Small pool installation and refurbishment firm

Homeowners with gardens, plus small hotels, holiday parks and gyms with an existing pool.

Fixed-price quotes for each job, usually paid in stages, with a margin on materials and equipment. Repeat income can come from servicing and repair work for past customers.

• Building or groundwork trade experience
• Estimating and quoting jobs
• Managing people and subcontractors
• Clear communication with customers

• Public liability insurance, and employer's liability insurance once you take on staff
• Check whether planning permission or building regulations approval is needed for each job
• Electrical and gas work for heaters and pumps must be done by suitably qualified people, so check what is required
• Excavation, working at height and handling pool chemicals carry real safety risks, and CDM rules may apply, so check them
• Take stage payments and agree clear written contracts so that cash flow does not run short on materials
• Weather and seasonal demand can make work uneven across the year

Startup costs are typically around £8,000 to £30,000, depending on the tools and equipment you need, your vehicle, insurance and the size of crew you start with. These are estimates, not guarantees.

Monthly revenue is typically around £4,000 to £20,000, depending on the jobs you win, their size and how much work you subcontract. Weather and seasonal demand can make work uneven. This is an estimate of revenue, not profit.

Check whether planning permission or building regulations approval is needed for each job, and that electrical and gas work is done by suitably qualified people. Also check CDM rules, safety risks, and public and employer's liability insurance.