How to start your own bricklaying business

Why start a bricklaying business?

While many trades are in high demand, if there’s one area that will never cease to operate, it’s bricklaying. From simple domestic projects to specialised commercial builds, not a day goes by when a bricklayer isn’t needed.

For example, there were over 224,000 searches for bricklaying work on the Checkatrade website in 2024 alone*. Sound interesting to you?

And that makes it the perfect trade for anyone wanting to start their own business.

However, taking a leap of faith and leaving the safety net of employment to start your own business takes planning.

Where to begin?

We’ve created this guide to lay out exactly what you need to know to get started.

From bricklaying insurance to marketing methods, we’ll cover everything you need to know about how to set up a bricklaying company.

To begin with, let’s touch with the most important area – creating your business plan.

Creating a bricklaying business plan

It doesn’t matter what industry you work in, all businesses, big and small, need a business plan to get started. Bricklaying is no different.

That’s why creating an appropriate business plan should be the first thing you do when starting a bricklaying business.

Having goals and steps in place will help you:

• Stay focused
• Improve organisation
• Work efficiency
• Maximise productivity

Not to mention making it easier for you to make informed business decisions.

What to include in a plan

Business plans are designed to help you plan out your goals with actionable steps you can take to achieve them.

So, when building your initial business plan, you should focus on the following areas:

• Your business goals – What do you want to achieve with your business? What steps do you need to take to facilitate this?
• Startup costs – How will you finance your business now, and in the future?
• Finance management – Who’s in charge of your money? You or an accountant?
• Your services – What types of job will you specialise in?
• Your target market – Will you work as a domestic or commercial bricklayer or both?
• Your prices – What pricing structures will you use for the types of work you offer?
• Your area of operation – How wide of an area will your business operate in?
• Types of marketing – How in-depth will your marketing plans be?
• Your working hours – What number of hours will you work in the week? Will you work weekends as well? And will you carry out emergency jobs?

Of course, these are just the core business plan aspects you’ll need to bear in mind. For more information and help on the topic, you should read our guide on writing a business plan.

Not sure where to start? Why not download our free business plan template below.

What qualifications are needed for bricklaying

As with any trade, there are various certificates and diplomas you can work towards to become a qualified bricklayer. These can be run by a college or a qualified training provider, usually in combination with an apprenticeship.

So, if you’re not already qualified as a bricklayer, we suggest finding out about following certifications:

• Level 1 Certificate in Construction Skills
• Level 2 Diploma in Bricklaying
• Level 2 Diploma in Trowel Occupations
• T Level in On-Site Construction

Any one of these courses can be the right first step on the path to setting up a bricklaying business. And you can always gain more qualifications down the line.

This is always a good idea as the more qualified you are, the more your customers are likely to trust your work.

As a bricklayer in particular, can also be useful to join The Federation of Master Builders and get CSCS certified.

Construction Skills Certificate Scheme (CSCS)

Many bricklaying jobs, be they domestic or commercial, will involve working on a construction site.

Therefore, it is a legal requirement for you to be CSCS-certified to carry out these sorts of jobs. So, as soon as is feasible, you should look into getting your CSCS card to avoid missing out on work.

What important business skills do bricklayers need?

While qualifications are essential to being a successful bricklayer, there are other ‘soft skills’ that are important to have.

Why not consider training in all the areas below before starting a bricklaying business:

• Construction knowledge
• Attention to detail
• Organisation and admin
• Interpersonal skills
• Managerial training
• Patience and self-awareness
• Numeracy skills

Naturally, these aren’t the only skills you’ll need. Thinking of becoming your own boss? There is more to setting out on your own than you might think.

Why not sign up to get the series sent to you, and hear from other tradespeople just like you.

How to set up a bricklaying company

Let’s now look at the opening steps to take when starting a bricklaying business.

This includes registering your business and getting bricklaying insurance, all of which are needed to keep your business running smoothly.

You want to get as much sorted as possible before you start your new venture. After all, if you plan to succeed, your diary will soon start to fill up.

Getting your business registered

Regardless of the industry, all UK businesses need a name and to be registered with HMRC. You should make doing these two things a priority before looking for any work.

