{"id":1344,"date":"2026-02-05T10:27:28","date_gmt":"2026-02-05T10:27:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.simplybusiness.co.uk\/knowledge\/starting-out\/trending-business-ideas\/"},"modified":"2026-02-11T16:04:27","modified_gmt":"2026-02-11T16:04:27","slug":"trending-business-ideas","status":"publish","type":"knowledge","link":"https:\/\/www.simplybusiness.co.uk\/knowledge\/starting-out\/trending-business-ideas\/","title":{"rendered":"9 trending small business ideas for 2026"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

We analysed all new Simply Business business insurance policies taken out in 2024 and 2025 to find the fastest growing small business sectors.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Learn more about the top nine trades expected to grow the fastest in 2026:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Business idea<\/strong><\/td>Growth rate (2024-2025)<\/strong><\/td>Opportunity<\/strong><\/td><\/tr>
Carer<\/a><\/td>34%<\/td>Control over schedule and high earning potential<\/td><\/tr>
Security guard<\/a><\/td>34%<\/td>Work opportunities all year round<\/td><\/tr>
Teacher\/tutor<\/a><\/td>23%<\/td>High demand ahead of key exam periods<\/td><\/tr>
Home baker<\/a><\/td>23%<\/td>Benefit from flexibility and creative freedom<\/td><\/tr>
Hairdresser<\/a><\/td>21%<\/td>Reliable business model with room to scale<\/td><\/tr>
Photographer<\/a><\/td>19%<\/td>Strong seasonal demand for weddings<\/td><\/tr>
Property managing agent<\/a><\/td>14%<\/td>High demand from compliance-conscious landlords<\/td><\/tr>
Crafter<\/a><\/td>13%<\/td>Low cost and easy to get started<\/td><\/tr>
Electrician<\/a><\/td>11%<\/td>Stable industry with high earning potential<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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1. Carer<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Self-employed carer tops our list as the fastest growing business idea for 2026 \u2013 with 34 per cent growth from 2024 to 2025.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Being a self-employed carer is a good career choice if you have strong communication skills and know how to keep calm under pressure. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

And there are plenty of benefits too, from higher earning potential than being employed and flexibility around hours and where you work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Read our guide to becoming a self-employed carer<\/a> for more information on key qualifications and finding clients.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Did you know? Self-employed carers can earn significantly more than their employed counterparts, with one council offering \u00a316.65 an hour<\/a> vs \u00a312.21 an hour.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

2. Security guard<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Also with annual growth of 34 per cent is security guard, a trade that has built on an already strong performance since our 2025 ranking. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

While being a security guard requires a good level of physical fitness to get started, it also comes with low start up costs. And depending on your interests, you can dedicate your time to things like guarding valuables or public surveillance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Read our full guide to becoming a security guard<\/a> to help you get started.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Did you know? As of April 2025, door supervisors and security guards have been required to undertake refresher training to renew their licence<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

3. Teacher\/tutor<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The UK population\u2019s thirst for knowledge remains strong, indicated by a 23 per cent rise in the number of tutor and teaching businesses between 2024 and 2025.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Whether it\u2019s tutoring for GCSEs or A Levels or teaching English as a foreign language, there\u2019s a variety of routes prospective teachers can go down.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Read our guide to becoming a tutor<\/a> for tips on qualifications you might need and how to set your rates.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Did you know? Nearly a third of secondary school students in England and Wales have received private tuition<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

4. Home baker<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Home baking businesses really took off during the Covid-19 pandemic, but our data shows they\u2019re still going strong. The number of new home baking businesses increased by 23 per cent between 2024 and 2025, showing it remains a popular business choice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Many home bakery businesses start as side hustles before going full-time, so this is the perfect business idea if you\u2019re a talented baker with another job. Our research found that bakery businesses have grown by 34 per cent over the last five years, and identified Birmingham as the UK\u2019s bakery hotspot<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Did you know? British regional bakes such as Welsh cakes<\/a>, Yorkshire parkin and Cornish pasties are tipped to make a comeback in 2026<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

5. Hairdresser<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

There are plenty of options when it comes to being a hairdresser \u2013 you could rent a chair in a salon, work as a mobile hairdresser, or open your own salon.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Whatever route you chose, being a self-employed hairdresser gives you the opportunity to build a personal brand and a flexible career.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Read our guide on becoming a hairdresser<\/a> for an overview of the options available to budding stylists.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Did you know? HMRC issued guidance<\/a> in 2025 on how to work out if you’re employed or self-employed for tax purposes. It can be confusing, particularly if you’re renting a chair in a salon.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

6. Photographer<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

If you\u2019re a creative with a keen eye for detail who likes to get out and about, photography could be the perfect industry for you. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

And you\u2019ll be pleased to know that photography is a fast-growing trade, showing an uplift of 19 per cent between 2024 and 2025. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Whatever your interests, there\u2019s a niche for professional photography. Some of the most popular include weddings, portraits, and product photography.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Read our tips on how to become a freelance photographer<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Did you know? 87 per cent of creatives reported using AI in their creative workflows<\/a>, with more than 40 per cent using it daily.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

7. Property managing agent<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Property managing agents look after properties for the nation’s three million private landlords, as well as holiday home owners. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

A good agent can save time and stress for property owners and it\u2019s an ideal role if you like dealing with people on a daily basis. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Demand for property managers of rental properties could be more sought-after than ever in 2026, as the government makes the biggest changes to tenancy law in a generation under the Renters\u2019 Rights Act. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

This may have been reflected by 14 per cent growth in new property management businesses between 2024 and 2025.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Did you know? Over half (52 per cent) of agents plan to adopt AI tools<\/a> for listings, lead generation, and marketing in the next 12 months.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

8. Crafter<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Whether it\u2019s online or through market stalls, selling handmade crafts was our eighth fastest growing business \u2013 with insurance policies rising by 13 per cent in 2025. Crafting covers a wide range of talents, so whatever you\u2019re good at, there\u2019s opportunity to start a business.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Leah is the owner of a small craft business, Ethereal Jewellery, and she says: \u201cI started my business with less than \u00a320. I was buying necklaces and bracelets from charity shops and then repurposing them into new earrings. I had so little money, my friends and family were donating their old jewellery to me.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Learn more about how to sell your handmade crafts<\/a> in our guide.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Did you know? Buyers of craft goods in 2026 are being tipped to prioritise personality over perfection<\/a> by seeking out products with visible mending and hand-sewn details.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

9. Electrician<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

There\u2019s always demand for good electricians, shown by a healthy growth of 11 per cent between 2024 and 2025. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

And if you start an electrician business in 2026, you could benefit from high earning potential. Electricians recorded an average turnover of \u00a374,448 in 2024, according to Simply Business research. This puts electricians in the top eight highest earning trades<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Read our guide on how to become a self-employed electrician<\/a> to get started.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Did you know? The electrical trade is facing a huge skills shortage<\/a> with 227 job vacancies for every one qualifying apprentice.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Opening a business checklist<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Remember, you need more than a basic idea to open a business. If you\u2019ve found the perfect business idea but need a little more help getting started, here\u2019s what you need to know:<\/p>\n\n\n\n