Specialist online news service
Cover one niche, such as farming or local property, and supply stories to trade titles and websites.
- £400-2k
- Side hustle
- Online
Estimates for a small start in the UK, not guarantees.
Official data
1,338 UK companies in this field, 34% registered in the last 2 years
SIC 63910 “News agency activities”. Source: Companies House, November 2026.
What it is
A niche news service run online from home. You track one subject you know well, produce original news reports and briefings, and supply them to publishers who cover that area but lack the staff.
Your first three steps
- Choose a niche you know and list the publishers and websites that cover it, noting gaps in their coverage
- Write a few sample stories and set up a simple site or newsletter to show your work
- Offer two or three outlets a trial of exclusive stories, then discuss a monthly arrangement if they like them
Who pays
Trade magazines, specialist websites, regional publishers and companies that want a regular news feed for their own channels.
How it makes money
Licence fees per story, monthly retainers for a set number of reports, or subscriptions for a regular briefing from you.
Skills that help
- Deep knowledge of one subject
- News writing and fact-checking
- Finding and approaching clients
- Reliable, regular output
Watch out for
- Accuracy and defamation risk, so keep notes on sources and check facts
- Media liability or professional indemnity insurance
- Contracts: agree who owns the stories and whether you can resell them to others
- Relying on one or two clients, which can leave income vulnerable
- Data protection if you keep subscriber or contact lists, so check ICO registration and rules
Deep research report · UK
Everything you need to start: specialist online news service
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 specialist news service?
Startup costs are typically around £400 to £2,000, depending on your website, software, insurance and how you find clients. These are estimates, and you can run the service from home.
What should I check before supplying news to publishers?
Check accuracy and defamation risk by keeping notes on sources and checking facts. Also check media liability or professional indemnity insurance, contracts on story ownership and resale, and data protection and ICO rules if you keep contact lists.
How much can a specialist news service earn?
Monthly revenue is typically around £500 to £2,500, depending on your clients, output and subject. Relying on one or two clients can leave income vulnerable, and you should allow at least around 15 hours a week.
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