The ongoing increase in expenses due to family expansion, recession, unemployment, changes in the labor market, and many other factors do exist in all big and small economies around the world and UK is no exception.
All these are unavoidable situations and the only way out a common man may have is to set up a side business and free company formation.
This article will focus on some of the best small business ideas that are popular yet profitable in the UK. These small business ideas either involve a very low cost or else these are no-cost businesses. Some of these are traditional ideas, while others are completely new business ideas that may attract venture investment for your startup if the idea of business is outstanding.
Before we proceed, I think it’s best to warn you of the danger of not using a VPNin managing your business. Leaking important information online does not only risk your strategy but can hurt your finances as well. Make sure you browse in privacy and encrypt your subscription using VPN.Sign up here.
Get the latest news, resources and tips to help you and your small business succeed.
Now, let’s look into your options of profitable business ideas you can start doing in the UK:

1-Sticker Shop
Stickers become popular among teenagers and custom stickers are favored by small business
owners. They love it and use it to show their personality or as a cost-effective promotional
strategy.
More designers can make and sell personalized stickers on Etsy and Shopify. Starting a sticker
shop online is a low-cost and affordable business idea. You needn’t have much money or room
for it.
Because you can make it at any moment at home or look for professional sticker
makers like CustomSticker.com. The second way will help you create your own stickers better
and faster.
2- Antiques Trade
You may do this business offline, but trading on websites like eBay will get you more buyers.
Before we discuss the next ideas, you might as well want to earn passively through survey apps like PrizeRebel, SurveyJunkie, and the like. Inviting your friends to join you in doing this fun will also give you some bucks for your business.
3- Babysitting
This is the best option if you can spare a few hours in the morning or evenings and know some working and busy parents desperate to have your service. The only problem with such work is public transport, which takes a lot of time, so the best advice for you is to hire a van for the period of work.
4- ElderCare
This will require almost the same skills that you need for babysitting. However, think differently and you can set up an elder’s cafe or something like this within your house where elders meet elders and have their own local social networking just like in old times. They will love it, their families and of course you too!
5-Bed and Breakfast
Ideally, if you’ve got a spare room, let it earn some extra pounds for you!
6- Paying Guest Service
The one above may not always be earning, so plan and get it done professionally. This is the best option if you live near tourist places or a student area.
7- Homemade Cupcakes:
Get some extra pounds if you love baking!
8- Custom Cakes
Do you love making and decorating cakes? Shooting pictures and sharing on Facebook! Just do it professionally and turn it into a business! You may also consider starting a home-based bakery.
9- Car Cleaning/Valeting
This could be a perfect side business if you are already employed in a similar sort of business. Starting it as a specialized business will however need you to focus fully on it. Van lease is also hitting the top. take a look at Crusader Vans. They’re expert lease manufactures that offer a range of leasing options on the best selling Ford vehicles.
10-Catering
You don’t need formal qualifications for such a business, it’s all about producing and delivering good food.
11- Computer Repairer/Troubleshooter
Everyone needs it everywhere, all you need to do is to market yourself in the target market segment. Managing IT for businesses has low startup costs, but can consume significant amounts of your time according toAscendant Technologies.
12- Cosmetics Sales
You may need a lot of time to meet people to sell stuff, but if you sell online, that can generate more sales in less time Amazon PPC.
13- Data Entry
Probably not for everyone, but yes for those students in the UK who want to do something and stay at home.
However, online activities can also pose security and privacy risks. That’s why you should be aware of thedanger of notusing a VPNin managing your business. Leaking important information online does not only risk your strategy but can hurt your finances as well. Make sure you browse in privacy and encrypt your subscription using VPN.Sign uphere.
14- Content Development
If you are good at writing, why not make it a business!SEO companies likeUK Web Geekz use the content for clientswith figures as high as 10000 words per client per week which takes a lot of writers to fulfill andthat’s just one SEO company amongst thousands.
15- Dinner Preparation
If you know about cooking multiple cuisines and know people who need your service, why not turn your skill into a proper business!
16- Office Food Delivery
Home-cooked food delivered in the office is a blessing for those poor souls who are tired of eating junk and unhealthy food on daily basis. Help them to help yourself!
17- Personal Shopper
There are a lot of people in all localities who do not have time to shop for groceries even. Find them and get your business.
18- Become A DJ
You make money with extreme fun. Isn’t it?
19- Event Organisation
Get some weddings and birthday parties done for your friends and distribute your business card there. You will get good business for sure!
