{"id":489625,"date":"2026-01-03T14:44:16","date_gmt":"2026-01-03T14:44:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/489625\/"},"modified":"2026-01-03T14:44:16","modified_gmt":"2026-01-03T14:44:16","slug":"6-of-the-best-business-ideas-for-2026","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/489625\/","title":{"rendered":"6 of the best business ideas for 2026"},"content":{"rendered":"<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Here is a rundown of the best business ideas for 2026: running an online course, massage therapist, franchise, cybersecurity consultancy, specialist recruiter and creative studio.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>You\u2019ve probably clicked on this article because you\u2019re interested in starting a business in 2026. Well, you\u2019re far from alone \u2013 a report from <a href=\"https:\/\/block.publicfirst.co\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Block<\/a> reveals that one in ten people want to be their own boss in 2026.<\/p>\n<p>According to the government, there were 5.7 million businesses in 2025, 5.4 million of which were microbusinesses (fewer than ten employees). This translates to 99 per cent of UK businesses being SMEs and 95 per cent of those being microbusinesses. Overall, that\u2019s a 3.5 per cent increase on 2024.<\/p>\n<p>If you\u2019re put off by increasing employer national insurance and the incoming Employment Rights Act 2025, there\u2019s always the option of being a one-person operation.<\/p>\n<p>Why not start in 2026? We\u2019ve spoken to a few business owners about their experiences so that we can get your ideas flowing.<\/p>\n<p>Read on for the full guide or go straight to the idea that intrigues you the most.<\/p>\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"#course\">Running an online course<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#massage\">Massage therapist<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#franchise\">Franchise<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#cybersecurity\">Cybersecurity consultant<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#recruiter\">Specialist recruiter<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#creative\">Creative studio<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p>Running an online course<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" onerror=\"if (typeof newspackHandleImageError === 'function') newspackHandleImageError(this);\"   src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/6405.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"uag-image-2600459\" width=\"1000\" height=\"667\" title=\"6405\" role=\"img\"\/><\/p>\n<p>As brain rot takes hold of the population, demand for constructive online time is only going to increase. The great thing about online courses is that you can run them as a standalone, as an addition to your existing offering or a smaller side business.<\/p>\n<p>Dani McFadden is the founder of <a href=\"https:\/\/thesleepconsultantacademy.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">The Sleep Consultant Academy<\/a>. It\u2019s an online course to help users certify in infant sleep and set up their own infant sleep consultancy. She explains what you need to know to get started with the creation of an online course.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Why is creating an online course a good idea?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Creating an online course is a great way to diversify your income away from a 1-2-1 business model.<\/p>\n<p>We started our programme because we recognised that our original training in infant sleep missed a crucial part of being a successful sleep consultant. At the time, other infant sleep certifications on the market focused only on the theoretical and scientific evidence on sleep. But after working practically with clients and helping families improve sleep, we realised there was so much more knowledge we could have been taught upfront.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p><strong>Why is 2026 an ideal year to start an online course business?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>I think there is huge opportunity within the online space for people to create businesses and courses from the comfort of their own home. We particularly work with parents, mostly women, who find managing their old careers difficult after having kids.<\/p>\n<p>This is only increasing as offices are expecting people back in full-time, and particularly in healthcare, retail and teaching where there is no opportunity to work from home. Very often these women, who decide to retrain in a different field, don\u2019t have the business background to be able to set up a business. We\u2019re big believers that business is a teachable skill and is something that can be learned if you have a step-by-step framework to follow. <\/p>\n<p><strong>What growth trends we\u2019re seeing in the industry<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Courses that will continue to do well in the future are considering individual learning style and needs. We partner with a neurodiversity business to ensure our content is accessible for everyone. We have videos for the visual learner, transcripts for those who prefer reading and live weekly calls and support for the learner that needs to talk it through. <\/p>\n<p>People are becoming more aware of what requirements they have when it comes to work and training, and online courses need to see themselves as part of that movement or they will get left behind and lose revenue.