Pickup canopy and cover fitting centre

Pickup owners, local trades and farms, and small fleets who want several vehicles fitted.

Margin on canopies, covers and accessories such as roof bars, liners and locks, plus fitting charges and repeat accessory sales.

• Vehicle fitting and practical tool skills
• Sales and quoting
• Managing stock and supplier orders

• Check planning and lease terms allow vehicle fitting work and customer visits at the unit
• Public liability insurance, and check cover for customers' vehicles while in your care (motor trade or similar cover)
• Business rates, rent and utilities add fixed monthly costs, so make sure enough orders cover them
• Heavy canopies need safe lifting, so check manual handling and consider a second pair of hands
• Employer's liability insurance if you hire staff

Startup costs are estimates, typically around £8,000 to £40,000, depending on the unit, fitting bay equipment, display stock and insurance. Rent, business rates and utilities add fixed monthly costs, so check enough orders will cover them.

Monthly revenue is estimated at typically around £5,000 to £25,000, depending on how many canopies and covers you sell and fit, and whether you win fleet or trade work. Fixed costs such as rent come out of that.

Check that planning and your lease allow vehicle fitting and customer visits. Make sure insurance covers customers' vehicles in your care, consider manual handling for heavy canopies, and get employer's liability insurance if you hire staff.