Handmade wooden or fabric toy maker

Parents, grandparents and gift buyers, plus small independent gift shops and nurseries that want something different from mass-market toys.

You sell finished toys at a price that covers materials, your time and fees. Sales come from your own website, online marketplaces, craft fairs and wholesale orders from shops.

• Making things by hand (woodwork, sewing or similar)
• Product design with children in mind
• Photography and basic online selling
• Costing and pricing your time

• Toy safety law: toys sold in Great Britain must meet UK toy safety regulations, including testing and the correct markings. Check the current rules with Trading Standards or on GOV.UK
• Small parts, stuffing, paints and finishes need to be child-safe, and toys for under-3s have stricter requirements
• Product liability insurance, which is often required by marketplaces and shops
• Running a business from home may need permission from your landlord or mortgage lender. Check noise, dust and storage too
• Copying existing characters or designs can cause intellectual property problems, so keep your designs original

Estimates put startup costs typically around £500 to £3,500, depending on materials, tools, safety testing and how you sell. Product liability insurance is often required by marketplaces and shops, so check that cost too.

Check that toys meet UK toy safety regulations, including testing and correct markings, with Trading Standards or GOV.UK. Toys for under-3s have stricter requirements. Also check product liability insurance, and whether your landlord or mortgage lender allows a home business.

Estimates suggest monthly revenue typically around £200 to £2,500, depending on how many toys you make and where you sell them. Estimated time is around 8 hours a week or more, and revenue is not the same as profit.