Starting a trades business? Step-by-step guides for electricians, plumbers, builders and more — from registration to your first job.
If you want to know how to start a roofing business in the UK, you’re entering one of the most in-demand trades in the country. Qualified roofers are consistently short supply, roofing work is weather-resistant in terms of demand (homeowners can’t ignore a leaking roof), and a well-run roofing business can generate significant income within…
Marketing a solar business is different from marketing most trades. Solar is a high-value, considered purchase – customers research extensively before deciding, and the sales cycle is weeks, not days. Your marketing needs to match that behaviour: build visibility, build credibility, and convert leads efficiently at every stage of the funnel. Understand the Solar Customer…
How long it takes to become a plasterer depends on the route you take – but most people are competently plastering within 2-3 years via a formal route, or sooner via intensive training. This guide breaks down the realistic timescales for every pathway to becoming a qualified plasterer in the UK. How Long Does It…
Plastering qualifications in the USA are not a single national standard — they’re a state-by-state patchwork, unlike the UK’s straightforward “no licence required” position. In some states, plaster and stucco work falls under a dedicated trade license. In others, it’s bundled into a general contractor license once you cross a job-value threshold. In a handful…
DNO notification is one of the most commonly misunderstood aspects of solar installation – and getting it wrong can leave your customer’s system non-compliant, their SEG application rejected, or worse, cause grid stability issues. This guide explains what DNO notification is, when it applies, and what solar installers need to do. What is a DNO?…
The Smart Export Guarantee (SEG) is one of the most important commercial drivers for residential solar in the UK – and as a solar installer, understanding it is essential both for advising customers and for positioning your business competitively. This guide explains what the SEG is, how it works, what it means for your customers,…
The qualifications you need to be a plasterer in the UK are not legally mandated – unlike gas engineers or electricians, there is no licence required to plaster professionally. However, the qualifications you hold significantly affect the work you can access, the rates you can charge, and the credibility you project to customers. This guide…
MCS (Microgeneration Certification Scheme) certification is the gateway to residential solar work in the UK. Without it, your customers cannot access the Smart Export Guarantee or most grant funding – making you commercially unviable for the majority of domestic solar jobs. This guide covers exactly what MCS certification involves, how to get it, how long…
Getting more work as a plasterer is the challenge every self-employed plasterer faces – whether you’ve just started out or you’re an established sole trader looking to fill the diary consistently. The methods that work best for plasterers combine free digital presence, active referral generation, and strategic trade relationships. Here are 10 proven ways to…
Solar installation sits at the intersection of electrical work, roofing, and energy systems – and the qualifications reflect that. Unlike some trades where you can start with minimal formal training, solar installation has a well-defined qualification pathway that you need to follow correctly, both for legal compliance and commercial viability. Here’s exactly what you need….
The UK solar market is booming. Installations have grown year-on-year since the energy price crisis of 2022, and demand shows no sign of slowing. For electricians, roofers, and construction professionals looking to expand into solar, 2026 is an excellent time to enter the market – but only if you set up correctly from the start….
If you want to know how to start a plastering business in the UK, the good news is that the barriers to entry are low, demand is consistently strong, and a skilled plasterer can build a full order book within months. This guide covers every step – from registering with HMRC to getting your first…
Sending a professional quote from your phone as a tradesperson is now completely achievable – and it is one of the highest-leverage habits you can build. The tradesperson who quotes from site, within minutes of a survey, consistently wins more jobs than the one who goes home to the laptop. This guide covers exactly how…
CoreQuote and Billdu both offer quoting and invoicing functionality – but they are built for fundamentally different types of business. This comparison explains the differences clearly, so you can choose the right tool for your trades business. The Core Difference: Trades-Specific vs Generic CoreQuote is built specifically for UK trades businesses – electricians, plumbers, gas…
The best invoicing app for self-employed tradespeople in the UK in 2026 is one that handles the full workflow: quote, approval, invoice, and payment tracking – all from your phone, without unnecessary complexity. This guide reviews the options for sole trader tradespeople specifically. What Self-Employed Tradespeople Need From an Invoicing App For a self-employed tradesperson,…
Most tradespeople in the UK currently create quotes using a combination of WhatsApp, text, email, or a Word/Excel template – and this is exactly the problem. These tools were not designed for quoting, produce inconsistent output, and give customers no formal approval mechanism. The good news: there are now apps built specifically for this, and…
The best quoting software for tradespeople in the UK in 2026 depends on the size of your business and what you need it to do – but for most sole traders and small trades businesses, the answer is a mobile-first quoting app for trades businesses that’s fast to use on site, produces professional output, and…
Yes – there is a free quote app for tradespeople in the UK, and CoreQuote is built specifically for the trades. Unlike generic invoice and quoting tools designed for any small business, CoreQuote is designed around how trades businesses actually work: on site, from a phone, quoting labour and materials with professional presentation that wins…
UK planning reform is one of the most commercially significant policy developments for the construction and trades industries in a decade. The government’s changes to the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) and the introduction of mandatory local housing targets will affect the volume and type of work available to tradespeople across the country. What Planning…
The best trades to start a business in right now combine high demand, a real skills shortage, and strong earning potential – and in 2026, a clear tier of trades meets all three criteria. This guide ranks the opportunities honestly. Tier 1: Highest Demand, Strongest Earnings Electrician (with specialist qualifications) The UK faces a genuine…
How much homeowners are budgeting for home improvements in 2026 varies enormously by project type and region – but understanding the typical figures helps tradespeople pitch their services correctly and avoid underquoting for customers who have budget for quality work. Average UK Home Improvement Budgets in 2026 Research from Checkatrade’s consumer spending reports and Rated…
The new build market for tradespeople in 2026 is recovering after a difficult 2023-24 period – but it remains more complicated than the domestic repair and maintenance market. Here is an honest assessment of what new build work offers tradespeople and what to watch out for. New Build Market Context in 2026 UK housebuilding has…
Are building material prices going down in 2026? The picture is mixed – some materials have stabilised or reduced from their 2021-22 peaks, others remain elevated, and a few are still rising. Understanding the current materials market helps tradespeople price jobs accurately and manage customer expectations. What Happened to Material Prices The construction materials price…
No business is fully recession-proof, but trades businesses can be structured to be significantly more resilient than average – particularly if you build around recurring revenue, essential maintenance work, and a diversified customer base. Here is how. 1. Build Recurring Revenue From Maintenance Contracts The most recession-resistant trades businesses have a base of annual maintenance…
Should tradespeople specialise or stay general? In 2026, the balance of evidence points firmly towards specialisation – but with important caveats about timing, trade, and how you build towards it. This guide makes the case clearly. The Case for Specialisation Specialists command higher rates. A general electrician charges £50-£65/hr. A solar specialist charges £65-£90/hr. An…
The green trades boom is one of the biggest commercial opportunities for UK tradespeople in a generation – and it is happening right now. EV chargers, solar panels, and heat pumps are driving significant new demand for qualified electricians, gas engineers, and installers willing to add specialist qualifications. This guide explains the opportunity, the qualifications…
What homeowners really want from a tradesperson goes well beyond the cheapest quote. Research consistently shows that price is rarely the primary reason a tradesperson wins a job – and it’s almost never the reason they keep getting work from the same customers. Here is what actually matters. 1. Reliability: Turn Up When You Say…
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…
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…
