Small grass and DIY livery yard

Local leisure riders and horse owners who cannot keep a horse at home but want a low-cost, low-fuss place.

A weekly or monthly livery fee per horse. You can add paid extras such as hay, bedding, or help with turning out and bringing in.

• Good horse knowledge and handling
• Fencing, field and grass management
• Dealing calmly with owners and agreeing house rules

• Planning permission or change of use for business equestrian use of agricultural land, check with your local council
• Public liability and care, custody and control insurance, plus any rules in your lease or mortgage
• A riding school licence is generally needed only if you hire out horses or give riding lessons, check with your council
• Manure disposal, grazing quality and horse health, including biosecurity and what happens if a horse is ill or injured
• Written agreements for late payments and abandoned horses

Estimates suggest startup costs are typically around £2,000 to £10,000, depending on your land, fencing, water and how many basic stables you provide. Costs vary with the state of the site you start from.

Monthly revenue is typically estimated at around £400 to £2,000, depending on how many horses you take and what you charge for grazing or stables. Owners do most of the daily care themselves.

Check with your local council about planning permission or change of use for business equestrian use of agricultural land. A riding school licence is generally needed only if you hire out horses or give lessons. Also check insurance and any lease or mortgage rules.