{"id":17313,"date":"2026-05-01T10:00:00","date_gmt":"2026-05-01T09:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/?p=17313"},"modified":"2026-05-13T14:47:45","modified_gmt":"2026-05-13T13:47:45","slug":"start-boring-business","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/start-boring-business\/","title":{"rendered":"Should you start a boring business?"},"content":{"rendered":"<header class=\"entry-header has-dark-background-color entry-header--standard entry-header--has-illustration entry-header--has-illustration--standard\">\n\t<div class=\"container\">\n\t\t<div class=\"entry-header__row row align-center\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"col col-lg-7 col-xlg-6 entry-header__content\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"component component-single-header\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"entry-header__misc text--subtitle text--uppercase text--small\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/category\/money-matters\/\" class=\"entry-header__link\">Money Matters<\/a>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"entry-title-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h1 class=\"entry-title\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\tShould you start a boring business?\t\t\t\t\t<\/h1>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"entry-header__description\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\tGet the lowdown on boring businesses and whether you should consider running one if you want to start your own business.\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"single-post-details container\">\n\t\t<div class=\"col\">\n\t\t\t<span class=\"posted-on \"><time class=\"entry-date published\" datetime=\"2026-05-01T10:00:00+01:00\">1 May, 2026<\/time><\/span><span class=\"reading-time\"> min read<\/span>\n\t\t<button\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\tclass=\"social-share-button button button--icon button--secondary js-social-share-button\"\n\t\t\tdata-share-title=\"Should you start a boring business?\"\n\t\t\tdata-share-url=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/start-boring-business\/\"\n\t\t\tdata-share-text=\"Please read this interesting article\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<span class=\"social-share-button__share-label\">Share<\/span>\n\t\t\t<span class=\"social-share-button__copy-label\" hidden>Copy Link<\/span>\n\t\t\t<span class=\"social-share-button__copy-tooltip\" aria-hidden=\"true\" hidden>Copied<\/span>\n\t\t<\/button>\n\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n\t<\/header>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-post-author has-dark-background-color alignfull\">\n\t<div class=\"container\">\n\t\t<div class=\"col\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"co-authors\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t<div class=\"entry-author-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t<a class=\"entry-author\" href=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/author\/kieronjohnson\/\">\n\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"40\" height=\"40\" src=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2024\/01\/Kieron-Johnson-350x350.jpg\" class=\"entry-author__image\" alt=\"kieron-johnson-profile-picture\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2024\/01\/Kieron-Johnson-350x350.jpg 350w, https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2024\/01\/Kieron-Johnson.jpg 600w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 40px) 100vw, 40px\" \/>\t\t\t\t<span class=\"entry-author__name\">Kieron Johnson<\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/a>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>Despite the name, starting a \u201cboring\u201d business&nbsp;can&nbsp;often&nbsp;be a smart&nbsp;and&nbsp;low-risk way to build consistent income.&nbsp;While&nbsp;lacking&nbsp;glamour,&nbsp;these businesses&nbsp;offer&nbsp;benefits that are&nbsp;arguably&nbsp;far&nbsp;more&nbsp;valuable:&nbsp;low startup costs, steady demand, and weak competition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>While everyone else chases the next&nbsp;big thing, a boring business could&nbsp;well be&nbsp;your&nbsp;new&nbsp;\u201cexciting\u201d&nbsp;and&nbsp;quietly build&nbsp;you&nbsp;a very lucrative income stream.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>More interested in profits than popularity?&nbsp;You&#8217;re&nbsp;in the right place.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Here\u2019s&nbsp;what we cover in this article:&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n<?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><div class=\"wp-block-yoast-seo-table-of-contents yoast-table-of-contents\"><ul><li><a href=\"#what\" data-level=\"2\">What is a boring business?<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#h-what-makes-a-boring-business-a-good-opportunity\" data-level=\"2\">What makes a boring business a good opportunity?<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#h-why-are-boring-businesses-gaining-popularity\" data-level=\"2\">Why&nbsp;are boring businesses gaining popularity?<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#h-what-types-of-boring-businesses-are-there\" data-level=\"2\">What types of boring businesses are there?<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#h-how-do-you-decide-what-type-of-boring-business-to-start\" data-level=\"2\">How&nbsp;do you&nbsp;decide what type of&nbsp;boring&nbsp;business to start?<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#h-how-much-money-can-you-make-with-a-boring-business\" data-level=\"2\">How&nbsp;much money can you make&nbsp;with a boring business?<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#h-what-are-the-pros-and-cons-of-starting-a-boring-business\" data-level=\"2\">What are the pros and cons of starting a boring business?