Start a mobile chimney sweep business
Sweep chimneys and flues for homeowners and landlords, with yearly repeat visits.
- £700-3k
- Side hustle
- Out and about
Estimates for a small start in the UK, not guarantees.
Official data
464 UK companies in this field, 29% registered in the last 2 years
SIC 81223 “Furnace and chimney cleaning services”. Source: Companies House, November 2026.
What it is
Visiting homes to sweep chimneys and flues for open fires, wood burners and stoves, checking for blockages and giving customers a certificate of sweeping.
Your first three steps
- Take a recognised chimney sweeping course with a trade body such as the NACS, Guild of Master Sweeps or HETAS, and compare their membership terms
- Price up rods, brushes, a quality vacuum and dust sheets, and check local sweeps' prices to set your rate
- Get insured, then offer first sweeps to neighbours and ask for reviews and repeat bookings
Who pays
Homeowners with open fires or stoves, landlords, letting agents and holiday let owners.
How it makes money
A fixed price per chimney or appliance, with many customers booking every year. Extras can include smoke tests, flue camera checks and bird guard fitting.
Skills that help
- Careful, tidy working in people's homes
- Basic knowledge of stoves, flues and fuels
- Reliable customer service and booking
Watch out for
- Public liability insurance, and check what cover your insurer expects for soot and property damage
- Check whether insurers or letting agents expect you to belong to a trade body
- Soot and dust risks: use proper protective equipment, such as a mask, and protect floors
- Work at height if you go on roofs, so check training and safe access
- Check the rules for carbon monoxide alarms and landlord safety obligations in your part of the UK
🔒 Full research report for UK
Real cost breakdown with current prices, licences and registration checklist, local competition, pricing, break-even and a 30-day launch plan, with sources.
Coming soonQuestions people ask
How much does it cost to start as a chimney sweep?
Estimates suggest startup costs typically around £700 to £3,000, depending on your equipment, protective gear, insurance and how you find customers. Public liability insurance is something to price up early.
What should I check before becoming a chimney sweep?
Things to check include public liability insurance cover for soot and property damage, whether insurers or letting agents expect trade body membership, safe access if working at height, protective equipment, and carbon monoxide alarm and landlord safety rules in your part of the UK.
How much can a chimney sweep earn?
Estimates suggest monthly revenue typically around £500 to £3,000, depending on how many customers you take on, your prices and your hours. Many customers book yearly, which can help build repeat work.
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