Start a turf delivery and supply service

Landscape gardeners, small builders, groundworks firms, garden designers and homeowners laying or replacing lawns.

You sell by the square metre or per pallet at a mark-up on what the grower charges, plus a delivery charge. Repeat trade customers such as landscapers are the steadiest source of orders.

• Reliable driving and delivery
• Comfortable with heavy physical work
• Good at planning orders around the weather
• Building trade relationships

• Turf is a living product and spoils if left rolled up, so check how quickly it must be laid and plan deliveries tightly
• Check vehicle weight limits and whether your driving licence covers the vehicle you plan to use
• Public liability, goods in transit and motor trade or business use insurance
• Weather and seasonal swings in demand can make income uneven
• Check with your landlord, mortgage lender or council if you plan to run the office from home or store anything there

Startup costs are typically around £1,500 to £8,000, depending on the vehicle, equipment and set-up you choose. This is an estimate, so price up your own plan before you commit to buying anything.

Monthly revenue is typically around £1,500 to £7,500, depending on how many orders you deliver and what you charge. These are estimates, and revenue is not profit. Weather and seasonal demand can make income uneven.

Check how quickly turf must be laid, as it spoils if left rolled up. Also check vehicle weight limits and whether your driving licence covers your vehicle, plus insurance such as public liability and goods in transit.