<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#h-why-boring-businesses-might-be-the-smartest-move-you-re-not-considering\" data-level=\"2\">Why boring businesses might be the smartest move&nbsp;you&rsquo;re&nbsp;not considering<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#h-frequently-asked-questions-about-starting-and-running-a-boring-business\" data-level=\"2\">Frequently asked questions about starting and running a boring business<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"single-cta\">\n\t<a\n\t\tclass=\"button button--primary gate-adbf67e7-f26f-4f58-a954-9e67147b2f85\"\n\t\trole=\"button\"\n\t\tdata-button-location=\"content_area\"\n\t\thref=\"#gate-adbf67e7-f26f-4f58-a954-9e67147b2f85\"\n\t>Download your free small business toolkit: a guide, business plan template and cash flow forecast template so you can manage your business effectively<\/a>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"what\">What is a boring business?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>A \u201cboring\u201d business is one that provides essential, everyday products or services that people consistently need, such as cleaning, plumbing, waste collection, or pest control.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>There\u2019s&nbsp;no universal definition&nbsp;of a \u201cboring business\u201d,&nbsp;but the term is&nbsp;generally used&nbsp;to describe businesses that prioritise reliability and steady demand over innovation or hype.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Antoinette Daniel, founder and CEO of&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/justhelpers.co.uk\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Just Helpers<\/a>, an ethical&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/start-a-cleaning-business\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">cleaning business<\/a>&nbsp;based in London, offers a similar perspective:&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cWhen we term businesses \u2018boring\u2019,&nbsp;we\u2019re&nbsp;talking about businesses doing things that have to be done to&nbsp;maintain&nbsp;the wheels of society,\u201d she says.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>So,&nbsp;while we use the term \u201cboring\u201d,&nbsp;\u201cessential\u201d is often more&nbsp;accurate. These businesses play a critical role in the everyday functioning of communities, from refuse collection to commercial cleaning and pest control.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-what-makes-a-boring-business-a-good-opportunity\"><strong>What makes a boring business a good opportunity?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p id=\"h-what-makes-a-boring-business-a-good-opportunity\">Boring businesses are good opportunities because they combine steady demand, simple operations, and&nbsp;relatively low&nbsp;competition,&nbsp;making them more predictable and resilient than trend-driven ventures.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Boring businesses vary in what they offer, but they tend to share a few key features that make them strong, reliable opportunities:&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Recession-resistant demand:&nbsp;<\/strong>people continue to need these services&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/sound-advice-recession-proof-business-james-ashford\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">even during economic downturns<\/a>, which makes revenue more stable&nbsp;compared to&nbsp;trend-driven businesses.&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Weak or outdated competition:&nbsp;<\/strong>many&nbsp;operate&nbsp;with slow, outdated processes, creating an opportunity to stand out quickly by&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/accounting-software\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">introducing modern tools<\/a>, better systems, and improved customer experience.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Simple, proven business models:&nbsp;<\/strong>these businesses rely on straightforward principles: deliver a necessary service, add value, and get paid. There\u2019s little complexity or guesswork involved.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Low need for constant innovation:&nbsp;<\/strong>while innovation can improve efficiency and margins, these businesses&nbsp;don\u2019t&nbsp;depend on it to survive\u2014demand already exists.&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p id=\"h-what-makes-a-boring-business-a-good-opportunity\">These traits make boring businesses less volatile and easier to manage than many modern startups. For entrepreneurs focused on stability and long-term income, this can be a significant advantage.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-why-nbsp-are-boring-businesses-gaining-popularity\"><strong>Why&nbsp;are boring businesses gaining popularity?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p id=\"h-why-are-boring-businesses-gaining-popularity\">Boring businesses are gaining popularity because they offer a more predictable and resilient path to income,&nbsp;particularly during periods of economic uncertainty or market saturation.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Several long-term factors are driving this shift:&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Greater focus on stability over hype:&nbsp;<\/strong>many aspiring business owners are&nbsp;prioritising&nbsp;reliable income and lower risk, rather than chasing fast growth in crowded or volatile markets.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Growing awareness of overlooked opportunities:&nbsp;<\/strong>essential service businesses have always existed, but more people are&nbsp;recognising&nbsp;their potential for steady cash flow and long-term profitability.