Home embossing for stationery and gifts

Small brands, wedding stationers, florists, gift makers, independent shops and individuals wanting a personal finish.

Charge per item or per batch, plus a one-off fee for making or buying a custom die. Repeat orders from the same design are quicker and more profitable.

• Neat, careful hand work
• Basic design and layout sense
• Patience with small repeat jobs

• Check you have permission to run a business from home with your landlord, mortgage lender or council
• Public liability insurance is worth checking, especially if customers visit or you hold their goods
• Customers' logos may be trademarked or copyrighted, so ask them to confirm they own the rights
• Custom dies cost money up front, so agree who pays before ordering
• Presses can trap fingers, so work carefully and keep the workspace tidy

Startup costs are typically around £600 to £3,000, depending on the press you choose and the dies you need. Custom dies cost money up front, so agree with customers who pays before ordering.

Monthly revenue is typically around £300 to £1,800, depending on how many brands, wedding stationers and gift makers you work for. These are estimates, and you can start with around 8 hours a week.

Check you have permission to run a business from home with your landlord, mortgage lender or council. Look into public liability insurance, and ask customers to confirm they own the rights to any logos that may be trademarked or copyrighted.