Mobile tack and feed shop in a van
Visit yards and shows with a van of tack, feed and riding kit so owners can buy without travelling.
- £5k-25k
- Side hustle
- Out and about
- Licence or permit needed
Estimates for a small start in the UK, not guarantees.
What it is
A van-based shop that makes regular rounds of livery yards and riding schools, and trades at local shows and events. You carry popular essentials and take orders for anything else.
Your first three steps
- Contact local yards and riding schools to see what they would buy and agree regular visit days
- Choose a van and a starter range of fast-selling items such as grooming kit, feed supplements and gloves
- Book pitches at a few local shows and ask organisers about trader rules and fees
Who pays
Yard owners, livery clients, riders at shows and parents of young riders.
How it makes money
Retail markup on stock sold from the van, plus pre-orders delivered on your round and pitch sales at events.
Skills that help
- Horse and tack knowledge
- Driving and route planning
- Selling face to face
- Stock control
Watch out for
- Street trading rules or consents, check with each council where you trade
- Show organiser fees and insurance requirements for traders
- Motor, public liability and stock insurance
- Safe storage and lifting of heavy feed and bedding
- Weather and quiet seasons affecting show trade
Deep research report · UK
Everything you need to start: mobile tack and feed shop in a van
Researched with live web search for United Kingdom: real startup prices, the licences and rules, what others charge, a break-even example, how to find your first customers and a 30-day launch plan. With sources.
- Startup costs with real prices
- Licences, registration and rules
- Pricing: what others charge
- Break-even example
- Finding your first customers
- 30-day launch plan
- Risks and how to reduce them
Questions people ask
How much does it cost to start a mobile tack shop?
Startup costs are estimated at typically around £5,000 to £25,000, depending on the van, how much stock you carry and your insurance. You carry popular essentials and take orders for anything else.
How much can a mobile tack and feed shop earn?
Estimated monthly revenue is typically around £1,000 to £6,000, depending on your rounds, the shows you attend and your stock. Weather and quiet seasons can affect show trade, so plan for variation.
What rules should I check before trading from a van?
Check street trading rules or consents with each council where you trade, and show organiser fees and insurance requirements. Also check motor, public liability and stock insurance, and safe storage and lifting of heavy feed and bedding.
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