Garden fencing and gates installer
Fit and repair garden fences, panels and gates for homeowners and landlords in your area.
- £1.5k-7k
- Part-time
- Out and about
Estimates for a small start in the UK, not guarantees.
Official data
37,269 UK companies in this field, 29% registered in the last 2 years
SIC 43290 “Other construction installation”. Source: Companies House, November 2026.
What it is
Installing and repairing garden fencing, such as panels, close-board and picket fences, plus timber gates and posts, mainly for home gardens.
Your first three steps
- Practise on friends' or family's fences and take before and after photos for a simple portfolio
- Price up tools, a van or trailer and a local timber merchant account, then work out a quote per metre
- Get insured, then post on local community groups and ask neighbours for a first job and a review
Who pays
Homeowners, landlords, letting agents and small developers, often after storm damage or when a neighbour's fence needs replacing.
How it makes money
Fixed quotes per job, usually based on length of fence and materials, plus labour. Repairs and gate fitting add smaller, quicker jobs.
Skills that help
- Basic carpentry and measuring
- Comfortable with heavy outdoor work
- Clear quoting and customer service
Watch out for
- Public liability insurance, and employer's liability if you take on staff
- Check boundary ownership and who is responsible for a fence before starting; disputes between neighbours are common
- Check whether planning permission is needed for taller fences or those next to a highway, and whether there are conservation area or listed building rules
- Call before you dig if there could be buried services, and take care with heavy lifting and power tools
- Take deposits for materials and agree the job in writing to avoid unpaid work
Deep research report · UK
Everything you need to start: garden fencing and gates installer
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 garden fencing business?
Startup costs are estimates, typically around £1,500 to £7,000, depending on your tools, vehicle and the materials you buy. Taking deposits for materials can help protect your cash flow on each job.
What should I check before fitting fences for customers?
Check public liability insurance, and employer's liability if you take on staff. Also check boundary ownership, whether planning permission is needed for taller fences or those next to a highway, and call before you dig in case of buried services.
How much can a fencing installer earn?
Estimates suggest monthly revenue typically around £1,500 to £6,000, depending on how many homeowner, landlord and developer jobs you take on. Hours start at about 15 a week.
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Photo: PIRO4D on Pixabay