Blinds, shutters and curtains are one of those purchases most people put off until they move house, redecorate a room or finally lose patience with a bedroom that is light at five in the morning. When they do decide, they usually want someone to come to the house, measure properly, show them samples and fit everything neatly. That makes the made-to-measure window dressing trade a genuinely local business, and one where a small, well-run company can compete with national brands.
Fitting window coverings in family homes, though, carries serious duties. Looped cords and chains on internal blinds have caused tragic accidents involving young children, and the UK now has clear safety standards that suppliers and installers must follow. Customers are increasingly aware of this, and so are trading standards officers. Add consumer law on cancellations and deposits, and there is more to starting out than buying a sample book and a drill.
This guide covers the practical steps to starting a blinds and shutters business in the UK: choosing your market, child safety rules, consumer rights for made-to-measure goods, deposits, suppliers, equipment and costs, running home appointments, and making sure local customers find you on Google and in AI assistants.
Key points
- Internal blinds supplied or professionally installed in the UK must be safe, and trading standards expect them to meet the child safety requirements of BS EN 13120, with installers fitting the safety devices supplied in every home.
- The British Blind and Shutter Association (BBSA) is the industry’s trade association, and its membership and code of practice are well recognised by customers.
- Goods made to the customer’s specification are generally exempt from the 14-day cancellation right, but you still need clear terms and accurate pre-contract information.
- Deposits should be handled fairly and explained clearly, because customers are paying in advance for products they cannot return.
- Local SEO and AI search visibility matter because customers compare photos of real installations, reviews and home appointment options before they book anyone.
In this guide
- Mobile fitter, showroom or franchise?
- Skills, training and experience
- Child safety rules for internal blinds
- The British Blind and Shutter Association
- Consumer law, cancellations and deposits
- Suppliers, products and lead times
- Sample books, tools and a van: what it costs to start
- Home appointments, pricing and winning your first orders
- Local SEO for blinds and shutters companies
- Getting recommended when homeowners ask AI about blinds
- Running and growing the business
- Frequently asked questions
- Next steps
Mobile fitter, showroom or franchise?
The window dressing market covers several quite different businesses. Being clear about which one you are building affects your suppliers, equipment, insurance and the customers you target.
Common routes include:
- Independent fitter. You measure and fit for retailers, interior designers or other blinds companies. It is a low-risk way to start because someone else sells the job, but you depend on a small number of clients.
- Mobile retail business. You sell, measure and fit directly for homeowners, using a van full of samples and home appointments instead of a shop. This is how many successful independents start.
- Showroom business. A showroom lets customers see and handle products, and suits shutters, curtains and motorised systems where people want to see the quality first. It adds rent and staffing costs.
- Specialist. Some companies focus on plantation shutters, conservatory roof blinds, made-to-measure curtains and soft furnishings, motorised and smart blinds, or external awnings. A clear specialism makes you easier to recommend.
- Commercial. Offices, schools, care homes, hotels and landlords buy in volume and often need fire-rated fabrics, durable systems and fitting outside working hours.
Many businesses combine a domestic offer with some commercial work, because commercial orders help balance the quieter months.
Skills, training and experience
There is no licence required to sell or fit blinds, but the job demands accuracy and care. A blind or shutter ordered a few millimetres out is often unusable, and because it was made to measure, the cost usually falls on you. Most fitters learn on the job, often working for an established company or a manufacturer before going independent. Suppliers and trade bodies offer product and fitting training, and some manufacturers expect dealers to complete training before selling certain systems such as shutters or motorised blinds.
You need to be confident with:
- Measuring recess and exact sizes correctly, including spotting out-of-square windows, tiled reveals and obstructions such as handles.
- Advising on which products suit each window, room and budget.
- Drilling into different surfaces safely, including plasterboard, concrete lintels and uPVC frames.
- Fitting child safety devices correctly and explaining them to customers.
- Working safely at height, particularly for conservatory roofs, stairwells and tall windows.
Hard-wired motorised blinds and awnings involve electrical work. Unless you are qualified, use a competent electrician, and check that the work meets the building regulations that apply where you work.
Tip
Create a written measuring checklist and use it on every visit. Most costly remakes come from small, avoidable measuring mistakes, not from fitting problems.
Child safety rules for internal blinds
This is the most important legal area for a blinds business, and one where your reputation can be lost very quickly.
In 2014 the British Standards Institution published an amended version of BS EN 13120, which sets performance requirements for internal blinds including safety, alongside two new supporting standards, BS EN 16433 and BS EN 16434, which cover test methods for strangulation hazards and requirements for child safety devices. Trading standards guidance explains that meeting these standards gives a presumption that a blind is safe under UK product safety law, and manufacturers, importers, distributors and sellers, including businesses that supply and fit, have a legal duty to supply only safe products.
