Home studio painter taking commissions

Individuals buying gifts or keepsakes, local businesses wanting artwork, and friends of past customers.

A fixed price per commission based on size and detail, usually with a deposit upfront. Originals and prints add smaller extra sales.

• Solid painting or drawing ability
• Working to a brief and to deadlines
• Talking to customers and sharing your work online

• Register as a sole trader with HMRC once you are trading, and check whether the trading allowance applies to you
• Check whether your landlord or mortgage lender allows you to run a business from home
• Agree the brief, deposit and number of revisions in writing to avoid disputes
• Painting from someone else's photo may raise copyright questions, so ask for permission or use your own photos
• Consider insurance for your materials and finished artwork

Estimates suggest startup costs typically around £150 to £800, depending on the paints, canvases and framing you need. Consider insurance for your materials and finished artwork.

Monthly revenue is typically estimated at around £100 to £1,200, depending on how many commissions you take and what you charge. Agree the brief, deposit and number of revisions in writing to avoid disputes.

Register as a sole trader with HMRC once you are trading, and check whether the trading allowance applies. Check your landlord or mortgage lender allows a business at home, and ask permission before painting from someone else's photo, due to copyright.