If you happen to develop your own event organisation company, it can be worthwhile to think about effective methods of travel that are environmentally friendly. Fleet Evolution is a cost-neutral option for companies looking to reduce their carbon footprint through the use of electric cars.
20- Child Day Care
If you have a baby and you want to help new mothers, why not hire a few maids and set up your own daycare business. All you need to do is to do a short course with Britishdoulas.co.uk and work locally.
You must know some basic requirements for a daycare business and should also consider these things before starting your own childcare setup.
21- Everything 10 Pounds Online Gift Shop
It will need some investment, but you may avoid buying stuff if they are available in the market and you buy only when you get orders.
22- Flower Delivery Service
Hundreds of people have birthdays daily and tens of people want to wish them with flowers! Here are few tips to start a florist business.
23- Garage Sale Every Month/Week
You know what you can sell in your area and where to market your sale for more visitors!
24- House Cleaning Services
We all need a clean house, but not all of us can do it on our own for multiple reasons. Follow the residential cleaning business overview and know how to start a cleaning business from scratch.
25- Gardening Services
Everyone wishes to keep a garden, but maintaining it is not that easy. This is where you get the chance to do business! You can also hire a construction marketing agency to market and grow your gardening business.” Or if you are around the Bournemouth area, then take a look at https://www.comparethegardeners.com/areas-we-serve/gardeners-bournemouth. Compare the Gardeners is a great way to find local gardeners, simply post the job you need to do and wait for the quotes to roll in. Once you’ve got various quotes, you can hire a gardener to do the job for you!
26- Home Based Vegetable Garden
Produce fresh, sell fresh, and make new money!
27- Handmade Greeting Cards
Email, SMS, Facebook, and everything else are there, but people still treat their loved ones especially. This is just one such way!
28- Handyman Services
It’s not a big deal if you know the way around a toolbox! Here is the complete detail about the tools and equipment needed to start a handyman business.
29- Private Tutor
To start a tutoring business, all you need to have is the ability to make your students understand the concepts!
30- Teach English to Foreigners
Market your services in some areas populated by ex-pats and see how many people need you!
31- Ironing Service
People who have a high-end automatic washing machine still need a lot of time to iron clothes. Most of them hate it. Just pitch them and get your business!
32- Pick & Delivery Laundry Service
It’s not a new idea, but always in high demand. You will find the market everywhere! Do check this laundry business plan guide and prepare a foolproof business plan for your laundry business.
33- Costume Jewellery
Design your own, but no worries if you cannot. Buy from the market, keep your profit, and sell it! Or you can check affordable logo design.
34- Knitting
If you are an expert in this niche, why not sell your handmade stuff for the best price!
35- Alteration/Sewing Services
Everyone wears clothes and so they need these services. Define your own market and start your business today!
36- Leaflet Distributing
If you are a student or an employed individual with a lot of outdoor work, why not add this in the To-Dos. Help others to help yourself!
37- Market Research
You may join online surveys or even get in touch with the local research companies who pay you for your opinion.
38- Musical Performance
If music is your passion, why not perform at local events? You will get more audience and more business by putting your talent out there! Need a new piano or rent one? read more about the best pianos on the market at Broughton pianos. They stock the largest range of pianos in the whole of the Midlands area, and offer a variety of different finishes, sizes, and makes.
39- Virtual Assistant
If you spend a lot of time online, why not turn your fun time into a proper business.
40- Pet Grooming
All pet lovers want their pets to look fabulous, but of course, not all can do it on their own. To find such people and get your business!
41- Dog Walking
Animals love the outdoor and people who love their dogs but are not able to provide them the outdoor need your help! It’s a really good paying business!
42- Mobile Manicure/Pedicure Service:
Going to the parlor is not easy for all, especially those who are too busy with a lot of other works. It will work perfectly for them if you help them at home and they won’t bother to pay you extra as well.
43- At Home Hair Removal Service:
Waxing/Threading etc is tough stuff and if you provide it in a comfy place like their home, they will definitely love it and will pay extra too!
44- Niche Blogging:
Just write about your expertise, publish it, and get people on your blog. The money will come itself! Or Look for an SEO Consulting Company to do a collaboration with your Niche. Ignite SEO and Adam will definitely help you with your Niche Blogging especially if you have products and services to drive its traffic and sales.
45- Rent Your Parking Space
You own parking space but have no car or have extra parking? Rent it out for additional income!
46- Rent Out Your Stuff
People need your lawnmowers, yacht, and stuff like that. Make it your side business to stay profitable!
