Workplace and commercial mediator

Small and medium businesses, charities, schools, housing providers and HR or legal advisers who refer cases to you.

A day rate or fixed fee per case, often with extra charges for preparation, follow-up and written agreements. Repeat work can come from organisations that use you regularly.

• Credibility with managers and HR teams
• Impartial, structured facilitation
• Understanding of workplace or business issues
• Networking and sales

• Professional indemnity and public liability insurance, check what cover clients expect
• Mediation is voluntary and not legal advice, so make this clear in your agreements
• Confidentiality agreements and data protection need careful handling
• Income can be uneven, as a few large clients may make up most of your work
• Travel time and venue hire costs, factor them into your fees

Startup costs are typically around £1,500 to £6,000, depending on how you set up and how much travel and venue hire your work involves. These are estimates, so build your own figures into your fees before you quote clients.

Monthly revenue is typically around £800 to £4,000, depending on how many cases and clients you win. Income can be uneven, as a few large clients may make up most of your work, so plan for quieter months.

Check professional indemnity and public liability insurance, including what cover clients expect. Mediation is voluntary and not legal advice, so make this clear in your agreements. Confidentiality agreements and data protection also need careful handling.