Bespoke clothing studio at home

Private clients who want a perfect fit or something unique: wedding guests, brides, people attending formal events and people who struggle to find clothes that fit off the peg.

A fixed price per commission, based on design time, fabric and hours of making. Clients usually pay a deposit up front and the balance at the final fitting.

• Pattern cutting and garment construction
• Fitting and altering to individual bodies
• Clear communication and managing client expectations
• Pricing your time properly

• Check whether your landlord, mortgage lender or council needs to agree to a business use at home
• Public liability insurance if clients visit for fittings, and cover for your equipment and client fabrics
• The term 'haute couture' is legally protected in France, so check before using it in your marketing; 'bespoke' or 'made-to-measure' is safer
• Write a simple contract covering deposits, changes to designs, deadlines and what happens if a client's size changes
• Check your consumer law obligations for made-to-order goods, including cancellations and refunds

Estimates suggest startup costs are typically around £1,500 to £6,000, depending on the equipment you already own, how you set up your studio space and what fabrics and materials you need to buy for early client work.

Estimated monthly revenue is typically around £800 to £4,000, depending on how many commissions you take on, what you charge and the hours you put in. This is revenue, not profit, so allow for fabric and other costs.

Check whether your landlord, mortgage lender or council needs to agree to business use at home. Also check public liability cover for client fittings, your consumer law duties for made-to-order goods, and avoid 'haute couture', which is legally protected in France.