Custom shop fixtures made in your own workshop

Independent retailers, cafés, restaurants, salons and offices wanting fixtures that fit their space, plus interior designers who outsource the making.

Fixed quotes per project covering materials, workshop time and installation. Repeat work from designers and small chains can smooth out income.

• Joinery and woodworking
• Using workshop machinery safely
• Drawing up simple designs or working from CAD plans
• Pricing jobs and managing materials

• Workshop lease terms, business rates and whether the unit's permitted use covers woodworking; check with the landlord and council
• Dust extraction, machine guarding and fire safety in the workshop; check Health and Safety Executive guidance
• Public liability and tools and contents insurance, plus employer's liability if you take on staff
• A van or access to delivery for bulky items
• Cash flow, since you pay for materials before the customer pays; ask for a deposit

Startup costs are typically around £8,000 to £35,000, depending on the workshop you rent, the machinery and tools you buy, and whether you need a van for delivery. These are estimates, so get real quotes.

Monthly revenue is typically around £3,000 to £12,000, depending on how many jobs you take, their size and what you charge. These are estimates, not guarantees, and revenue is not profit once materials are paid for.

Check the lease terms, business rates and whether the unit's permitted use covers woodworking. Also check dust extraction, machine guarding and fire safety against Health and Safety Executive guidance, plus public liability, tools and contents insurance, and employer's liability if you hire.