Open a local mobility and healthcare supplies shop

Patients, carers and families nearby, plus care homes and small care providers buying consumables.

Mark-up on products sold in store, plus repeat consumable orders and possibly local delivery. Larger items like mobility scooters or riser chairs bring higher sales but need more stock space.

• Friendly, patient customer service
• Product knowledge and willingness to learn
• Stock control and buying
• Basic retail and bookkeeping skills

• Many products count as medical devices, so check with the MHRA and your suppliers that items are correctly marked and compliant
• Check whether any products you plan to stock count as medicines, which have separate rules and generally need a pharmacy
• Public liability, product liability and stock insurance, plus employer's liability insurance if you hire
• Lease terms, business rates and shop-use planning permissions, to check with your council
• Staff should not give clinical advice, so signpost customers to health professionals
• Slow-moving stock and high fixed costs such as rent

Startup costs are typically around £15,000 to £60,000, depending on your premises, fit-out and stock. These are estimates, and slow-moving stock and fixed costs such as rent can strain cash, so plan carefully.

Monthly revenue is typically around £5,000 to £25,000, depending on your location, range and whether you also supply care providers. This is revenue before stock, rent, business rates, wages and other costs.

Check with the MHRA and suppliers that medical devices are correctly marked and compliant, whether any products count as medicines, insurance including employer's liability if you hire, lease terms, business rates and shop-use planning with your council. Staff should not give clinical advice.