Shoe shine and clean service from home

Office workers, people with smart or expensive shoes, and anyone preparing for a wedding, interview or event.

A price per pair, with higher prices for deep restoration, colour touch-ups and suede care. Regular customers and small corporate accounts can bring repeat work.

• Patience and attention to detail
• Knowing leather, suede and polish types
• Reliable organisation of orders and returns

• Check whether your landlord, mortgage lender or council allows you to run a business from home
• Insurance covering customers' items in your care, as well as public liability
• Safe storage and ventilation for polishes and solvents
• Agree what you will and won't treat, so you aren't blamed for damage to fragile or worn shoes

Startup costs are typically around £100 to £600, depending on the polishes, brushes and conditioners you buy and how you promote the service. These are estimates, so start with a basic kit.

Monthly revenue is typically around £150 to £900, depending on how many orders you take and how often you offer collection and return. These are estimates, and the low end assumes around 5 hours a week.

Check whether your landlord, mortgage lender or council allows a business at home. Also check insurance covering customers' items as well as public liability, safe storage and ventilation for polishes and solvents, and what you will treat.