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Low barriers to improvement:&nbsp;<\/strong>many of these industries still rely on outdated systems, making it easier for new entrants to compete by introducing better processes, technology, and customer experience.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Saturation in trend-driven industries:&nbsp;<\/strong>many high-growth, \u201cexciting\u201d sectors have become increasingly crowded, making it harder for new entrants to stand out or gain traction without significant investment.&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p id=\"h-why-are-boring-businesses-gaining-popularity\">These changes in how people approach business are shifting attention away from high-risk, high-visibility ventures towards businesses that&nbsp;prioritise&nbsp;consistency, resilience, and long-term returns.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-what-types-of-boring-businesses-are-there\"><strong>What types of boring businesses are there?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p id=\"h-what-types-of-boring-businesses-are-there\">Boring businesses typically fall into essential service categories that people rely on regularly, such as cleaning, maintenance, repairs, and simple asset-based services.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Here are some common examples of different business types and how they compare:&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table class=\"has-fixed-layout\"><tbody><tr><td><strong>Business type<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/td><td><strong>Typical&nbsp;startup cost<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/td><td><strong>Demand level<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/td><td><strong>Scalability<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>Cleaning services<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/td><td>Low-medium&nbsp;<\/td><td>High (recurring)&nbsp;<\/td><td>High&nbsp;<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>Landscaping<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/td><td>Medium&nbsp;<\/td><td>High (but seasonal)&nbsp;<\/td><td>Medium-high&nbsp;<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>Vending machines<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/td><td>Medium-high&nbsp;<\/td><td>Medium&nbsp;<\/td><td>High&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>Plumbing<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/td><td>Medium (training&nbsp;required)&nbsp;<\/td><td>High&nbsp;<\/td><td>High&nbsp;<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>Window cleaning<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/td><td>Low&nbsp;<\/td><td>High (recurring)&nbsp;<\/td><td>Medium&nbsp;<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>While the range is broad, most opportunities sit within a few well-established areas:&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Residential and commercial cleaning services:&nbsp;<\/strong>a&nbsp;long-standing, reliable&nbsp;option,&nbsp;cleaning services are&nbsp;relatively low-cost&nbsp;to start,&nbsp;are&nbsp;easy to scale, and benefit from repeat business across both households and businesses.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Landscaping and lawn care services:&nbsp;<\/strong>like cleaning, landscaping is a tried-and-tested model with consistent demand. It offers recurring work and can serve both residential and commercial clients.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Cash-based or asset-based services:&nbsp;<\/strong>this includes vending machines, ATMs, car washes, and launderettes. These businesses generate income from physical assets and can provide&nbsp;relatively passive&nbsp;repeat revenue once&nbsp;established.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Plumbing and maintenance services:&nbsp;<\/strong>skilled trades like plumbing offer strong earning potential, particularly through emergency&nbsp;call-outs&nbsp;and ongoing maintenance work for homes and businesses.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Window cleaning services:&nbsp;<\/strong>a&nbsp;simple but dependable business, window cleaning benefits from repeat customers and low overheads, with modern equipment expanding how the service can be delivered.&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p id=\"h-what-types-of-boring-businesses-are-there\">While these businesses vary in complexity and startup costs, they all share one core advantage: consistent demand for essential services people need done regularly, whether they think about them or not.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-how-nbsp-do-you-nbsp-decide-what-type-of-nbsp-boring-nbsp-business-to-start\"><strong>How&nbsp;do you&nbsp;decide what type of&nbsp;boring&nbsp;business to start?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The best business to start is one that matches your budget, fits your level of interest, and has clear, consistent demand in the market.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Here are five key factors to consider&nbsp;when choosing the right business to start:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-passion-and-interest\"><strong>Passion and interest<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p id=\"h-passion-and-interest\">You&nbsp;don\u2019t&nbsp;need to be&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/sound-advice-passion-profitable-small-business-luke-boase\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">deeply passionate<\/a>&nbsp;about your business, but you do need a genuine level of interest. Running any business comes with challenges, and a baseline of engagement will help you stay motivated over time.