Made-to-Measure curtains from home

Homeowners redecorating, landlords, small interior designers and holiday let owners.

You charge for the fabric (with a mark-up on trade prices) plus a making charge per curtain or blind, with extra for measuring, fitting and tracks or poles.

• Sewing and finishing to a high standard
• Accurate measuring and pattern calculation
• Customer service and colour advice

• Public liability insurance, especially when measuring and fitting in customers' homes
• Check whether running a workroom from home needs permission from your landlord, mortgage lender or council
• Curtains generally fall outside the Furniture and Furnishings (Fire) (Safety) Regulations 1988, but items such as cushions or loose covers may not, and rental, holiday let or commercial customers may ask for fire-retardant fabrics, so check with your fabric suppliers or Trading Standards
• Blinds with cords must meet child safety requirements (for example safety devices and BS EN 13120), so check with Trading Standards before selling them
• Costly mistakes if measurements or fabric cuts are wrong, so agree payment terms and take deposits

Startup costs are typically around £1,000 to £5,000, depending on the equipment, fabric sample books and insurance you choose. These are estimates, so cost up your workroom needs before you buy.

Monthly revenue is typically around £800 to £4,000, depending on how many orders you take and how large the jobs are. The estimate assumes at least 10 hours of work a week.

Check public liability insurance and whether a home workroom needs permission from your landlord, lender or council. Curtains generally fall outside the 1988 fire safety regulations, but cushions or loose covers may not. Check corded blind child safety (BS EN 13120) with Trading Standards.