Poultry and smallholder supplies shop

Hobby keepers, backyard egg producers, smallholders, families getting their first hens and people who keep birds for showing.

Mostly margin on feed, bedding and equipment, which people buy again and again. Live birds and coops bring in higher-value one-off sales and new regular customers.

• Confident handling and caring for birds
• Knowledge of poultry health and housing
• Stock control and ordering
• Friendly, patient advice for beginners

• Check with your council whether you need a licence to sell live birds, as pet shop licensing rules may apply
• Bird flu controls can limit movements, markets and sales, so check current APHA and Defra rules, and plan for periods when you can't sell live birds
• Check whether you need to register as a feed business with your local authority
• Animal welfare duties apply, including housing, biosecurity and how you source and transport birds
• Public liability insurance, plus stock and premises cover
• Planning permission, business rates and lease terms for the premises
• Live stock costs and feed prices can change, so keep cash back for slow periods

Startup costs are typically estimated at around £8,000 to £30,000, depending on your premises, the stock you hold and whether you sell live birds. Live stock and feed prices can change, so keep some cash back for slow periods.

Monthly revenue is typically estimated at around £3,000 to £14,000, depending on your location, range and customer base. The estimate assumes at least about 30 hours a week. Revenue is not profit, as stock and premises costs come out of it.

Check with your council whether you need a licence to sell live birds, as pet shop licensing rules may apply. Also check current APHA and Defra bird flu rules, feed business registration, animal welfare duties, and planning permission and business rates for your premises.