Made-to-Order furniture from a home workshop

Households wanting something that fits their space, plus local interior designers and small businesses such as cafes.

A quoted price per piece covering materials, your time and a margin. Deposits upfront help cover timber costs.

• Woodworking and joinery
• Drawing up and costing a design
• Patience and attention to detail
• Talking through ideas with customers

• Public liability insurance, and check whether your home insurance covers a workshop and stock
• Noise, dust and working hours: check your lease, mortgage terms and with your council about running a workshop at home
• Fire safety with dust extraction, finishes and offcuts
• Consumer law on made-to-order goods and clear written quotes and deposit terms
• Furniture for sale in the UK has fire safety rules for upholstered items, so check requirements before making anything with foam or fabric

Startup costs are typically around £2,000 to £10,000, depending on the tools and machinery you already own, your timber stock and workshop setup. These are estimates, so list the equipment you actually need.

Monthly revenue is typically around £500 to £3,500, depending on the pieces you make, your pricing and how many commissions you take on. Treat this as an estimate, and use clear written quotes and deposit terms.

Check public liability insurance and whether your home insurance covers a workshop and stock. Check your lease, mortgage terms and council rules on noise, dust and working hours, plus fire safety. Also check fire rules for anything upholstered, and consumer law on made-to-order goods.