Conservatory and sunroom design-and-build firm

Homeowners who want more living space, often those who are staying put rather than moving.

A fixed price per project, usually paid in stages. Your margin comes from materials, labour and good management of each job.

• Building or carpentry background
• Quoting and costing jobs
• Customer service and clear communication
• Managing people and project timelines

• Public liability and employer's liability insurance, and check options for insurance-backed guarantees
• Check whether planning permission or Building Regulations apply to each project; rules differ across the UK nations
• Consumer law on deposits, cancellation rights and written contracts, so check with Trading Standards
• Cash flow, because you may pay for materials before the customer pays you
• Weather delays and cost overruns on fixed-price jobs

Startup costs are typically around £8,000 to £30,000, depending on your tools, vehicle, insurance and how much you set up before your first job. These are estimates, so build your own figures from real supplier quotes.

Monthly revenue is typically around £5,000 to £25,000, depending on how many jobs you take on and the size of your team. This is an estimate of revenue, not profit, so allow for materials, labour and overheads.

Check public liability and employer's liability insurance, plus insurance-backed guarantee options. Check whether planning permission or Building Regulations apply to each project, as rules differ across UK nations, and check consumer law on deposits and written contracts with Trading Standards.