47- Amazon Books
Love reading books? Do it for money! Write book reviews and make money selling the books through Amazon’s affiliate program. You can even make things more attractive for people by offeringamazon books coupons.
48- Bid and Sell Lost Luggage
Auction houses from around the country routinely auction the lost luggage that the airlines have failed to match with their owners. All you need to do is to bid, buy, and sell stuff either in a local garage sale or on eBay. Profit depends on what’s in the bag!
49- Translation Service
If you are an expert in a second language, translation services are in high demand in the UK. Most of the offshore companies in the UK and especially those which have European headquarters in the UK need translation services for localized content and construction marketing material.
50- Modeling
If you look model-like or can turn yourself into a model-like a look with makeup and style, you can make good money with ads, photoshoots, or appearances at the events.
51- Website Designing & Development
It’s probably one of the highly demanded services as every business needs a website. If you have expertise in this niche, it can be a highly earning full-time business!
52- Photographer
Become a wedding or social photographer for some family or friends’ function and see how much the demand! Everyone wants a beautiful picture of them that’s what only you can deliver to them! Here is a detailed article on how to start a photography business with no money. And if you want to start offering video services, you can use tools likewedding video templatesto make your life easier.
53-Wedding Planner
Do it for a friend first to see your potential and you will find a lot of customers if you can do this well! You may find this article about naming a wedding planner business interesting.
These are just a few ideas and you may bring any innovation on your own. However, many of these businesses will require you to have licenses and permits from local bodies to start operations. Check KYC solutions. They can help you run and enhance your business with the best and vital support that you need such as facial biometrics and Customer Monitoring.
54 – Electrician
If you are a skilled electrician then you may want to consider creating your own business and servicing your local and surrounding areas. Did you know the average hourly rate to hire an electrician in Coventry is around £30.00 – £60.00, the daily rate of £250.00 – £490.00 and if you are looking to charge for emergency call-out services, you can charge in the region of £50.00 – £90.00 throughout the UK.
Do check out these guidelines to get your sole trader business registered in the UK or else if you have a partner, registering a partnership business in the UK will be a better idea. You may also consider starting a home-based bakery. While the initial start-up costs may be expensive, LoanMart is here to help!
FAQs
What is the most profitable small business in UK? ›
- Start a dropshipping business.
- Design and sell print-on-demand t-shirts.
- Launch your own book.
- Create digital products or online courses.
- Sell print-on-demand posters, greeting cards, and prints.
- Start a charitable business.
- Sell a service.
- Create an online fashion boutique.
- Website consultant. These days it's rare for a business not to have a website. ...
- Upholstery/furniture repair. ...
- Medical billing. ...
- Herb farming. ...
- Voice over. ...
- Babysitting. ...
- Bed & breakfast. ...
- Car cleaning.
- Photographer.
- Senior Home Care Aid.
- Personal Trainer.
- Author/Writer.
- Virtual Assistant.
- Auto Detailer.
- Consultant.
- Social Media Manager.
- Banks in the UK. $23.0B.
- Construction Contractors in the UK. $14.4B.
- Legal Activities in the UK. $12.9B.
- Management Consultants in the UK. ...
- Computer Consultants in the UK. ...
- New Car & Light Motor Vehicle Dealers in the UK. ...
- Building Project Development in the UK. ...
- Supermarkets in the UK.
- Sell custom products.
- Create a print-on-demand business.
- Make a subscription box.
- Sell on marketplaces.
- Sell digital products.
- Sell your creative work.
- Monetize an audience.
- Become a freelancer.
Yes. It may come as a surprise, but anyone of any nationality can start a business in the UK. You don't need residential status or even to be living in the country. The only stipulation is that the company must be registered to a UK address.
What business will never fail? ›Industries that will never go away are those that cater to basic human needs and thus have continued high demand. Food is considered one of the safest industries for investment and is comprised of diverse sectors including agriculture, ranching, processing, preservation, preparation, and packaging.
What is the fastest growing business in the UK? ›Edinburgh-based property developer Shawfair was the fastest growing company in the UK between 2020 and 2021, according to Beauhurst. This was out of 45,000 businesses tracked by the company.
What cheap business can I start? ›- Content creation. ...
- Personal or virtual assistant. ...
- Event planning services. ...
- Errand/concierge service. ...
- Professional reviewer. ...
- Social media consultant. ...
- Etsy shop. ...
- Online courses and tutoring.
- Yard work. People with 9-to-5 jobs don't always want to spend their weekends doing yard work. ...
- Software training. ...
