Home jewellery engraving studio

Individuals buying gifts for weddings, anniversaries and births, plus small jewellers and gift sellers who need work outsourced.

A fee per item or per line of text, with higher prices for hand-engraved designs, rush jobs and fiddly pieces. Posted orders can add a handling charge.

• Steady hands and attention to detail
• Basic design and lettering sense
• Careful customer communication to avoid spelling mistakes

• Check whether your landlord, mortgage lender or council needs to agree to business use at home
• Public liability insurance, plus cover for customers' items while in your care (check what a policy includes)
• Mistakes on valuable or sentimental items cannot be undone, so agree and confirm wording in writing before you start
• Laser engravers need safe use, ventilation and eye protection, so check the manufacturer's guidance
• Register as a sole trader with HMRC if you start earning

Startup costs are typically around £300 to £2,500, depending on whether you choose hand tools, a rotary engraver or a laser engraver, plus materials and insurance. These are estimates, so compare equipment and cover before buying.

Monthly revenue is typically around £200 to £1,500, depending on how many orders you take, your prices and whether you also do trade work for jewellers or gift sellers. That is revenue rather than profit.

Check whether your landlord, mortgage lender or council needs to agree to business use at home. Also check public liability insurance and cover for customers' items, laser safety guidance, and registering as a sole trader with HMRC once you start earning.