Bespoke joinery workshop

Homeowners wanting made-to-measure pieces, builders needing non-standard items, and renovators of older properties.

Quoted price per project covering materials, workshop time and fitting. Made-to-measure work usually earns more per job than standard fitting.

• Joinery and machine woodworking
• Reading drawings and taking site measurements
• Quoting and managing materials costs
• Finishing and attention to detail

• Fixed costs such as rent, power and machine maintenance, which continue in quiet months
• Wood dust is a health hazard, so check the rules on extraction and fire safety
• Planning permission or lease terms for using a workshop, and noise for neighbours, so check with your council and landlord
• Public liability insurance, plus cover for stock, machinery and the premises
• Windows and external doors may need to meet Building Regulations, so check what applies to your products

Startup costs are typically estimated at around £8,000 to £35,000, depending on machinery, premises and materials. Monthly revenue is estimated at around £2,500 to £8,000, depending on the work you win. Fixed costs continue in quiet months.

Check the rules on wood dust extraction and fire safety, plus planning permission or lease terms for a workshop, and noise for neighbours. Check public liability and cover for stock, machinery and premises, and which Building Regulations apply to windows and external doors.

Useful skills are joinery and machine woodworking, reading drawings and taking site measurements, quoting and managing materials costs, and careful finishing. The estimate is at least around 30 hours a week.