What the standards mean in practice
The standards require, among other things:
- Safety devices that stop cords or chains forming a hazardous loop, fitted at the point of manufacture.
- Limits on cord and chain length in places where young children are likely to be present, which includes homes as well as nurseries, schools, hotels and hospitals.
- Testing of safety devices and the blinds that use them.
- Warning labels on the blind and its packaging, and warnings and instructions at the point of sale.
What retailers and installers must do
For a business that sells and fits, the practical duties are clear:
- Only supply compliant blinds. Buy from manufacturers and suppliers who can confirm their products meet BS EN 13120, and keep that confirmation on file.
- Fit the safety devices supplied, in every home. The BBSA’s guidance makes clear that professional installers should fit compliant blinds with their safety devices in all homes, whether or not children live there. Grandchildren visit, and homes are sold.
- Fit devices properly. Cleats should be fixed securely, out of children’s reach and at least 1.5 metres from the floor. Cord and chain tensioners should be fixed so the cord or chain is kept taut, following the manufacturer’s instructions.
- Explain safety to the customer. Show them how the devices work, point out the warning labels and leave the instructions behind.
- Advise on cordless options. Shutters, cordless and motorised blinds, and wand-operated systems remove the cord risk altogether, and many families will choose them once they understand the options.
Never remove a safety device to make a blind look tidier because a customer asked, and do not leave cleats or tensioners in the box for the customer to fit “later”. If an accident happened, that decision would be very hard to defend. Local trading standards teams have published joint guidance with the BBSA, and your local team is a useful contact if you are unsure about a product.
The British Blind and Shutter Association
The British Blind and Shutter Association is the UK trade association for companies that manufacture, supply and install blinds, shutters, awnings and related products. It runs the long-standing Make it Safe campaign on blind cord safety and has campaigned for safer products for many years.
Membership is open to manufacturers, retailers and installers of any size. Members agree to follow a code of practice, can display the BBSA logo and appear in a directory consumers can search for a local company. The association also provides training and technical guidance for members.
You do not need to join on day one, but membership gives customers reassurance in a trade where they are paying upfront for something they cannot return. It also keeps you informed about changes to standards and best practice.
Consumer law, cancellations and deposits
Most blinds and shutters are sold after a home appointment, which brings consumer law into play.
Cancellation rights and the made-to-measure exception
Under the Consumer Contracts Regulations, a contract agreed in the customer’s home is usually an off-premises contract, which normally gives the customer 14 days to cancel. However, the regulations exclude “the supply of goods that are made to the consumer’s specifications or are clearly personalised”. Blinds, shutters and curtains made to the exact measurements and fabric the customer has chosen will usually fall within that exception.
That exception is narrower than some businesses assume:
- It applies to genuinely bespoke goods. Stock-size blinds, ready-made curtains, poles and accessories are not made to the customer’s specification and can be subject to the normal cancellation right.
- Information duties still apply. You must still give clear pre-contract information, and your paperwork should explain that the products are made to measure and that the cancellation right does not apply to them once ordered.
- Mixed contracts need care. Where a contract includes standard items or services such as fitting alongside bespoke products, how the rules apply is not always straightforward. Take legal advice on your terms rather than relying on a template.
- Faulty goods are different. The exception covers change of mind only. Under the Consumer Rights Act, products must be of satisfactory quality, fit for purpose and as described, and your fitting must be carried out with reasonable care and skill.
Many good companies give customers a short cooling-off window, such as a day or two, before they place the order with the manufacturer. It costs little and removes a lot of anxiety for customers who agreed on the spot.
Deposits
Taking a deposit is normal in this trade, because you pay the manufacturer before you are paid in full. Handle deposits carefully:
- State the deposit amount and payment schedule clearly in writing before the customer agrees.
- If the customer has a right to cancel and uses it, the regulations require you to refund all payments received, including the deposit.
- Where goods are made to measure and the customer cancels after you have ordered, keeping some or all of the deposit may be reasonable, but terms that let you keep more than your genuine losses risk being unfair under consumer law.
- Keep deposits proportionate. A deposit far larger than your actual commitment to suppliers is likely to put customers off and may be challenged.
Suppliers, products and lead times
Most independents buy from trade manufacturers who make blinds, shutters and curtains to the sizes you supply. Your supplier relationships shape your reputation, because their quality, lead times and remake policies directly affect your customers.
