Community art studio with classes and hire

Class students and parents, hobby artists paying a monthly membership, and makers or small groups hiring space by the hour or day.

Class and workshop fees, monthly memberships and hire charges. Mixing all three helps cover rent when one is quiet.

• Teaching or running workshops
• Organising timetables and bookings
• Basic budgeting and pricing
• Promoting yourself locally and online

• Check lease terms, break clauses, business rates and whether the unit's permitted use covers classes
• Public liability insurance, plus cover for contents and equipment
• Fire safety, first aid and accessibility duties for premises open to the public, so check with your council
• If you teach under-18s, check safeguarding and DBS requirements
• Rent is a fixed cost, so allow for quiet months

Estimates suggest startup costs typically around £3,000 to £15,000, depending on the unit you rent, the equipment you need and how you fit out the space. Rent is a fixed cost, so allow for quiet months.

Estimates suggest monthly revenue typically around £1,500 to £7,000, depending on how many classes, memberships and hire bookings you fill. Hours are typically from around 20 a week, and quieter months are worth planning for.

Check lease terms, break clauses, business rates and whether the unit's permitted use covers classes. Also check insurance, fire safety, first aid and accessibility duties with your council, and safeguarding and DBS requirements if you teach under-18s.