Sail repair and alteration service

Cruising boat owners, dinghy sailors, sailing clubs, sail schools and boatyards.

Fixed price per repair or an hourly rate plus materials. Busiest in late winter and spring, so a steady flow of repeat work from clubs and boatyards helps.

• Sewing on heavy industrial machines
• Knowledge of sail cloth and how sails are built
• Careful measuring and finishing
• Customer service

• Public liability insurance, plus cover for customers' sails while in your care
• Check whether you need permission to run a workshop from home, including from your landlord, mortgage lender or council
• Space needed to lay out large sails, and noise from machines
• Seasonal demand, so plan cash flow for quieter months

Startup costs are typically around £1,500 to £6,000, depending on the sewing machines, materials and workshop setup you need. These are estimates, so get quotes for equipment and insurance before setting your budget.

Monthly revenue is typically around £400 to £2,500, depending on how much work you win and your prices. This is an estimate of revenue, not profit. Demand can be seasonal, and the idea assumes at least around 8 hours a week.

Check whether you need permission to run a workshop from home, including from a landlord, mortgage lender or council. Also check public liability cover, including customers' sails in your care, and whether you have space for large sails and can manage machine noise.