Small stone pieces and lettering from home

Homeowners, gift buyers, pet owners wanting memorials, and visitors to craft fairs and markets.

Fixed prices for standard items and quoted prices for personalised commissions, sold through an online shop, social media and craft fairs.

• Basic carving and lettering
• Design and layout
• Photography for online listings
• Customer service

• Stone dust: work outdoors or with proper extraction and a suitable mask, and check HSE guidance
• Check whether your landlord, mortgage lender or council needs to agree to a home workshop, and consider noise for neighbours
• Public liability insurance for craft fairs, which organisers often ask for
• Register as a sole trader with HMRC once you start trading, and keep records of sales
• Online sales have consumer rules on returns for non-personalised items, so check the current guidance

Startup costs are typically around £300 to £2,000, depending on your hand tools, stone or slate, dust protection and any craft fair or online listing costs. Starting with softer stone and a few designs keeps spending low.

Monthly revenue is typically around £100 to £800, depending on what you make, your prices and how often you sell at fairs or online. It suits a few hours at weekends rather than full-time income.

Check stone dust safety with HSE guidance, and whether your landlord, mortgage lender or council needs to agree to a home workshop. Also check public liability insurance for craft fairs, HMRC sole trader registration and consumer return rules.