Pop-up paddleboard and kayak hire

Holidaymakers, day visitors, families and groups staying at campsites, holiday parks and lakeside venues.

Hourly or half-day hire charges per board or kayak, plus extras such as lessons, guided paddles or group bookings. Income is busiest in school holidays and good weather.

• Confident on the water and comfortable giving safety briefings
• Friendly customer service
• Organising bookings, kit and loading

• There is usually no single national licence for this, but you will normally need written permission or a trading consent from the landowner, campsite, harbour authority or navigation authority. On council-managed beaches, check with your council about beach trading consent and byelaws
• Public liability insurance that specifically covers hiring out water sports kit
• Whether any rules or guidance for small commercial craft apply where you operate; check with the relevant harbour or navigation authority
• Safety: buoyancy aids, weather and tide checks, and clear limits on where customers can go
• Seasonal and weather-dependent income, so plan your cash flow

Estimates suggest startup costs are typically around £3,000 to £12,000, depending on the size of your fleet, your trailer or van, safety kit and insurance. Starting with a small fleet can keep the initial outlay lower.

Things to check: there is usually no single national licence, but you will normally need written permission or trading consent from the landowner, campsite, harbour or navigation authority. On council beaches, check beach trading consent and byelaws, plus insurance covering water sports hire.

Estimates suggest monthly revenue is typically around £1,000 to £5,000, depending on location, season, weather and pricing. Income is seasonal and weather-dependent, so plan your cash flow. Time needed is typically from around 8 hours a week.