Light fittings for shops, cafes and offices

Interior designers, shopfitters, architects, restaurants, hotels, shops and offices, plus some high-end homeowners.

You quote per project or per fitting, usually with a deposit upfront. Repeat orders from designers and fit-out firms bring steadier work than one-off sales.

• Design and technical drawing
• Metalwork, woodwork or other fabrication
• Quoting and project management
• Building relationships with trade customers

• Electrical product safety rules for lighting, so check testing, marking and documentation with Trading Standards or the Office for Product Safety and Standards
• Product liability and public liability insurance, which commercial clients often ask to see
• Employer's liability insurance as soon as you take on staff or apprentices
• Unit lease terms, business rates and any planning or use restrictions, which are worth checking with the landlord and council
• Late payment and large custom jobs, so use deposits and clear written quotes
• Workshop safety, such as dust, fumes, machinery and fire risk

Startup costs are typically around £8,000 to £40,000, depending on your unit, equipment and the fabrication you plan to do. These are estimates, so check unit lease terms and business rates when working out your budget.

Monthly revenue is typically around £2,500 to £12,000, depending on how many commercial projects you win and their size. This usually needs around 30 hours a week or more, and deposits and written quotes help with late payment.

Check electrical product safety rules for lighting, including testing, marking and documentation, with Trading Standards or the Office for Product Safety and Standards. Also check product and public liability insurance, and employer's liability once you take on staff.