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n<p><strong>Top tips for starting an online course business in 2026<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Online courses are a really accessible way for learners to study from home, often in the evening around current commitments. <\/p>\n<p>If you are creating an online course the most important thing to do is to think about the person that you are delivering the course to. You want the person to be able to complete the course and use the contents practically. For example, we know our learners are often mums, and the only spare time they have is during nap times or on the train commuting to and from work. Instead of having 2-hour lessons on different topics, we have cut them down into smaller 15-to-20-minute sub lessons which makes it significantly easier for our learners to get through the content as and when they have short bursts of time available. Knowing the learning style and best delivery method for your students is critical for them to get success from the course.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>A mistake I made with my first programme was to add in too much. Some course creators think you need to add in as much as possible for it to be impactful. But actually, people want information they need to know in the simplest and quickest way possible. Once they are certified, my students want to launch their business and start making money as quickly as possible. I have actually streamlined our content and streamlined the path to doing that as quickly as possible, even offering a done-for-you website template instead of lots of videos on how to do it yourself. People want the outcome from the course, not lengthy delivery.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Massage therapist<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" onerror=\"if (typeof newspackHandleImageError === 'function') newspackHandleImageError(this);\"   src=\"https:\/\/smallbusiness-production.s3.amazonaws.com\/uploads\/2025\/12\/female-masseur-preparing-bed-massage-session-1024x683.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"uag-image-2600463\" width=\"7990\" height=\"5326\" title=\"female-masseur-preparing-bed-massage-session\" role=\"img\"\/><\/p>\n<p>We spoke to Alison Bladh, founder of <a href=\"http:\/\/www.alisonbladh.com\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Alison Bladh Nutritional Therapy<\/a>, about why this is a golden moment to go into massage therapy.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Why is starting a massage therapy business a good idea?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>As an experienced\u00a0massage\u00a0therapist, beauty\u00a0therapist\u00a0and registered nutritional\u00a0therapist\u00a0specialising in women\u2019s health, I have seen a clear shift in the wellness industry. Women over 40 are actively looking for treatments that support hormone changes, ease stress and help them feel more balanced. This is why menopause-focused therapies are becoming one of the biggest growth areas in beauty and wellness.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Why is 2026 an ideal time to start a\u00a0massage\u00a0therapy business?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>The demand for personalised wellbeing support has never been higher. We are living in a society where chronic stress has become the norm, and it is having a detrimental effect on our long-term health. Women in particular are feeling the impact, juggling work, family and the physical changes that come with being 40 plus. More than ever, we need time to slow down, reset the nervous system and have space for ourselves without rushing or distraction.<\/p>\n<p>Women want\u00a0therapists who understand their unique needs, from sleep disruption and anxiety to muscular tension and changes in circulation. A\u00a0massage\u00a0business with a strong niche can thrive, and specialist treatments for hormonal health are rising fast because they offer real value rather than just pampering. Clients are more informed and want evidence-based care that genuinely improves how they feel.<\/p>\n<p><strong><strong>What growth trends are we seeing in the industry?<\/strong><\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>\u2022 <\/strong>Personalisation and bespoke treatments rather than one size fits all<br \/>\u2022 A major focus on women\u2019s health and perimenopause support<br \/>\u2022 Growing interest in nervous system regulation and stress reduction<br \/>\u2022 Clients seeking\u00a0therapists with advanced training and proven methods<br \/>\u2022 Holistic, science-informed treatments combining mind and body techniques<\/p>\n<p><strong><strong>Top tips for starting a massage therapy business in 2026<\/strong><\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>\u2022\u00a0Choose a clear niche.\u00a0<\/strong>Clients are drawn to specialists, not generalists. Be known for something, whether that is menopause support, sports recovery or stress relief.<\/p>\n<p><strong>\u2022\u00a0Invest in high quality training.