Online string shop with home workshop

Parents of children starting lessons, adult learners, music teachers and local schools or music services that need instruments in bulk.

Profit on instrument and accessory sales, monthly rental fees (often with an option to buy), and charges for repairs and set-ups.

• Knowledge of string instruments, ideally as a player
• Practical, careful repair work
• Friendly with beginners and parents
• Basic online selling and photography

• Check whether you need permission from your landlord, mortgage lender or council to trade from home
• Stock and rental instruments need insurance, as do customers' instruments in your care. Ask a broker about this and public liability cover
• Online sales come with consumer rights, such as return and cancellation rules. Check what applies to your shop and your rentals
• Some bow woods and older instruments have export and import rules. Check before shipping abroad
• Rented instruments can be damaged or not returned. Use a clear contract and consider a deposit
• Poor repairs can damage valuable instruments, so only take on work you are trained to do

Estimated startup costs are typically around £3,000 to £12,000, depending on how much stock, how many rental instruments and what workshop tools you buy. Treat it as an estimate and build your own budget.

Monthly revenue is typically estimated at around £800 to £4,000, depending on sales, rentals and repair work. The estimate assumes at least about 10 hours a week, so earnings vary with your time and stock.

Check whether your landlord, mortgage lender or council needs to agree to trading from home. Also check insurance for stock, rentals and customers' instruments, online consumer rights such as returns and cancellations, and export rules for some bow woods and older instruments.