Home-Based local estate agent

Home sellers, who pay a fee when the sale completes. Some agents also charge landlords or buyers for related services.

A percentage commission or a fixed fee, usually paid on completion. Income can be lumpy, as sales can take months to complete and some fall through.

• Confident with people and negotiating
• Good local knowledge
• Organised, with careful paperwork and follow-up

• Estate agents in the UK must join a government-approved redress scheme, check which ones are accepted
• Register for anti-money laundering supervision and check what ID checks you must carry out
• Check the rules on accurate property descriptions and the information you must give buyers and sellers
• Professional indemnity and public liability insurance
• Register with the ICO for handling personal data, and check you are allowed to run a business from your home
• Income may be slow and uneven at first, so keep cash in reserve

Estimates suggest startup costs are typically around £1,500 to £7,500, depending on your website, listing fees, insurance and whether you work independently or under an established agency brand.

Monthly revenue is typically estimated at around £1,000 to £5,000, depending on how many sales you complete and your fees. Income may be slow and uneven at first, so keep some cash in reserve.

Check which government-approved redress schemes are accepted, and register for anti-money laundering supervision and ID check duties. Also check property description rules, ICO registration, insurance, and whether you can run a business from your home.