\u00a0<\/strong>Advanced skills allow you to offer evidence-based, results-driven treatments that genuinely change how people feel, which is what keeps them coming back.<\/p>\n<p><strong>\u2022\u00a0Prioritise relationships, not quick sales.\u00a0<\/strong>Listen carefully, be honest about what you can help with, and always follow up. Trust and consistency are the foundations of a fully booked diary.<\/p>\n<p><strong>\u2022\u00a0Deliver top class customer care.\u00a0<\/strong>The little touches matter. A warm welcome, remembering personal details, a calm environment and thoughtful aftercare advice all help clients feel seen, valued and eager to return.<\/p>\n<p><strong>\u2022\u00a0Talk in outcomes, not just techniques.\u00a0<\/strong>Clients care about better sleep, reduced stress, fewer aches and more energy. Make sure your services and your marketing speak directly to these results.<\/p>\n<p><strong>\u2022\u00a0Enjoy what you do.\u00a0<\/strong>Your energy is part of the treatment. When you genuinely care about your clients and enjoy your work, it shows in every interaction and builds loyalty.<\/p>\n<p><strong>\u2022\u00a0Stay curious and keep learning.\u00a0<\/strong>The wellness sector moves quickly. Ongoing education keeps your treatments fresh, effective and aligned with current research.<\/p>\n<p><strong>\u2022\u00a0Offer modern, relevant treatments.\u00a0<\/strong>Blend relaxation with science-informed methods that support the nervous system, hormones and whole-body health so your work stands out from standard\u00a0massage\u00a0menus.<\/p>\n<p>These are the principles I see working again and again for\u00a0therapists who want a meaningful career, a loyal, returning client base and a financially healthy business.<\/p>\n<p>Franchise<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" onerror=\"if (typeof newspackHandleImageError === 'function') newspackHandleImageError(this);\"   src=\"https:\/\/smallbusiness-production.s3.amazonaws.com\/uploads\/2025\/12\/17714354_2101.i201.030_franchise_franchising_isometric_icons-1-1024x741.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"uag-image-2600466\" width=\"1024\" height=\"741\" title=\"Franchise Isometric Composition\" role=\"img\"\/><\/p>\n<p>Entrepreneurs often report loneliness and feelings of isolation. Buying into a franchise gives you support from the franchisor and is a great alternative if you don\u2019t want to start a business of your own or you want to get experience of running business elements without going the whole hog. <\/p>\n<p>Cousins Yakub and Arif Master started franchising with street food caf\u00e9, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.chaiiwala.co.uk\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Chaiiwala<\/a>, eight years ago. They sing the praises of going down this route.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Why is buying a franchise a good idea?\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>The brand recognition that you get and the perception that the customers already have is helpful. There\u2019s not a lot of hard work in terms of building a brand which is already done for you. That was a big, big attraction for us. Alongside that, it\u2019s the support you get from the brand and from head office.<\/p>\n<p>Opening a franchise allows you to concentrate on the harder parts of running a business. It allows you to look at things like rising minimum wage, energy costs and raw ingredients costs knowing full well that you\u2019ve got guys in the background. They\u2019re working on marketing and on budgets to help support each franchise. Ultimately, franchisors are under the same impression where if their franchisees are profitable, it\u2019s going to help the brand grow even bigger.<\/p>\n<p>In terms of day-to-day, we pretty much are told [what we need to do]. We have guidelines, menus and crib sheets that we have to follow. We have audits from head office, regular communication, e-mail communication, phone calls.<\/p>\n<p>Chaiiwala are trying to tap into every single market that they can. They\u2019re looking at drive-through locations, high street locations. Watford Gap has a Chaiiwala trailer which is placed in the car park. It\u2019s at the forefront of their mind to try and hit every opportunity that they can and every stream of revenue. It gives franchisees more flexibility.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Why is 2026 an ideal year to start out as a franchisee?\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>I think there\u2019s no shying away from the hospitality sector being a tough market at the moment and a tough place to be, especially for us as we consume a lot of energy. Energy prices are going through the roof and it has an impact, but again being able to lean on that support that you have from a franchise is what helps. It can be a very lonely place being a business owner.<\/p>\n<p>Minimum wage is going up again in April. It\u2019s a conversation we\u2019ve had with the guys at head office. They\u2019re aware. They work on looking at price increases, but also being fair to our customers.<\/p>\n<p><strong>What growth trends are we seeing?