How to start a curtain fitting business

If you have a passion for interiors, and aren’t sure about a career as a curtain maker or fitter, it may be useful to know how to start a curtain fitting business.

Being your own boss comes with a number of perks – not least the ability to set your own working hours and develop a great work/life balance. It means you get to choose the types of jobs you take on, and importantly, where and when you choose to operate.

Self-employment can of course be a daunting prospect, and even experienced professionals often have many questions before they get up and running.

Read on to find out everything you need to know to start your curtain fitting business with confidence. From equipment and skills through to finances and marketing, you’ll soon be fully equipped to go solo.

Are qualifications necessary for starting a curtain fitter business?

While qualifications aren’t a requirement for curtain fitting, it’s still recommended you have something if you’re looking to start a business in this sector.

Qualifications prove you’ve had professional training and will encourage potential customers to trust your skills.

The following courses offer direct training in this field – just bear in mind you might need to pay for these:

• Level 2 or 3 NVQ Diploma in Fenestration Installation
• Level 2 NVQ in Specialist Installation Occupations – Blinds and Solar Shading Systems
• NDA Diploma in Professional Soft Furnishings and Curtain Making
• Introduction to Professional Fitting by Victoria Hammond

While qualifications aren’t essential, they are helpful for showing off your commitment to high standards. People that want work doing, may also prefer the assurance that comes from training to a high standard with a nationally recognised organisation.

What equipment do I need for curtain fitting?

Make sure you invest in a full inventory of equipment. You’ll need every tool at your disposal if you want to provide an efficient and professional service that leaves customers satisfied.

Delays and cutting corners will only damage your reputation and make it more difficult to secure future opportunities.

It’s equally important to purchase high-quality equipment too. Shoddy tools can likewise cause delays if they break and you’ll end up having to fork out for costly replacements.

Here are some of the essentials you should have to hand for curtain fitting:

• Measuring tape
• Pencil
• Step ladder
• Stud finder
• Awl
• Power drill
• Screwdrivers
• Wall anchors
• Level
• CAD software

Don’t forget to invest in a vehicle as well. While your toolkit is not as heavy as other trades, you’ll still need to get around easily between customer sites.

As a Checkatrade member, you could also enjoy offers and discounts on curtain fitting essentials. We work with partners like Selco, TradePoint and Wickes to help you get more for less.

What are the most important skills for starting a curtain fitter business?

As a business owner, you’ll come across challenges in both completing jobs and running your business.

That’s why you need a wide skillset to overcome the various scenarios you may face. Here’s a rundown of the most important qualities:

• Basic maths for accurately measuring installations on the job
• Good understanding of figures for managing your business’s finances
• Building and construction knowledge to ensure the fittings and design are suitable for the interiors
• Dexterity is vital for precise fittings and hangings
• Knowledge of fabrics and materials for installing different curtain designs correctly
• Customer service skills for consulting customers and managing expectations
• Interpersonal skills are a must for building client relationships and enhancing your business reputation
• Knowledge of CAD applications is useful if you’re going to be mocking up designs for customers

On top of skills required to be a curtain fitter, you’ll need a good head for running your own business.

There are naturally different things to consider when starting out in any new business venture. But you’ll still need to make sure you stay on top of curtain fitting skills to make sure your work is of a consistently high standard.

Coming up with curtain business name ideas

So you have a great business idea for curtain fitting in your area, with a razor-sharp business plan in place. But what happens next? Are at a loss as to how to come up with a company name? Don’t panic.

Like with any business that gets registered with HMRC or Companies House It can be harder than you think to come up with a good business name. It will need to tick a few boxes, so you’ll need to find something that is:

• Memorable (for when people need work doing)
• Able to stand the test of time (such as expansion)
• Unique (make sure to check availability)
• Relevant (don’t call yourself ‘Garden Services’ if you’re fitting curtains!)

There are a number of different ways to choose a business name.

For example, you could incorporate your name, mention the industry such as ‘[NAME] Curtain Services’, or pick something a little bit humorous such as ‘In Stitches Curtain Fitters’. Whatever you select, remember that you can always change a company name after you’ve set out.

Knowing how to start a curtain fitter business is only part of the process. Getting the name right from the outset can really make a big impact with potential customers in your area.

How do I set up a curtain fitter business?

The first step will be legally registering with HMRC. During registration, you’ll have the choice of setting up as a sole trader or a limited company.