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p id=\"h-passion-and-interest\">If you find the work tolerable&nbsp;or even mildly interesting,&nbsp;you\u2019re&nbsp;far more likely to stick with it and improve it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-budget-and-startup-costs\"><strong>Budget and startup costs<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p id=\"h-budget-and-startup-costs\">Different businesses come with&nbsp;very different&nbsp;financial requirements. Some, like residential cleaning, can be started with minimal up-front investment, while others,&nbsp;such as vending machines or equipment-heavy services,&nbsp;require more capital.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p id=\"h-budget-and-startup-costs\">Understanding your budget early helps you narrow your options and avoid overextending yourself.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-market-demand\"><strong>Market demand<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p id=\"h-market-demand\">The most successful boring businesses solve problems people consistently have. Before committing, research your target market and assess whether customers genuinely need your product or service.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p id=\"h-market-demand\">If demand is steady and repeatable,&nbsp;you\u2019re&nbsp;likely on&nbsp;solid ground.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-competition\"><strong>Competition<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Low or outdated competition can make it much easier to enter a market and grow quickly. Take the time to evaluate existing businesses in your area, including&nbsp;how they&nbsp;operate, where they fall short, and where you could differentiate.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Even in competitive markets, there\u2019s often room to stand out by improving service, speed, or reliability.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-scalability-and-long-term-goals\"><strong>Scalability and long-term goals<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Not every business needs to scale,&nbsp;but it should align with your ambitions. Some people are happy running a small, steady operation, while others want to grow a larger company with systems and staff.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Think about where you want the business to take&nbsp;you, and&nbsp;choose a model that supports that&nbsp;direction.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-how-nbsp-much-money-can-you-make-nbsp-with-a-boring-business\"><strong>How&nbsp;much money can you make&nbsp;with a boring business?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Earnings from a boring business can range from a few thousand pounds to well&nbsp;more than&nbsp;\u00a3100,000 per year, depending on the type of business, your pricing, and how well you scale it.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Here\u2019s&nbsp;an idea of how much money you can make with some common types of businesses:&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table class=\"has-fixed-layout\"><tbody><tr><td><strong>Business type<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/td><td><strong>Typical earnings<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/td><td><strong>Startup costs<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/td><td><strong>Key&nbsp;feature<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Cleaning services&nbsp;<\/td><td>\u00a330k\u2013\u00a3100k revenue&nbsp;<\/td><td>Variable&nbsp;<\/td><td>Scalable with repeat clients&nbsp;<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Landscaping&nbsp;<\/td><td>~\u00a351k\u2013\u00a358k income&nbsp;<\/td><td>Medium&nbsp;<\/td><td>Strong profits after costs&nbsp;<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Vending machines&nbsp;<\/td><td>~\u00a33.6k per unit&nbsp;<\/td><td>\u00a31.2k\u2013\u00a33k&nbsp;<\/td><td>Scales with volume&nbsp;<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Plumbing&nbsp;<\/td><td>~\u00a365k\u2013\u00a373k income&nbsp;<\/td><td>Medium (training)&nbsp;<\/td><td>High earning potential&nbsp;<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Window cleaning&nbsp;<\/td><td>~\u00a336k\u2013\u00a344k income&nbsp;<\/td><td>Low&nbsp;<\/td><td>Consistent, repeat work&nbsp;<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p id=\"h-budget-and-startup-costs\">&nbsp;Residential and commercial cleaning services&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>According to&nbsp;Franchise UK, a cleaning business can fetch annual revenues of&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.franchise-uk.co.uk\/advice-uk\/are-cleaning-franchises-profitable\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">between \u00a330,000 and \u00a3100,000<\/a>.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p id=\"h-budget-and-startup-costs\">The costs of a cleaning business range from&nbsp;virtually nil&nbsp;for residential cleaning (assuming you borrow the customer\u2019s cleaning equipment and use their cleaning products) to more than \u00a350,000 for commercial cleaning.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-landscaping-and-lawn-care-services\">Landscaping and lawn care services<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Tradespeople website&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.checkatrade.com\/blog\/trade\/grow-business\/how-much-do-landscapers-earn\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Checkatrade<\/a>&nbsp;has found&nbsp;the average annual income of a self-employed landscaper&nbsp;to be&nbsp;at \u00a351,626, while a seasoned landscaping business owner can earn \u00a358,264 or more.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The maintenance costs of a self-employed landscaper are approximately \u00a36,453, and for a limited company owner,&nbsp;they\u2019re&nbsp;around \u00a310,196.