Fire alarm installation and servicing

Landlords, property managers, small businesses, housing developers, care homes and larger fire safety or electrical contractors.

Fixed or quoted prices for installs, plus recurring charges for scheduled servicing visits and call-outs. Maintenance contracts build steady monthly income over time.

• Electrical or low-voltage wiring competence
• Reading plans and following British Standards
• Clear reporting and paperwork

• Third-party certification (for example BAFE or similar schemes) is often required by insurers, housing providers and larger clients, so check early
• Public liability, professional indemnity and employer's liability once you hire anyone
• Alarm work is safety critical, so make sure you work to the relevant British Standards and keep clear records
• Electrical safety and building regulations may apply to your installs, so check with your local building control
• Fire safety rules differ across England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland
• Sprinkler work usually needs further specialist training and is often better left until later

Estimates are typically around £3,000 to £15,000, depending on tools, equipment, training and insurance. Many people start as subcontractors to electricians or larger fire safety firms before taking on their own customers.

Monthly revenue estimates are typically around £2,500 to £12,000, depending on whether you subcontract or win your own customers, and how many installs you take on. Hours start at about 25 a week.

Check third-party certification such as BAFE, which insurers, housing providers and larger clients often require. Also check public liability, professional indemnity, employer's liability, relevant British Standards, electrical safety and building regulations with building control, and fire safety rules in your nation.