Play equipment reseller working from home

Schools, nurseries, parish and town councils, housing groups and community organisations, often using grants or fundraising.

You earn a margin or commission on the equipment, plus a mark-up on subcontracted installation and any surfacing. Jobs are large but irregular.

• Sales and quoting
• Organising projects and suppliers
• Patience with slow, budget-led decisions

• Check that equipment meets the relevant UK play safety standards (BS EN 1176 and 1177) and ask manufacturers for certificates
• Public liability and product liability insurance, and check what your installers carry
• Schools and councils may use approved supplier lists or tenders, so check how local buyers choose suppliers
• Cash flow, as you may pay deposits to suppliers before you are paid
• Working from home may need permission from a landlord or lender, so check

Startup costs are typically around £1,000 to £5,000, depending on your insurance, marketing materials and supplier arrangements. These are estimates, so check what you would need before setting your own budget.

Monthly revenue is typically around £800 to £4,000, depending on how many projects you win and their size. This is an estimate of revenue rather than profit, and the idea assumes at least around 12 hours a week.

Check that equipment meets the relevant UK play safety standards (BS EN 1176 and 1177) and ask manufacturers for certificates. Also check insurance, how schools and councils choose suppliers, your cash flow around supplier deposits, and whether working from home needs permission.