Starting a painting and decorating business in the UK is one of the more accessible moves in the trades. The barriers to entry are lower than most — no gas licence, no Part P registration, no statutory certification required before you can take your first job. What you do need is a plan, the right insurance, and a clear idea of how you’ll find work.
A well-run sole trader decorating business can realistically earn £30,000–£45,000 a year within two or three years, rising significantly once you build a reliable client base or bring in subcontractors.
This guide covers every step: from HMRC registration and insurance to buying your first van and getting found online.
Key Takeaways
- Registering as a sole trader with HMRC is free and takes under 15 minutes — do it before your first paid job
- Public liability insurance is the first thing to sort; most decorators start with £1–2 million cover at around £100–£200/year
- Tool and equipment start-up costs typically run £1,500–£5,000 depending on the type of work you want to do
- You don’t need a formal qualification to operate legally, but the NVQ Level 2 in Painting & Decorating (City & Guilds 6707) opens commercial and site-based work that’s otherwise closed to you
- Decorator day rates across the UK sit at £150–£220/day, rising to £250–£350+ in London and the South East
- Most new enquiries for decorating work now come through Google searches — an online presence from day one gives you an edge over competitors who rely solely on word of mouth
Step 1: Register Your Business
Before you take payment for any job, you need to be registered with HMRC. Most decorators starting out go sole trader — it’s simpler, free to set up, and there’s less admin than running a limited company.
| Structure | Setup Cost | Admin | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sole trader | Free | Annual self-assessment | Starting out, turnover under £40k |
| Limited company | £12 via Companies House | Corporation tax + annual accounts | Higher earners, commercial work |
| Partnership | Free | Shared self-assessment | Two decorators going in together |
To register as a sole trader, go to gov.uk/register-for-self-assessment and fill in the online form. You’ll get a Unique Taxpayer Reference (UTR) within 10 working days. Register as soon as you start trading — HMRC’s deadline is 5 October in the second tax year of trading, but earlier is better.
Once registered, you’ll submit a self-assessment tax return each January for the previous tax year. Keep receipts for everything from the start: tools, materials, van costs, insurance, work clothing, phone — all are legitimate business expenses.
If you’re unsure about VAT, you don’t need to register until your annual turnover exceeds £90,000 (the threshold as of April 2024). Below that, it’s optional.
Step 2: Get Insured
You need public liability insurance before you walk into a customer’s home. If you damage a client’s property or someone is injured because of your work, PLI is what protects you from a potentially ruinous claim.
| Cover Type | What It Covers | Typical Annual Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Public liability (£1m) | Third-party injury or property damage | £80–£150/year |
| Public liability (£2m) | Higher-value claims, some commercial sites | £100–£200/year |
| Tools & equipment | Theft from van, accidental damage | £50–£120/year |
| Employer’s liability | Required by law if you hire anyone | £100–£300/year |
Start with £1–2 million PLI as a minimum. Some letting agents, housing associations, and building firms require at least £5 million cover before they’ll book you — so check what your target clients expect before choosing a limit.
Good places to compare prices include Simply Business, Hiscox, and Tradesman Saver. For a sole trader decorator, annual PLI typically costs £100–£200.
Step 3: Sort Your Qualifications (If You Haven’t Already)
No qualification is legally required to paint walls. But without the NVQ Level 2 in Painting & Decorating and the CSCS Blue Skilled Worker card, you’ll be shut out of commercial sites, new-build developments, and most work subcontracted through builders.
| Qualification | Cost | What It Opens Up |
|---|---|---|
| NVQ Level 2 Painting & Decorating (City & Guilds 6707) | £500–£2,000 via training provider | CSCS Blue card, site access, insurance credibility |
| CSCS Blue Skilled Worker card | £36 card fee + ~£23.50 CITB Health & Safety test | Working on managed construction sites |
| NVQ Level 3 | £800–£2,500 | Supervisory roles, higher-end commercial contracts |
If you’re already qualified and employed as a decorator, you likely have what you need to go solo. If you’re transitioning from a different trade or are self-taught, an NVQ through a local college or the City & Guilds assessment route is the most practical path.
For a full breakdown of routes into the trade, see our guide: How to Become a Painter & Decorator in the UK.
Step 4: Buy Your Tools and Equipment
Starting costs for a painting and decorating business are lower than most trades. You don’t need power tools for every job, and a lot of your kit lasts years with proper care.
Essential start-up kit:
| Item | Estimated Cost (New) | Second-Hand Option |
|---|---|---|
| Brushes and rollers (full set) | £100–£250 | — (buy new) |
| Extension poles, roller frames | £80–£150 | Good second-hand |
| Dust sheets (canvas, 10–15) | £100–£200 | Good second-hand |
| Stepladders (2-step, 6-step, combination) | £150–£400 | Good second-hand |
| Wallpaper table and pasting kit | £80–£150 | Good second-hand |
| Masking tape, scrapers, filling knives | £50–£100 | — (buy new) |
| Spray equipment (for large projects) | £200–£800 | Good second-hand |
| Van | £5,000–£15,000 | Start second-hand |
Realistically, you can get started for £1,500–£3,000 in tools if you already have a vehicle. Add £5,000–£15,000 for a second-hand van if you need one.
