Plastics fabrication workshop for trade clients

Sign makers, shopfitters, exhibition and display companies, engineers, architects and other local businesses that need one-off or small-batch parts.

You quote per job or per batch, covering materials, machine time and labour. Repeat trade accounts and regular small batches give steadier income than one-off orders.

• Hands-on workshop skills
• Reading drawings and measuring accurately
• Basic CAD or willingness to learn it
• Quoting and customer communication

• Ventilation and fume or dust control when using solvent cements and cutting plastics. Check your COSHH duties with the HSE
• Fire risk from plastic offcuts and dust, and what your insurer and landlord require
• Public liability and product liability insurance, plus employer's liability once you hire
• Unit lease terms, business rates and whether the planning use class allows light industrial work
• Some plastics, such as PVC, can give off harmful fumes when heated or laser cut. Check the safety data for every material
• Machine safety training and guarding for saws and routers

Estimates suggest startup costs typically around £8,000 to £30,000, depending on the unit you rent, the machines and tools you buy, and how much sheet material you hold in stock.

Monthly revenue is typically estimated at around £3,000 to £15,000, depending on the number of trade clients, the size of jobs and your pricing. The idea suggests at least 30 hours a week.

Check ventilation and fume or dust control, including COSHH duties with the HSE, plus fire risk and insurer or landlord requirements. Also check unit lease terms, business rates, planning use class, insurance, material safety data and machine safety training.