,521 UK companies in this field, 39% registered in the last 2 years

A cabinetmaker shaping wood on a workbench to build a fitted furniture unit.

Bespoke furniture maker from a garage workshop

Make one-off tables, shelves and cabinets to order from a garage or shed workshop.

£2k-10k
Side hustle
From home

6,546 UK companies in this field, 20% registered in the last 2 years

Technician repairing an antique clock mechanism in a workshop.

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

1,144 UK companies in this field, 32% registered in the last 2 years

Craftsperson shaping a wooden chair leg at a workbench in a workshop.

Furniture maker and repairer from a home workshop

Make bespoke tables, shelves and chairs, and repair old furniture, from a garage or shed workshop.

£1.5k-8k
Side hustle
From home

6,546 UK companies in this field, 20% registered in the last 2 years

Jeweller working on a gold ring at a bench with magnifying lamp and small tools.

Home bench goldsmith: repairs and resizing

Repair, resize and remake gold and silver jewellery from a small bench at home for local people and shops.

£1.5k-6k
Side hustle
From home

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

Craftsperson cutting and polishing a gemstone on a lapidary wheel in a workshop.

Home gemstone cutting and polishing

Cut and polish gemstones in a small home workshop for jewellers, collectors and commission customers.

£1.5k-6k
Side hustle
From home

1,275 UK companies in this field, 27% registered in the last 2 years

A jeweller repairs a ring clasp at a small workshop bench.

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

1,144 UK companies in this field, 32% registered in the last 2 years

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

6,795 UK companies in this field, 14% registered in the last 2 years

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

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

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

5,811 UK companies in this field, 21% registered in the last 2 years

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

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

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

5,811 UK companies in this field, 21% registered in the last 2 years

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

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

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

1,521 UK companies in this field, 39% registered in the last 2 years

Part-time joinery from a garage or shed

Make skirting, mouldings and small made-to-measure items in your garage alongside another job.

£1.5k-8k
Side hustle
From home

7,968 UK companies in this field, 30% registered in the last 2 years

Conservation craftsman repairing ornate stonework on a historic building facade.

Heritage advice and reports from home

Write heritage statements and condition reports for owners of old buildings who need planning or grant support.

£500-3k
Side hustle
From home

Workers assembling a new play structure in a school playground.

Play equipment reseller working from home

Quote and sell play equipment to schools and nurseries, with trusted installers doing the fitting.

£1k-5k
Part-time
From home

An engraver cuts initials into a gold ring using a fine engraving tool.

Home jewellery engraving studio

Engrave names, dates and messages onto rings, pendants and keepsakes from a small workspace at home.

£300-2.5k
Side hustle
From home

Stacked vehicle and industrial batteries in a wholesale warehouse.

Online trade battery supplier

Supply car, mobility and device batteries to local garages and shops, ordered online or by phone and sent from a home base.

£1.5k-8k
Side hustle
From home

Stacked timber framing lumber in a yard ready for builders.

Home-based timber frame components agent

Sell timber framing components to builders and self-builders, with orders supplied and delivered by an established mill or merchant.

£500-3k
Side hustle
From home

Pallets of cement bags being unloaded from a delivery lorry at a building site.

Building materials sales agent

Take orders for cement and building materials from local trades and arrange delivery from a supplier.

£500-2.5k
Side hustle
From home

Granite and stone slab broker

Source granite slabs from importers and quarries, and sell them on to local fabricators and builders without holding much stock.

£1.5k-6k
Part-time
From home

About these ideas

Others are reseller models, like a granite and stone slab broker, with less workshop space needed. They suit people who already have a trade or craft skill, or are willing to build one properly. Before choosing, think about space, noise, dust and storage, and whether your home insurance and tenancy or mortgage terms allow business use. Also consider how you will find customers, since repair and restoration work often depends on local reputation and word of mouth.

More ideas

Questions

Do I need planning permission to run a trade business from home?

It depends on how much your home use changes. Noise, deliveries, customer visits and workshop machinery can all matter. Check with your local council, and also review your lease or mortgage terms and home insurance before you begin.

What should I check about insurance for a home workshop?

Standard home insurance may not cover business equipment, stock or customers' items stored at your property. Ask your insurer about business use, and consider whether public liability or cover for goods in your care is sensible for your trade.

Do I need qualifications to start a home-based trade business?

Some trades need specific qualifications, registrations or safety checks, especially if work involves gas, electrics or fire safety products. Others rely on proven skill. Check the rules for your chosen idea and ask a relevant trade body.