- Homemade soap making. ...
- Errand service. ...
- Social media management. ...
- Freelance services. ...
- Selling on eBay. ...
- Pet sitting.
What can I make and sell from home UK? ›
- Bath bombs and handmade soaps.
- T-shirts and printed merchandise.
- Jewelry.
- Curated gift and subscription boxes.
- Candles.
- Sweets.
- Art and prints.
- Digital products.
- Financial Services.
- Eldercare.
- Business Consultancy.
- Investment Firm.
- Education and Training Service.
- Insurtech.
- Cleaning Business.
- Healthcare Consultancy.
- Personal Trainer. ...
- Mobile Notary Public. ...
- Senior Home Care Aid (Non-Medical) ...
- Holiday Decorator. ...
- Transcriptionist. ...
- Start a Small Rental Business. ...
- Home Repair Business. ...
- Sell Goods Online.
Freelancing or Consulting. The #1 quickest way to bring in revenue immediately is to start freelancing or consulting. Whatever you want to call it, whether it's a one-person operation or a budding agency, this simply means that you are selling a service rather than a product. There are no startup costs, and no overhead ...
What makes the most money in the UK? ›- Chief Executives and Senior Officials – £79,835.
- Marketing, Sales and Advertising Directors – £77,695.
- Information Technology Directors – £73,571.
- Specialist Medical Practitioners – £68,614.
- Headteachers and Principals – £66,686.
- Public Relations and Communications Directors – £66,510.
Company | Sector | |
---|---|---|
1 | AstraZeneca (AZN) | Pharmaceuticals |
2 | Shell (SHEL) | Oil and gas |
3 | HSBC (HSBA) | Finance |
4 | Unilever (ULVR) | Consumer goods |
- Be a Tutor: If you're good at a certain subject, offer your services as a tutor. ...
- Start your own Blog: ...
- Offer Freelance Services: ...
- Affiliate Marketing: ...
- Open a Consultancy Agency: ...
- Become a Copywriter:
- Clothing.
- Food.
- Books.
- Home essentials.
- Mobile phone.
- Games & Toys.
- Beauty items.
- Personal care.
- Sell your own private label products on Amazon. ...
- Publish your own books on Kindle Direct Publishing. ...
- Sell wholesale goods on Amazon. ...
- Deliver goods for Amazon. ...
- Become a blogger. ...
- Become an Amazon Influencer. ...
- Flip store-bought products with retail arbitrage. ...
- Flip online retail store products using online arbitrage.
As the US has a social security Totalisation Agreement with the UK, as a self-employed business in the UK you will not have to pay US taxes. Whatever the net self-employment income is, it is exempt from the US self-employment tax.
Can a foreigner open a UK company? ›
Yes, a non-resident can form a UK company as you are not required to be a UK resident to register a limited company with Companies House. The only thing you need to register a UK company is a UK-registered office address, which can be a friend or family member's address or a virtual office address .
Can I start a business in USA from UK? ›There are no legal restrictions on non-residents setting up a business entity in the USA. Your UK tax status stays the same even if your company is formed in the US.
What business has the least risk? ›- Affiliate Marketing. ...
- Freelance Writing. ...
- Consulting. ...
- Career Coaching. ...
- Dropshipping. ...
- Social Media Marketing. ...
- Organization-Based Businesses.
- Avoid making decisions by committee. ...
- Avoid being "the idea-a-day guy" ...
- Avoid breaking the law. ...
- Avoid the hot and cold emotional outbursts. ...
- Know when to relax.
1. Corporate Travel Services in the UK. Operators in the Corporate Travel Services industry provide travel services for employers and employees who are travelling for business purposes. Industry revenue is expected to decline year-on-year over the five years through 2022-23.
Which sectors are booming in UK? ›UK food and drink is a sector on the rise, being worth £112 billion as of 2021 and growing 4.2% in a year. As food is a necessity, it's also one of the most recession-proof industries to buy into. Food and drink manufacturers that can quickly adapt to changing consumer trends enjoy particular success.
What business has the highest profit margin UK? ›- Electricity Distribution in the UK. ...
- Gas Distribution in the UK. ...
- Commercial Real Estate Agents in the UK. ...
- Chemical & Fertiliser Mineral Mining in the UK. ...
- Open-Ended Investment Company Activities in the UK. ...
- Legal Activities in the UK. ...
- Search Engines in the UK.
- Make a business plan.
- Secure funding.
- Surround yourself with the right people.
- Follow the right legal procedures.
- Establish a location.
