Trade business ideas you can run out and about

197 ideas

These 198 trade business ideas are for people who prefer working on customers' sites, in vans and outdoors rather than from a fixed shop or office. Many suit experienced tradespeople going self-employed, such as a domestic gas engineer, a plastering subcontractor for builders and developers, or a home EV charger installer.

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1k to 5k5k to 20kOver 20kFrom homeOwn 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
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 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

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 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

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

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
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

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
Arborist in a harness pruning branches from a tall tree.

Tree surgery crew for homes and gardens

Fell, prune and clear trees for homeowners with a small crew, a van and a chipper.

  • £10k-45k
  • Full-time
  • Out and about
23,217 UK companies in this field, 29% registered in the last 2 years

Self-employed tree climber and pruner

Start lean as a qualified climber, taking pruning and dismantling work from established tree firms and local clients.

  • £2.5k-8k
  • Part-time
  • Out and about
23,217 UK companies in this field, 29% registered in the last 2 years
Tradesperson laying flooring planks across a room in a renovated home.

Solo flooring fitter

Fit carpet, vinyl, laminate or wood flooring in homes and rentals as a self-employed fitter.

  • £1.5k-6k
  • Part-time
  • Out and about
11,547 UK companies in this field, 25% registered in the last 2 years
Workers assembling a timber log home frame on a building site.

Log cabin kit installer

Build log cabins and garden buildings from kits on customers' own land, working with a small crew.

  • £3k-15k
  • Part-time
  • Out and about
92,967 UK companies in this field, 30% registered in the last 2 years
A construction crew working on the exterior of a house under renovation.

Small building firm for home projects

Run a small team doing extensions, renovations and repairs for homeowners in your area.

  • £3k-15k
  • Full-time
  • Out and about
92,967 UK companies in this field, 30% registered in the last 2 years
Electrician mounting a wall-mounted electric vehicle charging point on a house driveway.

Home EV charger installer

Fit and commission home charging points for local drivers, as a qualified electrician.

  • £2k-8k
  • Part-time
  • Out and about
56,313 UK companies in this field, 24% registered in the last 2 years
Diver in helmet inspecting a submerged structure underwater.

Inshore commercial diving team

Inspect, clear and repair underwater structures for councils, harbours and businesses with a small, qualified dive team.

  • £12k-50k
  • Full-time
  • Out and about
38,095 UK companies in this field, 28% registered in the last 2 years

Hull cleaning and boat diving services

Clean hulls and propellers, clear fouled lines and check moorings for boat owners and marinas, working from a van.

  • £8k-30k
  • Part-time
  • Out and about
38,095 UK companies in this field, 28% registered in the last 2 years
Installer fixing a new window into a home's exterior wall opening.

Self-employed window and door fitter

Fit windows and doors for installers and builders as a self-employed fitter, using your own tools and van.

  • £2k-10k
  • Part-time
  • Out and about
22,443 UK companies in this field, 24% registered in the last 2 years

About these ideas

Others are more specialist, like a mobile machinery repair engineer. Before you choose, think about the qualifications and registrations your chosen trade may require, the cost of a suitable van and tools, and the insurance you will need. Consider how far you are willing to travel, whether you want private customers or repeat work from builders and landlords, and how you will handle quoting and getting paid. Start by shortlisting a few ideas that match skills you already have.

More ideas

Questions

Do I need qualifications to start a trade business in the UK?

It depends on the trade. Gas, electrical and some other work may require specific qualifications or registration with a recognised scheme. Check the rules for your chosen trade, and ask your insurer what evidence of training they expect.

What insurance should I look at for a mobile trade business?

Common things to check include public liability insurance, tools and equipment cover, and van insurance with the correct business use. If you hire staff, employers' liability may be required. Ask a broker what suits your trade and customers.

How can I find customers when I work out and about?

Many tradespeople start with local word of mouth, builders' contacts, letting agents and online directories. Check whether the trade bodies or schemes in your field offer listings, and keep clear quotes, records and reviews to build trust.