Home workshop mower and engine repairs

Local householders, gardeners, small landscaping firms and neighbours who want an alternative to the shop or garden centre.

Fixed service prices, hourly labour on repairs, and a margin on parts. Spring and autumn service seasons are usually the busiest.

• Mechanical aptitude with small petrol engines
• Patience with fault-finding
• Keeping tidy records and job tickets

• Check with your landlord, mortgage lender or council whether running a workshop from home is allowed, including noise and customer visits
• Check your home insurance still covers business use, and arrange public liability insurance
• Fuel, oil and fire risk: store petrol safely and have extinguishers to hand
• Used oil and old parts need proper disposal, so check local rules

Startup costs are typically around £800 to £3,500, depending on your tools, workbench, parts stock and safety equipment such as extinguishers. What you already own in a garage or shed will affect where you land in this estimate.

Monthly revenue is typically around £300 to £2,000, depending on how many items you service and repair and how you handle drop-off or collection. The estimate starts from about 6 hours a week, so it can start part-time.

Check with your landlord, mortgage lender or council whether a home workshop is allowed, including noise and customer visits. Also check that home insurance covers business use, arrange public liability insurance, store petrol safely and check local rules for used oil disposal.