Bespoke and commission jewellery designer

Couples, people marking a special occasion and customers wanting to remodel inherited jewellery.

A design and making fee per commission, usually with a deposit upfront and the balance on completion. Higher prices per piece mean fewer sales are needed.

• Jewellery making skills such as soldering, stone setting and finishing
• Sketching or CAD design
• Listening to customers and managing expectations
• Sourcing metals and stones from reliable suppliers

• Precious metal items generally need hallmarking by a UK assay office above certain weights, so check the rules and costs
• Insurance for materials, tools and customers' own items, as holding their gold or stones is a real responsibility
• Use clear written agreements covering deposits, changes, timescales and what happens if a customer cancels
• Check suppliers carefully and ask about the sourcing of diamonds and metals
• Working with torches and chemicals needs safe setup, ventilation and fire precautions, so check with your insurer and landlord
• Consumer law applies to made-to-order goods, so check your returns and refunds approach

Startup costs are typically around £2,000 to £10,000, depending on your tools, bench or studio space, and the metals and stones you buy. Insurance for materials, tools and customers' own items is worth checking too.

Monthly revenue is typically around £800 to £4,000, depending on how many commissions you take on, the materials involved and your pricing. Plan for at least 15 hours a week.

Precious metal items generally need hallmarking by a UK assay office above certain weights, so check the rules and costs. Also check consumer law on made-to-order goods and use clear written agreements covering deposits and cancellations.