Small paintings shop or gallery

Local residents, tourists, gift buyers, interior designers and small businesses looking for artwork.

Commission on artists' sales, mark-up on bought stock, and fees for framing. Some galleries also charge artists a small fee for wall space.

• Choosing and pricing art
• Customer service and selling
• Managing a shop and stock
• Networking with local artists

• Lease terms, rent and business rates, so check what your council charges and whether any relief applies
• Public liability and stock or contents insurance, as artwork can be valuable and fragile
• Check whether the premises have the right planning use class for retail
• Slow sales in the early months, so keep enough cash to cover rent

Startup costs are typically around £5,000 to £25,000, depending on the premises, display needs and how much artwork you stock. This is an estimate, so check rent and business rates before you commit.

Monthly revenue is typically around £1,500 to £7,500, depending on location, pricing and footfall. These are revenue estimates, not profit. Sales can be slow in the early months, so keep enough cash to cover rent. Expect at least around 30 hours a week.

Check your lease terms, rent and business rates, including what your council charges and whether any relief applies. Also check that the premises have the right planning use class for retail, and arrange public liability and stock or contents insurance for valuable, fragile artwork.