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>There are 48,000 franchise businesses in the UK \u2013 which has more than doubled over the past 25 years. Franchises have a higher success rate than a typical start-up (99.5 per cent vs 50 per cent respectively). <\/p>\n<p><strong>Top tips for running a franchise in 2026<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Ask around \u2013 that\u2019s where I\u2019d probably start with that. If you\u2019re looking to open a franchise, you have to have the confidence in them. First of all, what locations do they have? How are they doing? Go and visit these sites as a customer and see the operation. Is it well run? Is it well staffed? I think that if a place is well staffed then you know that they can afford the wages, which means they\u2019re doing something right. Order the product or service and see what gets delivered. There is a case for doing your own research. <\/p>\n<p>Expect the unexpected, there are going to be challenges. It\u2019s for you to try to be positive and look at how you can get through it yourself first. Look at yourselves, because ultimately there is a level of control that you have in order to make it a success.<\/p>\n<p>Have a bit of energy about yourself. If you\u2019re someone who thinks that it\u2019s going to be an easy road, you\u2019re going to struggle. We wake up every day and we have a love for the brand. It\u2019s eight years in now and we want the brand to be successful. I feel that comes from an energy we have \u2013 we want to make sure we\u2019re one of the top-performing stores and that doesn\u2019t always necessarily mean financially. We want to be passing our audits every single time because that shows that we\u2019re good operators. I think that\u2019s important.<\/p>\n<p>Cybersecurity consultant<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" onerror=\"if (typeof newspackHandleImageError === 'function') newspackHandleImageError(this);\"   src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/122633.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"uag-image-2600461\" width=\"1000\" height=\"563\" title=\"122633\" role=\"img\"\/><\/p>\n<p>Cybersecurity consultancy, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cyberhash.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Cyberhash<\/a>. Founder, Manoj Bhatt, tells us more. <\/p>\n<p><strong>Why is starting a cybersecurity consultancy a good idea?\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>We work in a tech world which is constantly evolving. Every board talks about cybersecurity. We all experience a bit of cybersecurity in our day-to-day lives. Your banking apps have multi-factor authentication. We\u2019re all used to these PINs coming in and having to use your fingerprints and biometrics and phishing text messages that are fake text and fake scams.<\/p>\n<p>We all see this stuff day-to-day now. Whereas 10-15 years ago, we wouldn\u2019t have seen those things. It was this dark art; now what we\u2019re seeing as an industry is it\u2019s becoming normalised.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Why is 2026 an ideal year for a cybersecurity consultancy?\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Things are changing and customers are coming to us because we\u2019re there to support customers from a cybersecurity perspective as those threats are changing. Things are changing continually.<\/p>\n<p>People still need consulting. We still have a role to play, but our role is about simplification. Helping people understand where to make those investments and from a company perspective, that\u2019s what we do.<\/p>\n<p>We do a lot of talking to companies through a board level. What do they need to be investing in? It\u2019s a growth area, but the growth area is not in cybersecurity. I think the growth area is around the translation of that. That\u2019s from a consulting perspective.<\/p>\n<p>The thing that we do with customers and with our clients is demystifying that so which the ones you should be going for instead of the 100, which is just the shopping list. Let\u2019s work out what gives you value for money. What should you spend your money on? But that\u2019s also where a huge amount of investment has come in. <\/p>\n<p><strong>What growth trends are we seeing?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>We feel like there\u2019s a growth trend in cybersecurity because of the incidents that have been happening. The external perception of the market versus the internal perception of market is very different.<\/p>\n<p>Cybersecurity has grown. What\u2019s really interesting, though, is more players have come into the market. So, the market share has been spread out equally as part of that. I don\u2019t necessarily think it means more work for everyone. It means there\u2019s more work, but there are more people sharing that work. The cybersecurity space has always been quite a technical discipline.<\/p>\n<p>Nobody knew Crowdstrike in the general population until it hit the news, and now everybody knows who Crowdstrike are, whereas that stayed within the IT and cyber circles before. Now I meet people and they say, \u2018Oh, talk to me about Crowdstrike,\u2019 and these are friends who had no idea what I ever did. It\u2019s becoming more and more prevalent. <\/p>\n<p>There is a huge drive and a huge market for new cyber products that will protect you and protect customers and businesses. That market has exploded. Instead of one solution being available to do something for you, there are now 100 or 200.