Home extension and renovation contractor

Homeowners, landlords and sometimes architects or small developers who need a reliable builder.

Fixed-price quotes or staged payments per project, with a margin on labour and materials. Larger jobs are usually paid in stages as the work progresses.

• Reading plans and pricing jobs accurately
• Managing people, schedules and suppliers
• Knowledge of building trades and site safety
• Clear communication with clients

• Public liability insurance, plus employer's liability once you take on employees (check how it applies to subcontractors)
• Building regulations approval and, for some jobs, planning permission; check with the local council and your client's architect
• The Construction Industry Scheme (CIS) with HMRC applies to many contractors and subcontractors, so check your registration and tax duties
• Party wall agreements with neighbours may be needed for some work, so check early
• Cash flow: you pay trades and suppliers before the client's final payment, so agree staged payments in writing
• Health and safety duties on site; check what applies to domestic projects

Startup costs are typically around £3,000 to £15,000, depending on your insurance, tools, vehicle and how much you outsource. These are estimates. Cash flow matters too, as you pay trades and suppliers before the client's final payment.

Monthly revenue is typically around £5,000 to £25,000, depending on the size and number of projects you run. Agree staged payments in writing to help manage cash flow.

Check building regulations approval, whether planning permission is needed, and whether party wall agreements are required. Also check Construction Industry Scheme (CIS) duties with HMRC, and insurance including employer's liability once you take on employees.