Mobile carpet and flooring sales

Homeowners, landlords, letting agents and small businesses who want advice and a quote at their own property.

Mark-up on carpet, underlay and accessories, plus a margin on fitting that you arrange.

• Measuring and estimating
• Sales and friendly advice
• Organising orders and fitting dates
• Basic bookkeeping

• Public liability insurance, and check what cover your fitters hold
• Consumer rules for goods sold at the customer's home, including cancellation rights, check the details
• Measuring errors can be costly, so double-check before ordering cut-to-size stock
• A suitable vehicle to carry sample books and check your business use insurance
• Running a business from home may need permission from a landlord or mortgage lender

Startup costs are typically around £1,000 to £6,000, depending on your sample books, vehicle and insurance. Without a shop you avoid rent, but check that your vehicle insurance covers business use and carrying samples.

Monthly revenue is typically around £1,500 to £8,000, depending on how many customers you visit, the size of each order and your pricing. These are estimates, and measuring errors on cut-to-size stock can be costly.

Check the consumer rules for goods sold at the customer's home, including cancellation rights. Check public liability insurance and what cover your fitters hold, and whether running the business from home needs permission from a landlord or mortgage lender.