- Develop a marketing plan.
- Build your customer base.
- Plan to change.
- Be the head chef of your own food truck. ...
- Become a virtual interior designer and sell home decor products. ...
- Start a dog-walking and pet-sitting business. ...
- Become a virtual teacher and sell memberships to an online course.
- Virtual assistant. If you're handy with a computer, then being a virtual assistant is an excellent way to make extra money. ...
- Become a companion. ...
- Pet sitting. ...
- Freelance services. ...
- Delivery driver. ...
- Social media management. ...
- Transcription. ...
- Work at local events.
What homemade items sell fast? ›
- Bath bombs and handmade soaps.
- T-shirts and printed merchandise.
- Jewelry.
- Curated gift and subscription boxes.
- Candles.
- Sweets.
- Art and prints.
- Digital products.
- Handmade Jewelry. You can create your own handmade jewelry as simply as stringing together some beads on a wire to design your own bracelets or necklaces. ...
- Soap. ...
- T-shirts. ...
- Subscription Boxes. ...
- Pet Products. ...
- Wall Art. ...
- Tote Bags. ...
- Wooden Toys.
- Electricity Distribution in the UK. ...
- Gas Distribution in the UK. ...
- Commercial Real Estate Agents in the UK. ...
- Chemical & Fertiliser Mineral Mining in the UK. ...
- Open-Ended Investment Company Activities in the UK. ...
- Legal Activities in the UK. ...
- Search Engines in the UK.
- Business Consulting. If you're an expert in your industry and have been working at it for years, you should consider consulting. ...
- IT Support, Technology Consulting, and Repair. ...
- Cleaning Services. ...
- Accounting and Tax Preparation. ...
- Auto Repair. ...
- Real Estate.
The UK's economy is dominated by services industries. These include retail, hospitality, professional services, business administration and finance. In 2021, services industries contributed £1.7 trillion in Gross Value Added (GVA) to the UK economy, 80% of total UK GVA.
What do the majority of UK businesses do? ›Large businesses accounted for 39% of employment and 49% of turnover. At the start of 2022: the sector with the most large businesses was Manufacturing (1,200), followed by Wholesale and Retail (1,100), and Administrative and Support Service Activities (1,100)
What is the average profit of a small business UK? ›The median profit of SMEs in the UK in 2021 was approximately £11,000, with SMEs in the property and business services and the wholesale and retail sectors having the highest average profit (£13,000). In contrast, the health and social work sector made the least average profit in 2021 at £9,000.
What is the easiest business to start? ›- Yard work. People with 9-to-5 jobs don't always want to spend their weekends doing yard work. ...
- Software training. ...
- Homemade soap making. ...
- Errand service. ...
- Social media management. ...
- Freelance services. ...
- Selling on eBay. ...
- Pet sitting.
- Food. Food is required for life and this means demand will always be high. ...
- Pharmaceutical. The pharmaceutical industry has experienced impressive growth globally. ...
- Healthcare. ...
- Education. ...
- Sin Industry. ...
- 6. Entertainment and Media. ...
- Professional Services.
- Digital consulting. Since most businesses still operate like it's 1975, digital savvy professionals have a near unlimited amount of potential clients they can help. ...
- Online course creation. ...
- An online store. ...
- Dropshipping. ...
- Freelance writing. ...
- Delivery. ...
- Repairs. ...
- Freelance graphic design.
What small companies grow fast? ›
S.No. | Name | P/E |
---|---|---|
1. | Thirumalai Chem. | 10.23 |
2. | GNA Axles | 17.04 |
3. | Stylam Industrie | 22.23 |
4. | Rupa & Co | 21.90 |
- Global Airport Operation. 16.2%
- Global Hotels & Resorts. 11.8%
- Global Travel Agency Services. 11.8%
- Global Tourism. 10.8%
- Global Airlines. 7.7%
- Global Reinsurance Carriers. 6.8%
- Global Commercial Aircraft Manufacturing. 6.3%
- Global Architectural Services. 6.2%
The answer may surprise you: it's finance. In fact, according to Forbes magazine, finance is responsible for creating more millionaires than any other industry in the US.
Which industry will boom in future? ›- 5G Security. ...
- Virtual Reality Gaming. ...
- Virtualization Software. ...
- Digital Education. ...
- Healthcare Predictive Analytics. ...
- Cannabis Edibles. ...
- E-commerce Logistics. ...
- Solar Energy Solutions.
Four in five (83%) UK SMEs are struggling to plan beyond 2023, according to data, released today by VistaPrint.