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>So&nbsp;as a self-employed landscaper, you can expect profits&nbsp;around&nbsp;\u00a345,173, and as a landscape business owner, this figure increases to \u00a348,068.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-cash-only-services\">Cash-only services<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p id=\"h-cash-only-services\">&nbsp;Using a vending machine business as an example, after&nbsp;you\u2019ve&nbsp;bought the equipment, you can potentially make&nbsp;roughly&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/swoopfunding.com\/uk\/start-a-business\/vending-machine-business\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">\u00a33,600&nbsp;in profit per year<\/a>,&nbsp;according to business finance website&nbsp;Swoop.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>While this may not sound like a king\u2019s ransom, if&nbsp;you\u2019re&nbsp;in a financial position to buy, say, 10 vending machines, you could see annual profits of \u00a336,000.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p id=\"h-cash-only-services\">In terms of&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/how-to-start-a-small-business\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">startup costs<\/a>, a vending machine can typically set you back anywhere&nbsp;from \u00a31,200 to \u00a33,000 (excluding inventory).&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-plumbing-services\">Plumbing services<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>To&nbsp;maximise&nbsp;your earning potential, offering plumbing services can be an attractive&nbsp;option, particularly if&nbsp;you\u2019re&nbsp;open to undergoing training&nbsp;recognised&nbsp;by the&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.ciphe.org.uk\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Chartered Institute of Plumbing and Heating Engineering<\/a>.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Checkatrade&nbsp;says the average salary of a plumber working as a sole trader is \u00a364,902, with&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.checkatrade.com\/blog\/trade\/how-much-is-a-plumbers-salary-in-the-uk\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">approximate&nbsp;take-home pay of \u00a346,244<\/a>.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>For&nbsp;a plumbing business owner, the salary and take-home figures&nbsp;increase&nbsp;to \u00a373,014 and&nbsp;\u00a348,509&nbsp;respectively.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-window-cleaning-services\">Window cleaning services<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>As a self-employed window cleaner, you can earn an average salary of \u00a336,880, with&nbsp;approximate&nbsp;take-home pay of \u00a322,530.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>But if you own a limited company, you can expect an average salary of \u00a344,370, with&nbsp;approximate&nbsp;take-home pay of \u00a329,910, according to&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.checkatrade.com\/blog\/trade\/how-much-do-window-cleaners-earn\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Checkatrade<\/a>.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-what-are-the-pros-and-cons-of-starting-a-boring-business\"><strong>What are the pros and cons of starting a boring business?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Starting a boring business can be a smart, low-risk way to generate steady income,&nbsp;but it comes with trade-offs, particularly as you scale.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>To bring this to life,&nbsp;we\u2019ve&nbsp;enlisted insights from Antoinette Daniel, founder of Just Helpers, who built her cleaning business from&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.thesun.co.uk\/fabulous\/15886625\/cleaner-business-single-mum\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">\u00a310 into a \u00a31m operation<\/a>&nbsp;within eight years.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>From her perspective, here are some of the key advantages and challenges to consider:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-pros\">Pros<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Boring businesses offer several practical advantages,&nbsp;particularly for&nbsp;those&nbsp;prioritising&nbsp;stability, low costs, and consistent demand.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-minimal-startup-and-running-costs\">Minimal startup and running costs<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>According to&nbsp;Daniel, starting and running a residential cleaning business&nbsp;doesn\u2019t&nbsp;have to cost you&nbsp;an arm and a leg.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cI had \u00a310 in my back pocket, which enabled me to put petrol in my car, drive to the customer\u2019s house, clean it, collect the cash,&nbsp;and leave,\u201d she says.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cBut bigger commercial clients require equipment, staff uniforms,&nbsp;and so on.\u201d&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-flexible-work-schedule\">Flexible work schedule<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>Flexibility is at the core of a cleaning business, which you can design to fit around your lifestyle.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cParticularly if you\u2019re a parent, cleaning enables you to work while your children are at nursery or school,\u201d says&nbsp;Daniel.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Other advantages include being able to start a cleaning business without any professional training or qualifications and being able to effectively market the business primarily by word of mouth.