A sign-written van with your business name and phone number is one of the most effective marketing investments you’ll make — more on that in Step 6.
Step 5: Set Your Prices
Decorator rates vary by region, experience, and type of work. Most sole traders work on a day rate, with materials billed separately or included in a fixed quote.
Typical decorator day rates (2026):
| Region | Day Rate |
|---|---|
| UK average | £150–£220/day |
| London and South East | £250–£350/day |
| North of England | £130–£190/day |
| Scotland | £140–£200/day |
| Wales | £120–£180/day |
When quoting a job, factor in:
- Labour time: how many days will it take?
- Materials: paint, filler, primer, tape, dust sheets (markup 15–20% on materials is standard)
- Access: do you need scaffold, a cherry picker, or a second person?
- Preparation: are walls in good condition, or will there be significant prep time?
For small domestic jobs like a bedroom repaint, a fixed price often works better — it’s easier for the customer to say yes. For large or complex jobs, daily rate is safer for you.
See our full guide on painter day rates and how to price jobs for more detail.
Step 6: Get Your First Customers
Finding work is the part most decorators underestimate when they go self-employed. Here’s what actually works:
Short-term (first 3–6 months):
- Tell everyone you know. Friends, family, former colleagues, your barber — let them know you’ve gone self-employed. Word-of-mouth referrals from people who already trust you are the quickest source of early work.
- Sign-write your van. A van with your name, number, and trade driving around local streets is free advertising. According to the Federation of Master Builders (FMB), van signage generates more enquiries per pound spent than most other forms of advertising for sole traders.
- Register on Checkatrade or Rated People. These platforms have an upfront cost (typically £250–£800/year for Checkatrade), but they put your business in front of homeowners actively looking for a decorator now.
Medium-term (6 months+):
- Build a professional website. The majority of new home improvement enquiries now start with a Google search — “decorator near me” or “painter and decorator [town]”. If you’re not showing up, you’re handing those enquiries to competitors.
- Collect and publish reviews. Google reviews are one of the strongest signals for new customers who find you online. Ask every satisfied customer to leave one while the job is fresh.
- Join your local FMB branch. The Federation of Master Builders membership (from around £200/year) signals professionalism and gets you listed in their find-a-builder directory.
A basic professional website for a painter and decorator doesn’t need to be complicated — your trade, your area, photos of your work, and a clear way to contact you. Services like Digital Tradies build trade websites from £49/month with no upfront cost and have them live within three days.
Step 7: Set Up Your Admin
Getting the admin right from the start saves a lot of headaches later.
The essentials:
- Separate business bank account. Not legally required as a sole trader, but makes your annual self-assessment much easier. Most banks offer free business accounts for the first year.
- Invoicing software. Apps like QuickBooks, Xero, or FreeAgent handle invoices, track payments, and produce the reports you need for self-assessment. Most cost £10–£25/month.
- Keep all receipts. Every tool purchase, fuel cost, phone bill, insurance payment, and training fee is a business expense that reduces your tax bill. A photo folder on your phone works fine — or a dedicated app like Dext (formerly Receipt Bank).
- Pay taxes on time. Self-assessment tax returns are due 31 January each year. Set aside 20–30% of your income from the start so you’re not caught short.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a qualification to start a painting and decorating business in the UK? No qualification is legally required to trade as a decorator. You can legally start tomorrow without any formal training. That said, the NVQ Level 2 in Painting & Decorating (City & Guilds 6707) is needed for CSCS site access, and many commercial clients expect it. For domestic-only work, a strong portfolio and good reviews matter more than formal certificates.
How much does it cost to start a decorating business? If you already have some tools and a vehicle, you can start for as little as £500–£1,500 (insurance, HMRC registration, basic kit top-ups). A full setup including a second-hand van, complete tool kit, and first-year insurance typically runs £7,000–£20,000.
How much can a self-employed decorator earn in the UK? A self-employed decorator working 46 billable weeks a year at a rate of £170/day earns around £35,000–£45,000 before tax and expenses. London-based decorators charging £280/day can earn £55,000+. Income varies significantly in the first year as you build your client base.
Do I need a CSCS card as a painter and decorator? Only if you want to work on managed construction sites. If you’re doing domestic work — homeowners, landlords, letting agents — a CSCS card isn’t required. For commercial sites, new-build developments, or work subcontracted through builders, the CSCS Blue Skilled Worker card is effectively mandatory.
What insurance does a decorator need? At minimum, public liability insurance before your first job. PLI for a sole trader decorator costs around £100–£200/year for £1–2 million cover. If you have a van full of tools, tools and equipment insurance (£50–£120/year) is also worth having — tool theft from vans is one of the most common claims made by tradespeople.
Starting a painting and decorating business is very achievable if you get the foundations right: registered with HMRC, properly insured, and with a plan for finding work that goes beyond hoping for referrals.
The decorators who build a sustainable business quickly are usually the ones who treat it like a business from day one — pricing properly, keeping admin tidy, and making it easy for customers to find and contact them online.
If you’re ready to build your online presence, Digital Tradies builds professional websites for painters and decorators from £49/month — no upfront cost, live in three days.