When choosing suppliers, check:
- Confirmation that internal blinds comply with BS EN 13120 and come with the correct safety devices.
- Typical lead times for each product, and how they change in busy periods.
- Remake and damage policies, including who pays when a measurement is wrong.
- Fabric ranges, including blackout, thermal and fire-rated options for commercial work.
- Guarantees on mechanisms, motors and shutter hinges, and how claims work.
- Trade terms, minimum orders, delivery costs and sample book prices.
Many manufacturers offer dealer locators, marketing material and showroom displays to their trade customers, which can be useful when you are starting out.
Sample books, tools and a van: what it costs to start
A mobile blinds business can start lean, particularly if you already own tools. A showroom changes the numbers considerably. The figures below are rough guides only and vary by area, supplier and whether you buy new or used.
| Item | Typical cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Van | £6,000–£20,000 | Needs racking for long headrails, shutter panels and samples |
| Tools | £1,000–£3,000 | Drills, laser measures, cutting tools, levels, fixings |
| Access equipment | £300–£2,000 | Step ladders, platforms, or hire for tall and roof windows |
| Sample books and displays | £500–£3,000 | Fabric books, shutter corners, motor demo units |
| Insurance | Varies | Public liability as a minimum, more if you employ staff |
| Showroom (optional) | Varies widely | Rent, fit-out, business rates and staffing |
| Website and branding | £1,000–£4,000 | Logo, van livery, website, quote templates |
| Working capital | Several thousand pounds | You often pay suppliers before final payment |
Set up the business properly before your first job. Decide whether to trade as a sole trader or limited company, register with HMRC, open a separate business bank account and keep records from the start. Public liability insurance is essential when you are drilling into customers’ walls, and employers’ liability insurance is a legal requirement once you employ staff.
Home appointments, pricing and winning your first orders
The home appointment is where most orders are won or lost. Customers are inviting you into their home, so turn up on time, be tidy and listen before you show samples. Ask how the room is used, what matters most to them, whether there are children or pets, and what their budget looks like.
Pricing
Price each job to cover the product, your measuring and fitting time, travel, fixings, any brackets or extensions, the risk of remakes and a fair margin. Compare your fitted prices with other local companies, not with cheap online DIY blinds. Your price includes advice, accurate measuring, professional fitting, safety compliance and someone to call if anything goes wrong, so explain that clearly.
A clear written quote should cover the product and fabric, operating system, sizes, fitting, lead time, guarantee and payment terms. Breaking the quote down makes it easier for customers to compare like with like.
Finding early customers
Good sources of early work include:
- Friends, family and previous customers if you have worked in the trade.
- Fitting work for established companies, retailers and interior designers while your own pipeline grows.
- Letting agents, landlords and property managers who need practical, durable blinds.
- Kitchen fitters, builders and decorators whose customers ask about window dressings.
- New-build estates, where one well-fitted house often leads to orders from neighbours.
Tip
After a job, ask the customer if you can photograph the finished room. Real photos of local homes are the most persuasive marketing you will ever have, both on your website and on your Google profile.
Local SEO for blinds and shutters companies
When someone decides to buy blinds or shutters, many start by searching Google for “blinds near me”, “plantation shutters [town]” or “made to measure blinds fitted”. The map results at the top of the page show three local businesses with their reviews, photos and opening hours. Being one of those three is one of the most effective ways for an independent company to compete with national brands and franchises.
Local search favours businesses that are relevant, nearby and well regarded, so a genuinely local company has a fair chance. These are the areas that make the biggest difference.
Google Business Profile
Choose the most accurate primary category for what you do, and add secondary categories such as shutter or curtain suppliers only if they genuinely apply. If you work from home without a showroom, set yourself up as a service-area business rather than showing your home address. Fill in your service areas, a clear description of your products, whether you offer free home measuring, and links to book an appointment. Add photos of real installations regularly, from plantation shutters in a bay window to blackout blinds in a nursery.
Reviews
Reviews carry a lot of weight because customers are paying in advance for something they cannot return. Ask every customer for a review once fitting is complete, using a direct link. Reviews that mention helpful advice, accurate measuring, tidy fitting and how the products look are far more persuasive than a star rating on its own. Reply to every review calmly and professionally, including critical ones.
Identical company details on every listing
Your business name, address and phone number should match exactly everywhere: your website, Google, Bing, Apple Maps, directories, your BBSA listing and any supplier dealer locator. Inconsistent details make it harder for search engines to trust the information they hold about you.