What works best will ultimately depend on your circumstances, so it’s important that you weigh up the pros and cons and decide what suits best.

Sole trading tends to be easier for some as there can be less paperwork involved – it’s also quicker to start out. But you’ll have less financial security than you would as a limited company because sole traders are personally liable for any loss or debt incurred.

When it comes to starting out in any business, such as with curtain fitting, you’ll want to think about these before starting.

Putting a plan together

There’s no use flying in blind when setting up your curtain fitting business. Make sure you have a plan that covers the ins and outs of your service, along with your target market and long-term goals.

This will keep you on track and help to identify gaps that competitors may have missed. Professional curtain fitting is often a crowded market, plus you’re competing with a DIY market,  so you need to offer something different to get an edge.

When outlining your services, try to specialise so that your business is more likely to stand out. For example:

• Offering a comprehensive service that provides the materials, as well as the fittings and installation as a complete package
• Offering interior design consultation as an additional service, helping customers choose the fabrics and fittings that would be best
• Offering other window coverings such as blinds and shutters as part of your service to cover all bases
• Offering a bespoke curtain making service to fill any gaps in style choice

Once you’ve nailed down these details, it’s time to identify your target audience.

Homeowners will offer more business opportunities as there’s simply more of them to target. However, those jobs won’t be as lucrative when compared to working in commercial buildings, like hotels.

You’ll also want to consider your location and what opportunities there are in the area. Are there spas and hotels nearby? Or is it mainly homes? This will determine how you market your business and how secure new jobs.

Setting your price

Pay rate is something you’ll need to consider carefully. If you set your prices too low, you’ll be struggling to make profit. But if it’s too high, you’ll have a difficult time attracting customers.

Shop around and look into competitors – these will give you a ballpark figure for the different services they offer.

From here, you can offer competitive prices and generate new business without eating into your profit margin.

Protecting yourself and your business

As with all trades, sometimes you’ll be faced with scenarios where you make a mistake or a client is left unhappy with your work.

As such, it’s advisable to have insurance in place to help protect you from fees and litigation. Here are the main types of insurance you should consider for your curtain fitting business:

• Public liability insurance – This policy covers you from compensation or legal fees if a client feels their property has been damaged by the work you’ve carried out
• Professional indemnity insurance – Protects you in the event a customer is left unsatisfied with your work
• Tools insurance – Covers replacement costs if your equipment ends up lost or damaged
• Employers’ liability insurance – If you’ll be employing someone else, this cover is a legal requirement
• Income protection insurance – If you’re choosing to go it alone as a sole trader, this cover can help in the event of long term sickness

All Checkatrade members are required to have public liability insurance as standard, but thankfully we’ve partnered with insurance experts Superscript to provide it to our members for less.*

How do I manage my business’s finances?

Cashflow

Cashflow is essentially all the ingoings and outgoings of your business. Keeping a close eye on this is vital if you’re to have any idea of how well your start-up is doing.

By managing your cashflow, you’ll understand if you’re making enough profit and be able to identify where changes can be made if this isn’t the case.

Also consider where you can increase revenue without having to change your rates too dramatically. For example, are there cases where you can work smarter and fit in more jobs? Can you save on fuel by grouping jobs together when customers are near one another?

Business loans

On that note, you may find at the beginning your expenditure is higher than your revenue. But this is to be expected due to all the upfront costs when starting your business.

Fortunately, curtain fitting has relatively low overheads, so you shouldn’t need too much investment to get going.

But if you’re still concerned or need a little help, a business loan might be useful. Just remember to watch out for the interest rates and always pay back on time.

Taxes

Along with bookkeeping, you’ll also have to keep note of your taxes. Depending on your business structure you’ll be liable for certain taxes, so it’s best to do your research so you know what you should be filing for.

Consider hiring an accountant if you’re still unsure as it’s better to be safe than sorry.

FAQs

How much does it cost to start a curtain fitting business?

Start-up costs can vary, but could be as little as £1,500 for a curtain fitter business. The overall figure will depend on how much you need to invest in equipment, supplies and marketing. You’ll also have to take into account any costs for setting up your own office as well as business registration and insurance.

How much can I earn as a self-employed curtain fitter?

On average, curtain fitters earn about £30,000 a year, but going self-employed gives you the potential to earn even more as you’ll be setting your own pay rate. As long as you market your business well and build a large client base, you should be able to take home a healthy profit.

* Terms and Conditions apply.