Being your own boss allows you to determine the type of work you do, get paid directly by customers, and set your hours.
If that’s something you want to pursue but you’re lacking inspiration, we’ve compiled a list of the best self-employment ideas in the UK.
Let’s dive in.
Top 15 Self-Employment Job Ideas
- Dog walking
If you are an active person who loves dogs, dog walking might be right up your street. Dog walkers typically charge around £10 per dog walk or more in urban areas with low competition. However, you should check with your local council if there is a limit to the number of dogs you can walk at the same time and whether you’ll need a dog walking licence.
- House sitting
House sitters can live rent-free and house sit anywhere in the world. Most homeowners hire house sitters to look after pets or plants, collect mail, clean, and ward off potential break-ins. With the rates ranging between £50 and £200+ a day, house sitting can be a legitimate full-time business.
- Cleaning
Cleaning is one of the easiest businesses to start and scale. The upfront capital costs are low as it only requires some basic cleaning tools and insurance. However, the cleaning market is very competitive, so it’s important to adjust your prices and create a good marketing strategy.
- Antiques dealing
Antique dealing is the ideal business for people who enjoy hunting down and selling vintage items. It’s one of the good self-employed jobs because doesn’t require any special training, but you should be able to recognize which antiques are valuable and have a good understanding of market prices. The good news is you can set the rates, but they largely depend on how you sell your items – whether it’s online or via auctions or market stalls.
- Photography
Photography is something that many people do in their free time as a hobby so if you have a knack for detail and a creative flair, you might be able to turn it into a profitable business. The market is competitive and you’ll need a decent camera and knowledge of editing software. However, if you manage to build a good portfolio, you can make around £22,220 a year.
- Virtual assistant
If you’re looking for self-employed ideas you can do from home, you might want to consider becoming a virtual assistant. The role requires excellent managerial and communication skills and is extremely versatile. Virtual assistants offer a plethora of services from content creation and data entry to social media marketing and email management and earn on average of £11.41 per hour.
- Tutoring
Tutoring can be a profitable side hustle for people who are looking for more rewarding ideas for self-employment in the UK. It’s a great opportunity to make a difference in a student’s life and dive into your favourite subject areas, provided that you already have a good understanding of them and solid qualifications.
What’s more, tutoring is flexible. You can choose how many sessions you have and hold classes online or in person. What’s more, private tutors earn between £20 and £40 per hour.
- Personal trainer
If you enjoy working out, you can potentially turn your passion into a full-time job. Personal trainers help people reach their fitness goals and lead healthier lives by creating food and workout plans tailored to their client’s needs.
Personal trainers need to complete professional training and education. Becoming a personal trainer is one of the top self-employed business ideas for UK residents because they can create their own schedules, choose the clients they want to work with, and get paid directly.
- Handyperson
Starting a business as a handyperson could be the right choice for anyone skilled in repairing things around the home. Handyperson’s tasks may include anything from putting up shelves and tiling to gardening and decorating. To get started as a handyperson, you’ll need insurance, a wide range of tools, and a vehicle to transport your equipment.
- Writing
Writing is one of the most lucrative ideas for self-employment you can do at home. Writers can work across several different industries and work on blogs, websites, copy, and ebooks. Some of the prerequisites for writers are language proficiency, solid writing skills and excellent knowledge of grammar and tone. If you have a way with words, you can potentially turn writing into a six-figure income.
- Counselling
If you’re a good listener who enjoys helping others, you might want to consider becoming a counsellor. Counsellors work one-on-one or in groups with clients to help them work through their issues in a safe environment, including family difficulties, trauma caused by a specific event, or work-related problems.
- Event coordinator
Event coordinator is a great side hustle that can be highly profitable as both individuals and companies are willing to pay a lot for a top-notch party– event coordinators typically earn around £22,540 a year.
To become an event coordinator, you need to be creative and organised, and have excellent communication skills.
- Bookkeeping
Bookkeeping is a great career choice for someone with strong maths skills and attention to detail.
Bookkeepers are responsible for tracking the financial transactions of a business, recording expenses and income, and preparing financial statements. They are currently high in demand and depending on experience and level of expertise, bookkeepers can earn between £18,000 and £50,000 per year.
- Gardening
A gardening job comes with a lot of perks. They can offer their services to local businesses and homeowners, have minimal capital costs and don’t have to work on the weekends or holidays.
With the right toolset, a good understanding of plants and gardens, and insurance, there is plenty of potential for growth in the market.
- Social media manager
Social media managers are highly sought-after and well-paid in today’s digital business world.
They are responsible for creating and managing a company’s social media accounts. This could include creating posts, responding to comments, and monitoring feedback. A social media manager must have a good understanding of the different social media platforms and how to use them effectively.
Bottom Line
If you’re considering changing careers, starting your own business, or looking for a more flexible and remote job, there are plenty of lucrative self-employment ideas for UK residents to choose from, both online and offline. From dog walking and gardening to writing and tutoring, there’s something for everyone, regardless of interest and skill set.
Bojana is my name and writing is my game. I am a content writer from Bitola who is always interested in the latest research in almost all areas of life. I have a Bachelor’s degree in English literature and a perfectionist character, both of which help me find the most accurate data and information available. Although I have my head stuck in studies and reports most of the time, I still have a bit of free time during which I enjoy knitting and watching classic 90’s Disney movies.