Smart home installer
Fit and set up smart lighting, heating controls and cameras in homes near you.
- £500-3k
- Side hustle
- Out and about
Estimates for a small start in the UK, not guarantees.
Official data
56,313 UK companies in this field, 24% registered in the last 2 years
SIC 43210 “Electrical installation”. Source: Companies House, November 2026.
What it is
Visiting homes to install and configure smart bulbs and switches, smart thermostats, video doorbells, cameras and sensors, then showing the owner how to use them.
Your first three steps
- Choose two or three popular smart home systems to specialise in and learn them well by setting up a demo kit at home
- Work out a price list for common jobs such as smart thermostat, video doorbell and lighting setups
- Offer discounted first installs to friends, neighbours and local landlords in return for reviews and photos
Who pays
Homeowners, landlords and busy families who want smart devices working properly but do not want to do it themselves.
How it makes money
A fixed price or day rate per installation, plus a margin on equipment if you supply it. Repeat work comes from referrals and add-ons.
Skills that help
- Comfortable with home wifi and apps
- Basic DIY and tidy, careful work
- Clear explaining to non-technical customers
Watch out for
- Fixed electrical work and some heating work may need a qualified electrician or Gas Safe engineer, and may be covered by Building Regulations. Check what you can do yourself
- Public liability insurance, and consider professional indemnity cover
- Handling customers' camera footage and wifi details, so check your data protection responsibilities with the ICO
- Manufacturers change apps and devices, so keep up your learning and agree what support you offer after install
Deep research report · UK
Everything you need to start: smart home installer
Researched with live web search for United Kingdom: real startup prices, the licences and rules, what others charge, a break-even example, how to find your first customers and a 30-day launch plan. With sources.
- Startup costs with real prices
- Licences, registration and rules
- Pricing: what others charge
- Break-even example
- Finding your first customers
- 30-day launch plan
- Risks and how to reduce them
Questions people ask
How much does it cost to start a smart home installation business?
Startup costs are typically around £500 to £3,000, depending on your tools, demo devices, insurance and how you find customers. These are estimates for a mobile installer, so start with the devices you plan to install most.
Do I need to be an electrician to install smart home devices?
Check what you can do yourself. Fixed electrical work and some heating work may need a qualified electrician or Gas Safe engineer, and may be covered by Building Regulations. Also check insurance and your data protection responsibilities with the ICO.
How much can a smart home installer earn?
Monthly revenue is typically around £600 to £4,000, depending on how many installs you book and your prices. The estimate assumes at least about 8 hours a week. Keep learning, as manufacturers change apps and devices.
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Photo: geralt on Pixabay