<\/p>\n<p>You\u2019re seeing a big amount of investment from venture capitalists and private equity and a whole bunch of others into companies that might have the new silver bullet for cybersecurity. And that\u2019s been clear to see on things like Formula One cars and sponsorship. All of a sudden, you\u2019ve got cyber companies that are really in your face on the advertising.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Top tips for starting a cybersecurity consultancy<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>When we started the business, AI was just really taking off. AI has fundamentally changed everything, so the one thing I\u2019ve realised is you\u2019ve got to be dynamic in whatever you\u2019re selling, as long as you have your core values and you don\u2019t deviate too far from those. That\u2019s what I found has been really useful as a business owner. That\u2019s what we go and talk to customers about.<\/p>\n<p>I think there are a lot of things that you learn on the job: understanding your go-to market, where are you going to go to? How are you going to sort your customers and how are you going to generate income? <\/p>\n<p>You\u2019re going to have periods where you can work as hard as you can and do as much as you can. On paper you do everything that is right according to the books, but still the sales don\u2019t come in. Still the market is the market and you can\u2019t control that. Sometimes it\u2019s just down to pure luck and I know that sounds bonkers. <\/p>\n<p>The side hustle route is interesting because, particularly in what we do, a lot of people will do contracting for a company. Go and learn within a business or go learn within a company. You can even do it in a corporate. I learned a lot of these business lessons by just volunteering for things. I was the guy who was the fingers in pies and people would say, \u2018Oh, we need to create a marketing proposition\u2019 and I wouldn\u2019t get paid any more for it. I\u2019d do it in my evenings and I would help, but I would go and do that and I would just go and try and learn and see what that means about marketing. Just being honest and saying, \u2018I\u2019d like to learn more about business.\u2019 I think people are quite open to that.<\/p>\n<p>I just missed out on a few funding rounds. If I was to learn a lesson, I think looking at those and considering starting a business and then aligning it to those grant funds. Those funding grants, I think, would be really useful. I think if I\u2019d started a few months earlier, actually, that would have helped some of the cashflow around some of the business areas. <\/p>\n<p>Use the power of the network and your community. What\u2019s been my greatest surprise is the volume of people that have helped and supported and I couldn\u2019t have done that without the cheerleaders all over LinkedIn and people saying, \u2018Oh, by the way, have you spoken to so?\u2019 Network, network, network. Be out. Talk to people about what you\u2019re doing not to sell, but just to tell people.<\/p>\n<p>Specialist recruiter<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" onerror=\"if (typeof newspackHandleImageError === 'function') newspackHandleImageError(this);\"   src=\"https:\/\/smallbusiness-production.s3.amazonaws.com\/uploads\/2025\/12\/happy-male-candidate-greeting-member-human-resource-team-job-interview-office-1024x683.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"uag-image-2600464\" width=\"6000\" height=\"4000\" title=\"Young happy man shaking hands with a businessman on a job interv\" role=\"img\"\/><\/p>\n<p>As we head into 2026, hiring could become more complicated. Having a specialist recruiter is an asset for businesses and they may be willing to shell out more to take on pre-vetted candidates.<\/p>\n<p>Paul McCallum, founder of hospitality, cleaning and events recruiter,\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.pjstaffing.co.uk\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">PJ\u00a0Staffing<\/a>, talks to us about the perks of running a specialist recruiter business.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Why is starting a specialised recruitment business a good idea?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>First and foremost, it gives instant confidence in your expertise. Having previously worked within your sector provides credibility and trust from day one. You naturally understand the realities behind both client and candidate expectations and can read between the lines to identify what is really needed. This allows you to place the right candidate into the right role, not just based on skillset, but also on culture fit and attitude.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Why is 2026 an ideal year to start a specialised recruitment business?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Recent news shows the unemployment rate at its lowest since 2021, currently sitting at 5.1 per cent. The year 2026 is shaping up to be a candidate-led market, meaning more talent will be available and actively looking for their next opportunity. With ongoing economic uncertainty, clients will also be more selective, both in who they hire and which recruitment partners they work with. As a specialist rather than a generalist recruiter, clients are naturally drawn to someone who truly understands their sector and can add real value.<\/p>\n<p><strong>What growth trends are you seeing in the industry?