Local bureau de change shop
Run a small exchange counter for travellers and local businesses, earning a margin on every transaction.
- £15k-60k
- Full-time
- Own premises
- Licence or permit needed
Estimates for a small start in the UK, not guarantees.
Official data
9,891 UK companies in this field, 26% registered in the last 2 years
SIC 66190 “Activities auxiliary to financial intermediation n.e.c.”. Source: Companies House, November 2026.
What it is
A small shop or kiosk where customers buy and sell foreign banknotes, usually in a high street, shopping centre, station or travel-heavy area. You buy currency from a wholesale supplier and sell it on at a margin.
Your first three steps
- Research your location: footfall, nearby competitors and their posted rates
- Speak to wholesale currency suppliers about rates, minimum orders and delivery of notes
- Contact HMRC about money service business registration and anti-money laundering requirements before you commit to a lease
Who pays
Holidaymakers, business travellers, students, expats and small businesses that deal in foreign cash.
How it makes money
The difference between the rate you buy at and the rate you sell at, plus any fees. Margins per transaction are small, so steady footfall and good rate management matter.
Skills that help
- Comfortable handling large amounts of cash
- Accurate with numbers and rates
- Careful record keeping and ID checks
- Friendly, clear customer service
Watch out for
- Check HMRC registration and 'fit and proper' tests for money service businesses; you must not trade without the right registration
- Anti-money laundering duties: customer ID checks, record keeping, staff training and reporting suspicious activity
- Cash on the premises: check insurance, a safe, CCTV and security cover
- Exchange rate swings can wipe out your margin on stock you hold
- Counterfeit notes, so staff need training to spot them
- Check VAT treatment of currency exchange with an accountant
Deep research report · UK
Everything you need to start: local bureau de change shop
Researched with live web search for United Kingdom: real startup prices, the licences and rules, what others charge, a break-even example, how to find your first customers and a 30-day launch plan. With sources.
- Startup costs with real prices
- Licences, registration and rules
- Pricing: what others charge
- Break-even example
- Finding your first customers
- 30-day launch plan
- Risks and how to reduce them
Questions people ask
How much does it cost to start a bureau de change?
Estimated startup costs are typically around £15,000 to £60,000, depending on the premises, how much currency stock you hold and the security and equipment you put in place.
How much can a bureau de change earn?
Estimated monthly revenue is typically around £3,000 to £15,000, depending on your location, how many customers you attract and the margin you earn. The estimates assume at least about 35 hours a week.
What rules apply to running a bureau de change in the UK?
Check HMRC registration and 'fit and proper' tests for money service businesses, as you must not trade without the right registration. Also check anti-money laundering duties: customer ID checks, record keeping, staff training and reporting suspicious activity.
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