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-steady-demand-for-human-cleaners\">Steady demand for human cleaners<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>Daniel says&nbsp;the robot revolution&nbsp;won\u2019t&nbsp;be taking over the cleaning industry any time soon.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cAn automated carpet cleaner can perform self-programmed vacuuming, which is great, but it can\u2019t move furniture or discern a child\u2019s hair clip from a piece of rubbish,\u201d she says. \u201cIt just sucks it all up.\u201d&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-cons\"><strong>Cons<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Boring businesses&nbsp;also&nbsp;come&nbsp;with challenges, especially as the business grows and becomes more complex to manage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-increasing-costs-and-liabilities\">Increasing costs and liabilities<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cEnsure that your insurance is robust,\u201d&nbsp;Daniel&nbsp;says.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cAs a sole trader, my insurance&nbsp;was around \u00a380 a year. Now, as a company with about 40 cleaning operatives, our insurance is closer to \u00a35,500 a&nbsp;year.\u201dIncreasing&nbsp;staffing needs&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Daniel&nbsp;remarks that&nbsp;as you scale your cleaning business, recruitment becomes a \u201cbig machine.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cYou need to grow your&nbsp;back office&nbsp;support staff to underpin all the communications around your business\u201d,&nbsp;she says.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-lack-of-innovative-technology\">Lack of innovative technology<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>According to&nbsp;Daniel,&nbsp;there\u2019s&nbsp;a lack of innovative tech in the cleaning industry.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cWe needed an intuitive, automated system that could help us schedule, deploy,&nbsp;and manage our team in the field and communicate with clients effectively\u201d,&nbsp;she says.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Frustrated by the absence of a meaningful tech solution, the Just Helpers team created their own.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Their Justly software is a&nbsp;customisable&nbsp;business system, which handles everything from onboarding to scheduling&nbsp;and can connect with your&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/accounting-software\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">accounting software<\/a>,&nbsp;all without a spreadsheet in sight.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-why-boring-businesses-might-be-the-smartest-move-nbsp-you-re-nbsp-not-considering\"><strong>Why boring businesses might be the smartest move&nbsp;you\u2019re&nbsp;not considering<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>It\u2019s&nbsp;easy to get drawn into high-profile startups that dominate headlines and social media, but some of the most reliable opportunities are often the ones that receive the least attention.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>With low startup costs, steady demand, and&nbsp;relatively weak&nbsp;competition, boring businesses offer a practical path for you to start building consistent, long-term income.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>For those more interested in results than recognition,&nbsp;they\u2019re&nbsp;well worth&nbsp;considering&nbsp;as&nbsp;your next business venture.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"single-cta gated-content\">\n\t<div class=\"single-cta__positioner\">\n\t\t<div class=\"single-cta__wrapper has-dark-background-color\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"single-cta__content\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"single-cta__title h3\">Small business toolkit<\/h2>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"single-cta__description\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Get your free guide, business plan template and cash flow forecast template to help you manage your business and achieve your goals.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a\n\t\t\t\t\t\thref=\"#gate-adbf67e7-f26f-4f58-a954-9e67147b2f85\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\tclass=\"single-cta__button button button--primary\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t>Download your free toolkit<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"single-cta__downloads\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t4,088 readers have downloaded this guide\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1440\" height=\"810\" src=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2022\/04\/GettyImages-1282134863-1440x810.jpg\" class=\"single-cta__image\" alt=\"Man working on laptop at desk and looking at business priorities\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2022\/04\/GettyImages-1282134863-1440x810.jpg 1440w\" sizes=\"auto, (min-width: 48em) 33vw, 100vw\" \/>\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-frequently-asked-questions-about-starting-and-running-a-boring-business\"><strong>Frequently asked questions about starting and running a boring business<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"schema-faq wp-block-yoast-faq-block\"><div class=\"schema-faq-section\" id=\"faq-question-1777649432582\"><strong class=\"schema-faq-question\">Do you need qualifications to start a boring business?\u00a0<\/strong> <p class=\"schema-faq-answer\">Not always. Many service-based businesses, like cleaning or window cleaning, require no formal qualifications, though trades such as plumbing or electrical work do require certified training.