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>We did see growth over the summer; however, in my opinion, the Autumn Budget has not been well received within the hospitality industry. With the National Living Wage and business rates increasing, we have seen a decline in agency staffing. This sector feels like it is taking another hit post-Covid.<\/p>\n<p>Looking more broadly, rather than by sector, economic uncertainty may drive businesses to rely more heavily on contract and temporary workers. This provides greater flexibility for employers while also appealing to workers who value adaptable staffing solutions.<\/p>\n<p>There is also a growing opportunity for employers to favour temp-to-perm arrangements, particularly in light of the Employment Rights Bill. With unfair dismissal rights now at six months rather than day one, recruitment agencies could become even more attractive to clients, allowing them to engage workers for an extended period before making a permanent commitment. If the measure comes into effect from January 2027, and includes individuals already in role, those starting in mid-2026 could automatically become eligible, further reinforcing the value of agency-led hiring models.<\/p>\n<p><strong>See also: <\/strong><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/smallbusiness.co.uk\/employment-rights-bill-whats-in-the-legislation-2593224\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Employment Rights Bill \u2013 what\u2019s in the legislation?<\/a><\/strong> \u2013 Labour\u2019s Employment Rights Bill has officially received Royal Assent. Here\u2019s what it means for your small business<\/p>\n<p><strong>Top tips for starting a specialist recruitment firm in 2026.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Whether you are new to recruitment or an experienced recruiter setting up on your own, the fundamentals remain the same. <\/p>\n<p>Regardless of specialism, clients and candidates insist on expertise, trust and confidence. Candidates are not simply looking for another job, and clients are not just trying to plug a gap. Both are looking for progression, whether that is the next step in a career or the right talent to strengthen a business. Without a strong understanding of compliance and genuine sector knowledge, this will be quickly spotted.<\/p>\n<p>Creative studio<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" onerror=\"if (typeof newspackHandleImageError === 'function') newspackHandleImageError(this);\"   src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/5466.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"uag-image-2600460\" width=\"1000\" height=\"667\" title=\"5466\" role=\"img\"\/><\/p>\n<p>Having a creative hobby is shown to be beneficial for crafters\u2019 mental health, social connections, self-confidence, and more. The creatives behind such studios are incredibly passionate about their craft, which inspires their students. <\/p>\n<p>Sam\u00a0Andrew, ceramicist\u00a0and owner of\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/7limes.co.uk\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Seven Limes\u00a0Pottery<\/a>, thinks it\u2019s a great time to open a creative studio.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p><strong>Why is starting a creative studio a good idea?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Creative work is satisfying, enjoyable and interesting. Basing your business on something you enjoy doing will help keep you motivated. Starting your own creative studio, whether pottery painting, stained\u00a0glass making or textiles, will give you agency over the type of work you do and to work with the people you want.<\/p>\n<p>The figures also look good. According to the Crafts Council, 73 per cent of adults in the UK are in the market for craft, with 20 per cent of these\u00a0indicating they would pay to attend a craft workshop in the future.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Over one in five (21 per cent) has paid to take part in a craft class, workshop, or course, with 5 per cent (2.5 million) having done so in the past 12 months and a further 16 per cent (7.1 million) at some point in the past.\u00a0(Crafts Council\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/committees.parliament.uk\/writtenevidence\/86068\/html\/?utm_source=chatgpt.com\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">evidence<\/a>\u00a0submitted to DCMS in 2022)<\/p>\n<p>The Crafts Council also points out that \u2018craft has now become a mainstay of entertainment television, pushing it firmly into the public\u2019s radar.\u2019 Viewing figures for craft-based TV programmes such as The Great British Sewing Bee and The Great Pottery Throw Down are continually increasing.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Why is 2026 an ideal year to start a creative studio?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>As our world becomes more unpredictable and increasingly online, people are seeking out in-person, tactile creative experiences and human interaction.<\/p>\n<p>A creative studio, pottery in our case, is a modern community space where people meet to engage in a physical and creative activity, talk over a shared interest and develop their skills.