Taxidermy studio and commissions

Collectors, country estates, museums and heritage organisations, hotels and restaurants, interior designers and film or photography props buyers.

Commission fees per piece, restoration and repair work, and optionally paid workshops for beginners. Larger pieces and museum-style work command higher prices.

• Advanced taxidermy and restoration technique
• Quoting and managing commissions
• Marketing your work with good photography

• Wildlife law on protected species and wild birds: check what registration or paperwork you need before selling
• CITES rules for any imported or listed species, check with the relevant government body
• Animal by-product, trade waste and chemical storage rules, check with your council
• Business rates, planning use class and lease terms for the unit
• Public liability insurance, plus employer's liability if you take on staff
• Income can be uneven and seasonal, so keep some cash in reserve

Startup costs are typically around £4,000 to £15,000, depending on the unit, lease terms, equipment, materials and insurance. Treat this as an estimate and price up your own workshop needs before committing to rent.

Monthly revenue is typically estimated at around £2,000 to £8,000, depending on the commissions you win, how complex the pieces are and your pricing. Income can be uneven and seasonal, so keep some cash in reserve.

Check wildlife law on protected species and wild birds, and what registration or paperwork you need before selling. Also check CITES rules for imported species, waste and chemical storage rules, business rates, planning use class and lease terms.