Small-boat builder to order

Private owners, sailing and rowing clubs, schools and youth groups, and occasionally small commercial operators such as ferry or fishing businesses.

A quoted price per boat, usually paid in stages (deposit, build milestones, handover). Extra income from fitting out, repairs, refits and selling plans or kits.

• Woodworking or composite (GRP) skills
• Reading plans and design drawings
• Quoting jobs and managing customer expectations

• Boats sold on the UK market may need to meet design and safety rules; check what applies to the types you build
• Boats for paying passengers or commercial use may need to meet Maritime and Coastguard Agency requirements, so check before quoting
• Public liability and product liability insurance, plus cover for tools, materials and boats in progress
• Dust, resin fumes, solvents and fire risk in a workshop; check your health and safety duties
• Check planning use and your lease terms with the landlord or council
• Income can be lumpy, as a boat can take months to build, so use staged payments

Startup costs are typically around £8,000 to £40,000, depending on workshop rent and deposits, tools, materials and the type of boats you build. These are estimates, so get quotes for your area and your chosen niche.

Monthly revenue is typically around £1,500 to £7,500, depending on how many boats you build, their size and whether you have a helper. Income can be lumpy because a boat may take months, so staged payments are worth considering.

Check what design and safety rules apply to the boats you build, and whether Maritime and Coastguard Agency requirements apply to passenger or commercial boats. Also check insurance, health and safety duties for dust, resin and solvents, planning use, and your lease terms.