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>It\u2019s a healthy activity outside of having drinks and the expense of eating out. They may end up with some unique, quirky and fancy homeware to decorate their homes, gift and even sell \u2013 perfect social capital for when they have guests over.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p><strong>What growth trends are we seeing in the industry?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Handmade ceramics and pottery workshops are booming. In 2019 over 73 per cent of adults had bought craft and the\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.craftscouncil.org.uk\/insight-and-advocacy\/research-library\/market-for-craft\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">Craft\u2019s Council\u2019s market for craft report found<\/a>\u00a0that buyers under 35 had grown to 32 per cent of the market, with a growing \u00a33 billion contribution to the UK economy.\u00a0These people are likely to have even more disposable income seven years later.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Over the past 12 years I\u2019ve noticed this too in my classes and workshops.\u00a0When I started teaching, I was always the youngest in the class, and most people were retirees or older adults, but now there\u2019s a real range of ages, with many younger people in their early 20s taking classes too. With last\u00a0year\u2019s move to a larger, central Manchester property our business has grown by 60 per cent and it\u2019s looking to go much further\u00a0in the next.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p><strong>Top tips for starting a creative studio in 2026<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Pottery studios seem to be opening at a higher rate each year. People are opening them because they have a passion for ceramics which they want to share.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>But just like any other business, you still want to look for a gap in the market for a higher chance of success.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>A good start would be a location where there are no other studios within a 50-minute driving radius. Start-up studios I\u2019ve seen not doing this, i.e. opening next to established studios, haven\u2019t survived long.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Many of our\u00a0customers come for a creative experience,\u00a0but\u00a0they stay for the social connections they make.\u00a0We\u2019re social animals after all and pottery studios may just be the new modern community space.<\/p>\n<p>How do I go about starting a new business?<\/p>\n<p>This is just the start of running your brand new business \u2013 there\u2019s still licences, insurance and company structure to think about. Head to our\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/smallbusiness.co.uk\/start-a-new-business\/setting-up-your-business\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">start a new business section<\/a>\u00a0to look at more business ideas, decide on a business name and learn how to market yourself. Good luck!<\/p>\n<p>Read more<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/smallbusiness.co.uk\/6-of-the-best-business-ideas-cybersecurity-recruiter-franchise-2600455\/Planuary: How to create a business plan in four weeks\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Planuary: How to create a business plan in four weeks<\/a> \u2013 In this piece, Tim Sawyer presents a four-week business plan to help your small business get started <\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/smallbusiness.co.uk\/6-examples-of-sole-traders-2563155\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">6 examples of sole traders<\/a>\u00a0\u2013 What jobs are best if you want to go self-employed? We look at what it takes to become a personal trainer, a gardener, a hairdresser, a private chef, a photographer or a dog walker<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/smallbusiness.co.uk\/three-tests-measure-strength-usp-2541082\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Three tests to measure the strength of your USP<\/a> \u2013 Getting your USP right is critical to business success. In this piece, we look at three tests businesses can use to trial and develop their USP<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Here is a rundown of the best business ideas for 2026: running an online course, massage therapist, franchise,&hellip;\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":489626,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[16],"tags":[64,607,220143,220846,67,132,68],"class_list":{"0":"post-489625","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-entrepreneurship","8":"tag-business","9":"tag-entrepreneurship","10":"tag-small-business-ideas","11":"tag-start-a-new-business","12":"tag-united-states","13":"tag-unitedstates","14":"tag-us"},"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"https:\/\/pubeurope.com\/@us\/115831705938153721","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/489625","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=489625"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/489625\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/489626"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=489625"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=489625"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=489625"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}