A website with product and area pages
A simple, fast website with a page for each main product, such as roller blinds, Roman blinds, Venetian blinds, plantation shutters, motorised blinds and awnings, helps Google understand what you offer. Pages for the main towns you cover, with photos of local work, help you appear for searches there. Include guide prices if you are comfortable sharing them, lead times, your child safety approach and an easy way to book a home visit.
Local and industry links
Links from relevant websites help show you are a real, established business. Good sources include trade association and supplier listings, local business groups, community sponsorships, interior design and home improvement websites, and local property professionals.
This takes time alongside appointments and fitting, which is why some companies choose specialist help with local SEO for blinds and shutters companies so they can focus on the work. However you handle it, give it three to six months for map positions to strengthen, ideally timed so you are visible before the spring and new-build rush.
Getting recommended when homeowners ask AI about blinds
More customers now ask AI assistants for help before they book anyone. Someone might ask ChatGPT “Who fits good quality plantation shutters near me?”, ask Gemini “Are shutters or blinds better for a bay window?”, ask Copilot “What are the safest blinds for a child’s bedroom?”, or see a Google AI Overview summarising options for “made to measure blinds in [town]”. Perplexity is used the same way, often listing its sources alongside the answer.
These tools do not hold a hidden list of good blinds companies. They build answers from information already published about your business, so the groundwork that helps local SEO also helps AI visibility. In practice, they rely on:
- Consistent information. When your name, location, products and service area match across your website, Google profile, directories and association listings, AI tools are more confident about mentioning you.
- Reviews. Detailed reviews help assistants describe what you are known for, such as good advice or neat fitting.
- Clear product descriptions. Plain explanations of what you supply, where you work and how appointments run make it easy to match you to a question.
- FAQs. Pages answering real questions, such as how long shutters take to arrive, whether blinds can be returned, which blinds are child safe, or whether motorised blinds need an electrician, are exactly what these tools summarise.
- Mentions on reputable sites. Listings and features from trade bodies, suppliers, local news and home and interiors websites strengthen the picture AI tools build of your business.
For blinds and shutters companies this matters because many questions customers ask AI are about choosing the right product and staying safe, not just price. A business that has answered those questions clearly, and is described consistently by others, is in a much better position to be mentioned.
Tip
Write down the questions customers ask most often during home visits and answer each one on your website in plain English. Those are the same questions people type into Google and ask AI assistants.
Running and growing the business
Once orders are coming in, the focus shifts to doing the work consistently well. Use a simple system to track enquiries, appointments, orders, supplier lead times and fitting dates, so customers always know when to expect you. Check every delivery before fitting day, and keep customers informed if a supplier is running late.
Demand is uneven in this trade. New-build handovers, spring and the run-up to winter can be busy, while other periods are quieter. Commercial contracts, repairs and replacement parts, and outreach to letting agents and landlords help smooth the gaps. Growth options include a showroom, a second fitter, adding shutters or motorised systems, or offering external awnings for the summer season. Grow at a pace your cash flow and quality can support.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a licence to sell and fit blinds?
No specific licence is needed, but you must only supply safe products. In practice that means internal blinds that meet BS EN 13120, fitted with their child safety devices, alongside the usual business registration, insurance and consumer law obligations.
Can customers cancel an order for made-to-measure blinds?
Goods made to the customer’s specification are generally excluded from the 14-day cancellation right under the Consumer Contracts Regulations. Stock items can still be cancelled, faulty goods are covered by the Consumer Rights Act, and your terms need to be clear. Take legal advice on contracts that mix bespoke products with standard items or services.
Do I have to fit child safety devices if the customer has no children?
The BBSA’s guidance is that professional installers should fit compliant blinds with their safety devices in all homes. Children visit, and homes change hands, so treat it as standard practice on every job.
Should I join the BBSA?
It is not compulsory, but membership is well recognised. Members follow a code of practice and appear in a directory customers can search, and the association offers training and technical guidance. Many companies join once they are established.
How long before Google brings in more home measure bookings?
Improvements to your Google Business Profile and listings can help within a few weeks. Stronger map rankings and AI visibility usually build over three to six months, with reviews, photos and helpful content making the biggest long-term difference.
Next steps
Starting a blinds and shutters business is very achievable with good practical skills, but success depends on getting the less visible foundations right: compliant products, child safety devices fitted on every job, clear terms for made-to-measure orders, fair deposits and reliable suppliers.
Once those are in place, concentrate on being easy to find and easy to trust. A complete Google profile, photos of real local installations, a steady flow of genuine reviews and consistent information across the web will help homeowners, and the AI tools they increasingly use, recognise you as a careful, reliable local company.
