Farm and commercial fencing team

Farmers, landowners, horse owners, councils, builders and businesses needing boundaries or security.

Quoted per metre or per job, with larger contracts running over several days. Repeat work from the same estates and farms can fill your diary.

• Fencing experience, ideally from working for another contractor first
• Running a job and managing helpers
• Estimating materials and costs accurately

• Public liability and employer's liability insurance if you hire help; check whether subcontractors need their own cover
• Check what training or certificates machinery such as post drivers or diggers needs, and any site safety card (such as CSCS) that commercial sites ask for
• Check for overhead lines, underground pipes and cables before digging or driving posts
• Check how builders and commercial clients pay, as late payment can hurt cash flow; agree stage payments
• Check whether a farm or site needs planning, or has rights of way or environmental restrictions, before work begins
• Check the tax rules for subcontractors if you work for larger building firms

Startup costs are estimates, typically around £8,000 to £35,000, depending on your machinery, tools, vehicle and materials. Agreeing stage payments with clients can help with cash flow on larger jobs.

Check public liability and employer's liability if you hire help, and whether subcontractors need their own cover. Also check training for machinery such as post drivers, site safety cards like CSCS, and for overhead lines and buried services before digging.

Estimates suggest monthly revenue typically around £4,000 to £16,000, depending on the farms, estates and commercial sites you win work from. Hours start at about 35 a week.