Used tyre shop with fitting bay

Budget-conscious motorists, taxi and delivery drivers, small garages and people needing a quick replacement.

Profit on each tyre sold plus a fitting and balancing charge, with extra from puncture repairs and valve replacements.

• Tyre fitting and machine use
• Spotting damage and judging tyre condition
• Customer service and pricing
• Stock management

• No specific trading licence is usually needed to sell part-worn tyres, but you must follow the safety rules (the Motor Vehicles Tyres (Safety) Regulations), which cover condition, inspection and marking. Check the current requirements with Trading Standards before you sell
• Public liability insurance, plus product liability cover for tyres you sell and fit
• Waste tyre disposal: use a licensed waste collector and keep the paperwork. If you plan to carry waste tyres yourself, check with the Environment Agency (or the equivalent body in Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland) whether you must register as a waste carrier
• Check that planning permission and your lease allow tyre fitting, and consider noise and fire safety
• Fitting needs training or proven experience, as mistakes can cause accidents

Typically around £8,000 to £35,000, depending on the unit, fitting equipment and stock. Monthly revenue is estimated at around £4,000 to £18,000, depending on how many tyres you sell and fit.

Check the Motor Vehicles Tyres (Safety) Regulations with Trading Standards before you sell, as they cover condition, inspection and marking. Also check waste tyre disposal through a licensed collector, whether you must register as a waste carrier, and that planning and your lease allow tyre fitting.

You need tyre fitting and machine use, the ability to spot damage and judge tyre condition, plus customer service, pricing and stock management. Fitting needs training or proven experience, and estimates suggest at least around 40 hours a week.