Property maintenance contractor with a small team

Portfolio landlords, managing agents, housing providers and owners of small commercial or mixed-use buildings.

Fixed monthly or annual fees for planned visits, plus charged call-outs and repair jobs with a margin on labour and materials.

• Practical building and repair knowledge
• Scheduling and managing people
• Quoting, invoicing and basic bookkeeping

• Employer's liability insurance once you employ people, and check how subcontractors are treated for tax and insurance
• Health and safety, risk assessments and method statements, which larger clients often ask for
• Gas, electrical and asbestos-related work needs competent, qualified people, so check what must be subcontracted
• Cash flow, as materials and wages are paid before clients pay you
• VAT registration if turnover goes above the threshold

Startup costs are typically around £3,000 to £15,000, depending on vehicles, tools, insurance and how many people you take on. Treat these as estimates and cost your own plan carefully, as materials and wages are paid before clients pay you.

Monthly revenue is typically around £4,000 to £20,000, depending on the number of contracts, your team size and the mix of planned and reactive work. These are revenue estimates, not profit, and the range assumes about 35 hours a week.

Check employer's liability insurance once you employ people, and how subcontractors are treated for tax and insurance. Larger clients often ask for risk assessments and method statements. Check VAT registration if turnover passes the threshold, and which gas, electrical or asbestos-related work must be subcontracted.