Puppet theatre company for festivals and venues

Families buying tickets, arts centres and theatres booking the show, and festival organisers.

A share of ticket sales or a guaranteed fee per venue, plus income from workshops and school visits. Arts grants can help fund a new production, but they are never guaranteed.

• Puppet design and performance
• Script writing and directing
• Budgeting and tour planning
• Pitching to venues and programmers

• Public liability insurance, and employer's liability insurance if you hire performers or crew
• Check whether you are employing people or booking them as self-employed, and what that means for tax
• Touring costs such as van hire, accommodation and set storage can eat into fees, so cost each date carefully
• Income can be uneven, so plan cash flow around gaps between bookings
• Check if you need a PRS or PPL licence if you use recorded music

Estimated startup costs are typically around £3,000 to £15,000, depending on your set, puppets, performers and insurance. Treat these as estimates and budget your own production, including touring costs, before you commit.

Estimated monthly revenue is typically around £800 to £4,000, depending on the number of bookings and ticketed shows. Income can be uneven, so plan cash flow around gaps between bookings. You can start from around 15 hours a week.

Check public liability insurance, and employer's liability insurance if you hire performers or crew. Also check whether people are employees or self-employed and what that means for tax, whether you need a PRS or PPL licence for recorded music, and your touring costs.