Handmade glass neon sign workshop

Bars, restaurants, shops, galleries, event and film businesses, interior designers and private customers wanting a statement piece.

Fixed price per sign based on size, complexity and install, plus repair and restoration of older signs. Trade work for designers and fit-out firms can bring repeat orders.

• Patience and steady hands for glass work
• Design and lettering sense
• Basic electrical and safety awareness
• Quoting and customer service

• Neon uses high-voltage transformers and fixed wiring, so check who must do the final electrical connection and what testing is needed
• Check rules on storing and using gas cylinders and burners in your unit, and speak to your landlord and insurer
• Some tubes use mercury, so check how to handle and dispose of waste glass and materials properly
• Outdoor or large signs may need advertisement consent from the local council, so check before promising an install
• Public liability and product liability insurance, plus tools and stock cover
• Glass is fragile, so allow for breakages, remakes and careful transport

Startup costs are typically around £3,000 to £15,000, depending on your workshop, equipment, stock and insurance. These are estimates, so get quotes for your unit and tools before you commit.

Check who must do the final electrical connection and what testing is needed, as neon uses high-voltage transformers. Also check rules on gas cylinders and burners in your unit, how to dispose of mercury-containing waste, and whether outdoor signs need council advertisement consent.

Monthly revenue is typically estimated at around £1,200 to £6,000, depending on how many signs you make and their size and complexity. Allow for breakages and remakes, as glass is fragile.