Garden and tool hire shop
Run a small unit hiring garden machinery to homeowners and tradespeople, with servicing and walk-in customers.
- £10k-40k
- Full-time
- Own premises
Estimates for a small start in the UK, not guarantees.
Official data
7,895 UK companies in this field, 21% registered in the last 2 years
SIC 77390 “Renting and leasing of other machinery, equipment and tangible goods n.e.c.”. Source: Companies House, November 2026.
What it is
A small unit or workshop with a wider range of garden machinery, such as mowers, scarifiers, strimmers, hedge cutters, chippers and pressure washers, hired out to walk-in and regular customers.
Your first three steps
- Research local competitors and the gaps in their range, then price a core fleet of machines
- Look at affordable units or workshops near trade customers and check lease terms and business rates
- Set up a booking system, a hire agreement and insurance, then start with a small range and expand as demand shows
Who pays
Homeowners, landlords, gardeners, landscapers and small builders who need kit for a day or a week without buying it.
How it makes money
Daily and weekly hire charges, deposits, delivery fees, and extras like consumables. Some owners add servicing or sales of accessories.
Skills that help
- Machinery repair and servicing
- Customer service at the counter
- Stock and booking management
Watch out for
- Insurance for the premises, stock on hire and public liability, so check with a broker who knows hire businesses
- Business rates, planning use class and lease terms for the unit, check with your local council
- Keeping machines safe and serviced, and giving users clear safety instructions
- Higher fixed costs such as rent and stock, so test demand before taking on a long lease
- Safe storage of fuel and any rules on noisy or powerful machinery, check with your council and insurer
Deep research report · UK
Everything you need to start: garden and tool hire shop
Researched with live web search for United Kingdom: real startup prices, the licences and rules, what others charge, a break-even example, how to find your first customers and a 30-day launch plan. With sources.
- Startup costs with real prices
- Licences, registration and rules
- Pricing: what others charge
- Break-even example
- Finding your first customers
- 30-day launch plan
- Risks and how to reduce them
Questions people ask
How much does it cost to start a garden machinery hire shop?
Startup costs are typically around £10,000 to £40,000, depending on the unit, the range of machines you buy and insurance. Rent and stock are higher fixed costs, so test demand before taking a long lease.
How much can a garden and tool hire shop earn?
Monthly revenue is typically estimated at around £2,500 to £10,000, depending on how many machines you hire out and your mix of walk-in and regular customers. The estimate assumes from about 35 hours a week.
What rules should I check before opening a tool hire shop?
Check insurance for the premises, stock on hire and public liability, plus business rates, planning use class and lease terms with your council. Also check how you keep machines serviced and safe, and storage rules for fuel with your council and insurer.
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