However, while choosing a business name might seem simple enough, registering your business will require some consideration. Namely, do you register your new company as a sole trade or limited company?

Do your research and make your choice based on what works best with your life circumstances.

Applying for business insurance

Much like any construction job, bricklaying is not without its risks. That’s why you should look to getting the relevant cover for your business as soon as possible. The last thing you want is to be liable for anything that goes wrong.

To protect yourself properly, you need to get the right policies in place before you start any work. That’s why we recommend investing in at least some or all of the following areas of insurance:

• Public liability insurance – For accidental damage to a client’s property when working (for bricklaying, in particular, this is often a contractual requirement)
• Professional indemnity insurance – Helping protect against unsatisfied clients
• Tools insurance – Covering against potential damage and theft of important assets
• Employers’ liability insurance – this ensures your employees are protected in the event that they’re injured at work

To find the right policies for your needs, it’s good to hire a specialist bricklayer insurance broker.

Applying for licences and permits

Unlike other trades, as a bricklayer, it will often be necessary for you to acquire a license or permits to operate in public spaces.

You’ll need to get in touch with your local council to set these up.

They’ll be able to advise you properly on which licenses and permits you’ll need to operate as a bricklayer.

Accounting and bookkeeping

A big part of running a successful bricklaying business is being organised with your accounting and bookkeeping. This means you’ll need to decide how exactly to manage your finances.

Doing so will help you to manage your finances efficiently. But it can take a lot of time and effort.

Getting external help or using the right software (such as Quickbooks), can let you track whether invoices have been settled, as well as claim relevant business expenses.

As a Checkatrade member, you could also save on software designed to help your bricklaying business to thrive.

Buying your bricklaying tools and equipment

Last, but not least, once you’ve covered all the above points, you can look into buying your own bricklaying equipment and tools.

Approaching a job fully equipped gives you a professional edge. It also allows you to complete your work to a high standard.

There is a broad range of essential bricklaying tools for you to consider. It is worth having some or all of these at your disposal.

• Trowels
• Corner poles
• Wall ties
• Line blocks and twine
• Spirit levels
• Brick hammers
• Brick tongs
• A jointer
• A cement and mortar mixer
• A wheelbarrow

Checkatrade members get discounts on tools they purchase. For example, we have partnered with suppliers such as Selco, Wickes and Tradepoint to help our members get more for less.

How to get more bricklaying work

Once you’ve got your new business up and running, soon you’ll start to see increases in jobs and income.

But beyond marketing, you can also find more bricklaying work by doing any of the following:

• Further accreditation – Certifications and qualifications can mean more trust
• Specialised work – Focussing on specific areas of bricklaying as your niche
• Repeat business – Delivering high-quality work is the best way to win repeat business
• Use your customers – Offering referral schemes can also bring more work
• Advertising more – Using the right adverts can make a real difference to your leads

Need some more inspiration?

Winning more work with Checkatrade

With the last point out of the way, you should have everything you need to get started with your new bricklaying business.

However, if you need an extra hand, why not consider joining Checkatrade?

As a Checkatrade member, you get your own unique business profile, which lets you display customer reviews, highlight testimonials, and show pictures of your work.

Alongside that, there are a number of other reasons to come on board:

• We’ll guarantee your work when booked through us (T&Cs apply)
• You can save more on business essentials with member benefits
• We offer accounts that find you leads in your area
• Potential customers looking for quality can trust the brand
• Over 224,000 searches for bricklaying work in 2024 alone via our website*
• You could enjoy great software like Quickbooks for less
• Get money off the cost of public liability insurance (with Superscript)

Our fixed membership option lets you build the plan that’s perfect for you and your business needs.

Why not reach out to our team today to ask about our 12-point vetting program and the services we offer?

Bricklaying business FAQs

How much does a bricklayer earn?

The average bricklayer salary in the UK is around £40,102 per year as someone with more experience. Not sure what you could expect? Find out how much bricklayers earn.

What expenses can a self-employed bricklayer claim for?

As a self-employed worker, you can claim expenses for any costs that are vital to keeping your business running. This can include work tools, equipment, workwear, travel expenses, and office running costs.

* Internal search data from users of the Checkatrade.com website in 2024