Start a gazebo and pergola building business

Homeowners with gardens who want a shaded seating area, a covered patio or a feature for the garden. Some holiday parks and pubs with gardens may also buy.

Fixed price per job covering materials and labour, or a fitting charge for customer-bought kits. Made-to-measure timber builds earn more per job than kit assembly.

• Basic carpentry and use of power tools
• Measuring, levelling and reading plans
• Quoting jobs and dealing with customers

• Public liability insurance, and tools cover for your kit
• Planning permission or building regulations may apply depending on height, size and position, so check with the local council before building
• Checking for buried pipes and cables before digging post holes
• Working at height and lifting heavy timber, so plan for a second pair of hands
• Weather can delay outdoor jobs, so build in extra time when quoting

Startup costs are typically around £1,000 to £5,000, depending on your tools, vehicle and materials. These are estimates, so price up your own kit list before you commit.

It may apply depending on height, size and position, so check with the local council before building. Also check for buried pipes and cables before digging post holes, and arrange public liability insurance.

Monthly revenue is typically around £800 to £4,000, depending on how many jobs you take and their size. Weather can delay outdoor work, so build extra time into your quotes.