Small boarding team for commercial fit-outs

Main contractors, shopfitters, fit-out companies and housing developers.

Priced per square metre or per project, with the team's labour margin on top. Regular work from one or two contractors helps keep the crew busy.

• Reading plans and setting out partitions
• Leading and organising a small crew
• Quoting and pricing larger jobs
• Site safety awareness

• Employer's liability insurance if you take on staff, and public liability insurance in any case
• Main contractors may ask for risk assessments and method statements (RAMS), so check what they require
• Check the Construction Industry Scheme (CIS) rules on paying sub-contractors and being paid yourself
• Contractors may pay late, so plan your cash flow carefully
• Working at height and manual handling are major risks, so check you meet the current safety rules

Estimates suggest startup costs typically around £4,000 to £15,000, depending on your equipment and set-up. Contractors may pay late, so it is worth planning your cash flow carefully from the start.

Monthly revenue is typically estimated at around £6,000 to £25,000, depending on the size and number of jobs you win. Work usually comes from main contractors, shopfitters, fit-out companies and housing developers.

Things to check include employer's liability insurance if you take on staff, public liability insurance, and the Construction Industry Scheme rules. Main contractors may ask for risk assessments and method statements, and working at height and manual handling rules apply.