Starting a trades business? Step-by-step guides for electricians, plumbers, builders and more — from registration to your first job.
UK homeowners are increasingly choosing local independent tradespeople over large national companies – and the reasons are practical, not sentimental. This matters for every self-employed tradesperson: understanding why customers choose you over a national operator tells you exactly what to emphasise in your marketing. The Trust Deficit of Large Companies Large trades companies and national…
Google reviews are the most powerful free marketing tool available to a tradesperson. More than a website. More than a Checkatrade profile. More than any paid advertisement. And the majority of tradespeople use them almost by accident – waiting passively for reviews to appear rather than actively building a review strategy. This guide covers why…
Understanding what UK homeowners are spending money on in 2026 is commercially valuable for any tradesperson – it tells you where demand is strongest, which services to promote, and where to focus your marketing. Here is what the data and market signals tell us. Energy Efficiency: The Biggest Growth Category Energy costs have permanently recalibrated…
Choosing between domestic, commercial, and industrial work is one of the most important strategic decisions for any trades business – and the right answer depends on your trade, qualifications, personal preferences, and how you want to grow. This guide breaks down the real differences across all three sectors. Domestic Work: High Volume, Strong Relationships, Competitive…
The types of building work booming in the UK right now in 2026 cluster around three themes: energy transition, housing stock maintenance, and lifestyle improvements. Understanding which segments are growing fastest helps tradespeople position their services for maximum demand. Energy Transition Work: The Fastest-Growing Segment The shift away from fossil fuel heating and towards electric…
Most tradespeople who go self-employed wish they’d done it sooner. The ones who hesitate usually aren’t held back by skill – they’re held back by not knowing the practical steps. What do I register? What insurance do I need? When do I tell HMRC? What about VAT? This is the checklist that answers all of…
Is 2026 a good year to start a trades business in the UK? Based on the current market, yes – but the picture varies significantly by trade and region. Demand for skilled tradespeople consistently outstrips supply, wage growth is real, and consumers are still spending on home improvements. At the same time, material costs and…
The hardest part of going self-employed isn’t the work – it’s filling the diary. Most tradespeople who strike out on their own are excellent at the job. The skills that got them through their apprenticeship aren’t the problem. The problem is that nobody told them how to find work. Here’s the truth: your first 20…