Small office refresh specialist
Update small offices with new flooring, partitions and decoration, usually working evenings or weekends so tenants stay open.
- £2k-8k
- Part-time
- Out and about
Estimates for a small start in the UK, not guarantees.
What it is
A hands-on service refreshing small commercial interiors. Typical jobs are fitting carpet tiles or vinyl, putting up simple stud partitions, ceiling repairs and repainting. You work alone or with one helper, mainly for offices of a few rooms up to a small floor.
Your first three steps
- Choose two or three services you can do well, such as flooring, partitions and decorating, and price them by the square metre
- Get public liability insurance and a van or reliable transport, then put together photos of recent work
- Introduce yourself to local letting agents, landlords and property managers and offer a quick quote for their next void office
Who pays
Small businesses, landlords and letting agents with tired or vacant offices, and serviced office operators between tenants.
How it makes money
Fixed quote per job or day rate, plus a margin on materials. Repeat work from landlords and agents who need quick turnarounds between tenants is the steadiest source.
Skills that help
- Practical trade skills such as decorating, flooring or plasterboard fixing
- Accurate measuring and quoting
- Reliable, tidy and good with clients
Watch out for
- Public liability insurance, and employer's liability once you take on staff
- Asbestos can be present in older commercial buildings, so check whether a survey is in place before disturbing ceilings, walls or floors
- Electrical, gas and fire safety work usually needs a competent qualified person, so bring in registered trades rather than doing it yourself
- Fire-rated partitions and fire stopping have to meet building rules, so check requirements with the building owner or building control
- Check whether you need to register for the Construction Industry Scheme if you work for contractors
- Landlord permission may be needed before any alterations to a leased office
Deep research report · UK
Everything you need to start: small office refresh specialist
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 an office refresh business?
Startup costs are typically around £2,000 to £8,000, depending on your tools, van or transport, insurance and the materials you carry. These are estimates, so list the kit you already own before working out your budget.
How much can an office refresh specialist earn?
Monthly revenue is typically around £2,500 to £10,000, depending on the jobs you win, your pricing and whether you work alone or with a helper. The estimates start from about 20 hours a week. Treat them as estimates.
What rules should I check before refurbishing offices?
Check for public liability insurance, and asbestos surveys in older buildings before disturbing ceilings, walls or floors. Use registered trades for electrical, gas and fire safety work, check fire-rated partition requirements, Construction Industry Scheme registration, and landlord permission for alterations.
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