Trades business ideas with startup costs over £20,000
120 ideas
These 120 trades ideas suit people who already have hands-on skills, or can hire them, and who have savings, a loan or investor backing to fund serious kit. Higher budgets usually go on vehicles, plant, workshop or yard space and stock.
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
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
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
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
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
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
Instrument repair shop with a counter
Run a small repair shop where players drop in, and take on school and music shop work too.
- £5k-25k
- Full-time
- Own premises
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
Flooring shop with fitting service
Run a small flooring shop or showroom, supply materials and fit them with your own team.
- £10k-50k
- Full-time
- Own premises
Bespoke log cabin and log home builder
Design and build custom log cabins and log homes from timber in your own workshop, then assemble them on site.
- £20k-80k
- Full-time
- Own premises
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
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
Small metal fabrication workshop
Rent a small unit to make and install bespoke gates, railings, frames and steel supports for builders and owners.
- £10k-50k
- Full-time
- Own premises
Small trade counter for paints and finishes
Run a local trade counter in a small unit, stocking paints and finishes for decorators and joiners.
- £15k-70k
- Full-time
- Own premises
Domestic scaffolding firm
Put up and take down scaffolding for homeowners, roofers and local builders with your own kit and a small crew.
- £12k-40k
- Full-time
- Out and about
Small electrical contractor for builders and shops
Lead a small team doing wiring and lighting installs for builders, developers and commercial premises.
- £8k-30k
- Full-time
- Out and about
Small custom home building firm
Build one-off homes for self-builders to their own plans, managing the groundworkers, bricklayers and other trades.
- £40k-150k
- Full-time
- Out and about
Workplace and fleet EV charging contractor
Install and maintain charge points for businesses, car parks and small fleets.
- £15k-60k
- Full-time
- Out and about
Local window and door supply and fit business
Quote, supply and fit new windows and doors for homeowners and landlords in your area under your own name.
- £5k-25k
- Full-time
- Out and about
Small roofing crew for re-roofs and new roofs
Lead a small crew fitting new roofs, extensions and re-roofs for homeowners and builders.
- £8k-35k
- Full-time
- Out and about
Goldsmith studio with bespoke commissions
Run a small workshop making bespoke rings and fine jewellery, plus repairs and resizing for walk-in customers.
- £8k-30k
- Full-time
- Own premises
Small groundworks for homes and extensions
Dig footings, drives, patios bases and drainage trenches for homeowners and small builders using a mini digger.
- £8k-30k
- Part-time
- Out and about
Groundworks subcontractor for builders
Run a small gang that does foundations, drainage and site levelling as a subcontractor on new-build and development sites.
- £25k-100k
- Full-time
- Out and about
Lighting trade counter and warehouse
Stock a unit with popular lighting ranges and sell to local electricians, builders and shops, with delivery or counter collection.
- £15k-60k
- Full-time
- Own premises
About these ideas
That might mean a tree work and climbing contractor, a domestic and farm borehole drilling business or an aluminium fabrication workshop. Others, such as a flooring shop with fitting service, combine a trade with retail premises. Before choosing, work out which qualifications, insurance and permits the trade may require, and how many paid jobs you need each month to cover finance and overheads. Look at whether you would buy new or used equipment, and whether you could test demand with a smaller setup first.
More ideas
- Machine repair and rebuild workshop
- Electric motor repair and rewind workshop
- Mini digger operator for domestic jobs
- Stone worktop and feature cutting workshop
- Sheet metal workshop: ductwork and fabrication
- Trade glass cutting counter in a small unit
- Bespoke joinery workshop
- Local fencing supplies yard
- Domestic and farm borehole drilling
- Air compressor repair workshop
- Septic tank emptying round
- Local fire alarm trade counter
- Machinery repair and servicing workshop
- Local supply and fit window installer
- Glass and mirror workshop with counter
- Glass repair workshop for trade and shops
- Insulation contractor with a small crew
- Local heating oil delivery round
- Mobile hydraulic hose repair van
- Hydraulic cylinder and pump repair workshop
- Bespoke joinery from a small workshop
- Bespoke carpentry from a workshop
- Local glass shop with cutting workshop
- Mobile electric motor repair and servicing
- Electrical contractor for shops and offices
- Bespoke brick and timber garage builder
- Tool repair and service shop
- Upholstery workshop for homes and venues
- Small engine repair shop in a rented unit
- Blasting workshop with a cabinet and booth
- Irrigation for grounds and sports turf
- Local solar trade supplier with stock
- Local cable trade counter and delivery
- Steel erection subcontract crew
- Play equipment supply and installation team
- Concrete foundations subcontractor for builders
- Battery supplier with a van delivery round
- Soil yard with screening
- Tree work and climbing contractor
- Door showroom and trade counter
- Gas installs for landlords and agents
- Local pump supplier with a small trade counter
- Local fire safety trade supplier
- Small timber frame supply yard
- Glass block trade supplier with a unit
- Local cement and aggregates supplier
- Mobile hose supply and hydraulic hose van
- Hose and fittings trade counter
- Paving crew for driveways and car parks
- Aluminium fabrication workshop
- Small structural steel fabrication workshop
- Home extensions and renovation contractor
- Workshop-built pergolas and carports
- Lock and key cutting shop
- Air tools trade counter in a small unit
- Granite and stone slab yard
- Ceiling trade counter with stock and delivery
- Local trade counter for locks and hardware
- Local hot water systems trade counter
- Small pool installation and refurbishment firm
- Garage door trade counter and parts store
- Tool wholesaler with a small trade counter
- Local electrical trade counter and delivery
- Local pump supplier for farms and installers
- Rainwater harvesting systems for homes and farms
- Fire protection trade counter and stockroom
- Local insulation trade counter
- Solar hot water trade supplier with a small unit
- Plywood and board trade counter
- Plasterboard trade counter
- Cut-to-size glass supplier from a small unit
- Refurbished commercial fridge supplier
- Building services maintenance contractor
- Independent electrical trade counter
- Used forklift sales and hire from a small yard
- Air con trade counter and stockist
- Tarmac driveway and surfacing crew
- Fibreglass trade counter and supplies unit
- Window and glazing trade counter
- Steel erection crew for builders
- Steel fabrication and fitting workshop
- New tennis and sports court builder
- Ladder and access equipment trade counter
- Retaining wall supplies yard with trade counter
- Local plasterboard and plaster delivery
- Plasterboard and plaster trade counter
- Stone workshop: cut and fit marble worktops
- Small tool and equipment hire depot
- Small steel erecting gang
- Generator shop with workshop
- Basketball court builder and resurfacing team
- Local stone and landscaping yard
- Custom shop fixtures made in your own workshop
- Railing and gate maker with a workshop
- Drain repair and installation contractor
- Heritage restoration contractor
Questions
Why do some trades businesses cost over £20,000 to start?
Costs often come from specialist vehicles, machinery, tools, workshop or yard rent, stock and insurance. Get written quotes for everything you need, and check whether leasing, used equipment or phased purchases could spread the outlay.
What should I check before starting a higher-cost trade in the UK?
Check which qualifications, registrations, licences or permits your trade may need, such as gas, electrical or waste carrier requirements. Also confirm insurance cover, health and safety obligations and whether customers or schemes expect particular accreditations.
How can I reduce the risk of a large startup spend?
Test demand before committing: talk to likely customers, ask local firms about subcontract work and build a cash flow forecast. Consider leasing equipment, starting with a smaller range of services, and speak to an accountant about funding options.