\u00a0<\/p> <\/div> <div class=\"schema-faq-section\" id=\"faq-question-1777649447514\"><strong class=\"schema-faq-question\">How quickly can a boring business become profitable?\u00a0<\/strong> <p class=\"schema-faq-answer\">Many boring businesses can become profitable within a few months due to low startup costs and immediate demand, especially if you secure paying customers early.\u00a0<\/p> <\/div> <div class=\"schema-faq-section\" id=\"faq-question-1777649453040\"><strong class=\"schema-faq-question\">Can you run a boring business\u00a0part-time?\u00a0<\/strong> <p class=\"schema-faq-answer\">Yes. Many founders start part-time alongside a job, particularly in services like cleaning or landscaping, before scaling into a full-time operation.\u00a0<\/p> <\/div> <div class=\"schema-faq-section\" id=\"faq-question-1777649465296\"><strong class=\"schema-faq-question\">Is it better to start a boring business from scratch or buy an existing business?\u00a0<\/strong> <p class=\"schema-faq-answer\">Buying an existing business can provide immediate cash flow and customers, but\u00a0starting from scratch\u00a0typically requires less up-front capital and gives you more control.\u00a0<\/p> <\/div> <div class=\"schema-faq-section\" id=\"faq-question-1777649476944\"><strong class=\"schema-faq-question\">What are the biggest risks of starting a boring business?\u00a0<\/strong> <p class=\"schema-faq-answer\">Common risks include inconsistent early cash flow, pricing services too low, and underestimating the operational workload as the business grows.\u00a0<\/p> <\/div> <div class=\"schema-faq-section\" id=\"faq-question-1777649489017\"><strong class=\"schema-faq-question\">How do you stand out in a boring industry?\u00a0<\/strong> <p class=\"schema-faq-answer\">You can stand out by improving reliability, customer service, response times, and using modern tools to streamline operations and communication.<\/p> <\/div> <\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"single-cta\">\n\t<div class=\"single-cta__positioner\">\n\t\t<div class=\"single-cta__wrapper has-dark-background-color\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"single-cta__content\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"single-cta__title h3\">Subscribe to the Sage Advice newsletter<\/h2>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"single-cta__description\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Join more than 500,000 UK readers and get the best business admin strategies and tactics, as well as actionable advice to help your company thrive, in your inbox every month.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a\n\t\t\t\t\t\thref=\"#gate-b1a63862-3fa0-4a5e-bb67-c76b88bbc6b8\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\tclass=\"single-cta__button button button--primary\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t>Subscribe now<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1440\" height=\"810\" src=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2022\/04\/GettyImages-1073797282-1-1440x810.jpg\" class=\"single-cta__image\" alt=\"\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2022\/04\/GettyImages-1073797282-1-1440x810.jpg 1440w\" sizes=\"auto, (min-width: 48em) 33vw, 100vw\" \/>\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Get the lowdown on boring businesses and whether you should consider running one if you want to start your own business.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1766,"featured_media":11359,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_sage_video":false,"post_featured_image_hide":false,"sage_hide_published_date":false,"sage_hide_read_time":false,"sage_hide_share_buttons":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[12],"business_type":[4],"lilypad":[],"context":[],"industry":[],"persona":[75],"imagine_tag":[109],"coauthors":[402],"class_list":["post-17313","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-money-matters","tag-start-business","business_type-small-business"],"sage_meta":{"region":"en-gb","author_name":"Kieron Johnson","featured_image":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2022\/04\/GettyImages-548417399.jpg","imagine_tags":{"109":"Small business"}},"distributor_meta":false,"distributor_terms":false,"distributor_media":false,"distributor_original_site_name":"Sage Advice UK","distributor_original_site_url":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog","push-errors":false,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/posts\/17313","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/users\/1766"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=17313"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/posts\/17313\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":30031,"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/posts\/17313\/revisions\/30031"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/media\/11359"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=17313"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=17313"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=17313"},{"taxonomy":"business_type","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/business_type?post=17313"},{"taxonomy":"lilypad","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/lilypad?post=17313"},{"taxonomy":"context","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/context?post=17313"},{"taxonomy":"industry","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/industry?post=17313"},{"taxonomy":"persona","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/persona?post=17313"},{"taxonomy":"imagine_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/imagine_tag?post=17313"},{"taxonomy":"author","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/coauthors?post=17313"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}