Private wine storage in a small unit

Private collectors without a cellar, people in flats, small restaurants and wine clubs wanting extra space near them.

A regular storage fee per case or per locker, usually billed monthly or yearly. Extras can include inventory lists, deliveries and access by appointment.

• Organised and careful with stock records
• Customer service
• Basic knowledge of how wine should be stored

• Insurance for customers' stock, as well as public liability; check what cover you need and who pays
• Climate control failure could ruin stock, so consider monitoring and alarms
• Check the lease, planning use class and fire safety rules for the premises with your landlord and council
• Storing duty-paid wine is simpler than bonded storage, but check with HMRC if customers ask for duty-suspended storage
• Write clear terms covering liability, unpaid fees and what happens to abandoned stock

Startup costs are typically around £8,000 to £30,000, depending on the unit, racking and climate control you choose. Monthly revenue is estimated at around £400 to £2,000, depending on how much space you rent out and your pricing.

Check insurance for customers' stock and public liability, and who pays for cover. Check the lease, planning use class and fire safety rules with your landlord and council. Check with HMRC if customers want duty-suspended storage, and write clear terms on liability and unpaid fees.

You need to be organised and careful with stock records, good at customer service, and aware of how wine should be stored. Estimates suggest at least around 8 hours a week, depending on how many customers you have.