Paving crew for driveways and car parks

Small businesses, landlords, housing groups, farms, schools and builders who need a subcontractor.

Quoted price per job or per square metre, often with stage payments. Repeat work from builders and property managers helps keep the crew busy.

• Groundwork and surfacing experience
• Estimating and managing costs
• Managing a small team safely
• Dealing with commercial clients

• Public liability and employer's liability insurance, plus cover for plant and tools
• Health and safety duties on site, including risk assessments and traffic management around car parks
• Check if you need to register for the Construction Industry Scheme (CIS) when working for or as a subcontractor
• Waste carrier rules for removing spoil, and rules for disposing of asphalt and planings
• Late payment from commercial clients, so agree terms and stage payments clearly
• Check whether VAT registration becomes compulsory as turnover grows

Startup costs are typically estimated at around £40,000 to £120,000, depending on whether you buy or lease kit and how much plant and tooling you need. Get quotes before committing to equipment.

Monthly revenue is typically estimated at around £8,000 to £35,000, depending on job size, materials and how busy the crew is. That is revenue before costs, and late payment from commercial clients can affect cash flow.

Check public and employer's liability insurance, cover for plant and tools, site health and safety duties and traffic management. Also check the Construction Industry Scheme, waste carrier and asphalt disposal rules, and whether VAT registration becomes compulsory.