Home ski tuning and repair

Holiday skiers, ski club members, dry slope and indoor snow centre users, and local ski or outdoor shops that don't do their own tuning.

Fixed price per job, such as a wax and edge tune, with extra charges for base repairs. Offering a pre-season service and a drop-off deal for clubs helps keep work steady.

• Practical, careful hand skills
• Knowing skis, edges and bases
• Patience and attention to detail
• Basic bookkeeping

• Public liability insurance, and check whether your home insurance covers business use
• Check with your landlord, mortgage lender or council whether running a workshop at home is allowed
• Binding adjustment carries safety risk, so be clear about what you will and won't do and consider product liability cover
• Wax fumes and fine dust, so plan for ventilation and storage of waxes and solvents
• Demand is seasonal, so plan your cash flow for the quiet summer months

Startup costs are typically estimated at around £800 to £3,500, depending on the tools, benches, waxes and edging equipment you buy, how much you already have, and your insurance.

Monthly revenue is typically estimated at around £200 to £1,500, depending on the season, how many customers you attract and your hours. Work is seasonal, so plan your cash flow for quieter summer months.

Check public liability insurance and whether home insurance covers business use. Check with your landlord, mortgage lender or council that a home workshop is allowed. Binding adjustment carries safety risk, so be clear what you will do and plan ventilation for wax fumes and dust.