Start an office water cooler rental and servicing business
Rent plumbed-in water coolers to small offices and look after them with regular servicing visits.
- £2k-8k
- Part-time
- Out and about
Estimates for a small start in the UK, not guarantees.
Official data
7,895 UK companies in this field, 21% registered in the last 2 years
SIC 77390 “Renting and leasing of other machinery, equipment and tangible goods n.e.c.”. Source: Companies House, November 2026.
What it is
You supply, install and service mains-fed water coolers in small offices, workshops and surgeries. Many suppliers buy coolers from a wholesaler and rent them on a monthly contract, with regular sanitising visits.
Your first three steps
- Compare wholesalers and cooler models, and price a typical monthly rental
- Practise installing and sanitising a cooler, then write a simple service checklist and contract
- Visit local offices and workshops with a quote and offer a free site survey
Who pays
Small and medium offices, workshops, gyms, clinics and other workplaces that want fresh chilled water without bottle deliveries.
How it makes money
Monthly rental fee per cooler on a fixed-term contract, plus charges for installation, filter changes and sanitising visits.
Skills that help
- Basic plumbing and practical confidence
- Selling to local businesses
- Reliable, organised servicing schedule
Watch out for
- Public liability and product liability insurance, check what your insurer needs for installed equipment
- Hygiene and water fitting rules for drinking water, check requirements for approved fittings and sanitising records
- Landlord or building owner permission before connecting to the water supply
- Contract length and what happens if a cooler breaks, so you do not take on unpaid repair costs
- Cash flow, because you pay for the coolers up front and are repaid over months
Deep research report · UK
Everything you need to start: office water cooler rental and servicing
Researched with live web search for United Kingdom: real startup prices, the licences and rules, what others charge, a break-even example, how to find your first customers and a 30-day launch plan. With sources.
- Startup costs with real prices
- Licences, registration and rules
- Pricing: what others charge
- Break-even example
- Finding your first customers
- 30-day launch plan
- Risks and how to reduce them
Questions people ask
How much does it cost to start a water cooler rental business?
Startup costs are estimated at typically around £2,000 to £8,000, depending on how many coolers you buy and your insurance. You pay for coolers up front and are repaid over months, so cash flow needs planning.
How much can a water cooler rental business earn?
Monthly revenue is estimated at typically around £800 to £4,000, depending on how many coolers you rent out and your contract terms. Check what happens if a cooler breaks so you do not carry unpaid repair costs.
What rules should I check before installing water coolers?
Check public liability and product liability insurance requirements for installed equipment. Also check hygiene and water fitting rules, including approved fittings and sanitising records, and get landlord or building owner permission before connecting to the water supply.
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