Start a statuary and garden ornament yard

Local homeowners, landscapers, garden designers and people buying for memorials, weddings or gifts.

Margin on each piece sold, plus delivery and placement charges. Trade accounts with landscapers can add steady repeat orders.

• Retail and selling
• Buying and stock control
• Safe handling of heavy items
• Building relationships with trade customers

• Public liability and stock insurance, and employer's liability if you hire
• Safe lifting of heavy stone, so check manual handling training and equipment
• Check planning permission and use class for the site with your council
• Business rates and lease terms, check these before signing
• Stock tied up in slow-selling pieces, so start with a small range

Startup costs are typically around £8,000 to £40,000, depending on the site, stock levels and delivery equipment. Monthly revenue is typically estimated at £3,000 to £15,000, depending on location and range. A small starting range limits money tied up in slow sellers.

Things to check: planning permission and use class for the site with your council, business rates and lease terms before signing, public liability and stock insurance (plus employer's liability if you hire), and manual handling training and equipment for heavy stone.

Estimates suggest at least 30 hours a week. Useful skills include retail selling, buying and stock control, safe handling of heavy items and building relationships with trade customers such as landscapers and garden designers.