Cut-to-size glass supplier from a small unit

Local glaziers, builders, joiners and shopfitters, plus homeowners and small businesses who need a one-off piece.

You buy sheet glass at wholesale prices and sell cut pieces at a margin. Extras such as polished edges, drilled holes and delivery add to the price. Repeat trade customers give steady income, and walk-in customers pay higher prices.

• Accurate measuring and cutting
• Safe handling of heavy, fragile materials
• Quoting and customer service
• Basic stock control

• Glass is heavy and sharp, so check manual handling, protective equipment and safe storage and racking
• Public liability and product liability insurance, plus employer's liability once you hire
• Safety glass rules for doors, low windows and similar places, so check the Building Regulations and relevant British Standards before advising customers
• Toughened glass cannot be cut once made, so make sure orders are measured right before they go to a processor
• Check business rates, planning use class and how to dispose of waste glass
• Breakages and wrong measurements can eat into margins, so agree who is responsible for measuring

Startup costs are typically around £8,000 to £35,000, depending on your unit, cutting equipment, racking and opening stock. These are estimates, so also allow for insurance and check business rates and the planning use class.

Monthly revenue is typically around £4,000 to £20,000, depending on your customers, range and how much you cut. Breakages and wrong measurements can eat into margins, so agree who is responsible for measuring each job.

Check manual handling, protective equipment and safe storage and racking. Also check safety glass rules for doors and low windows under the Building Regulations and British Standards, insurance, and how to dispose of waste glass.