Guide for small businesses · Blackpool
30 business ideas
for a small unit
Ready to move your business out of the spare room or garage? A small unit gives you a proper base with lower costs than a shop or large warehouse. Here are 30 low-risk business ideas that suit our 150 to 300 sq ft units at The Old Rock Factory, Keswick Road, with how to set each one up.
Ideas by
industry
Choose an industry for detailed set-up guides: the best unit, layout and things to know.
Online sellers & e-commerce
E-commerce stock storage, vintage and reseller clothing, subscription box packing, trading cards, comics and books and more.
6 ideas →Textiles, leather & sewing
Tailoring and alterations, embroidery and personalisation, leather goods workshop, curtains, blinds and soft furnishings and more.
5 ideas →Makers & creative studios
Picture framing, small-scale woodworking, jewellery bench, vinyl signs and decals and more.
7 ideas →Tech & repair workshops
Phone, tablet and laptop repair, PC building and IT services, drone assembly and repair, bicycle servicing and more.
6 ideas →Trades & business storage
Tradesperson tool and materials store, event and wedding prop storage, home staging furniture, property maintenance supplies and more.
6 ideas →What a small unit is good for
150 sq ft is roughly the floor area of a single garage. That is enough for an online shop's stock and packing bench, one or two sewing machines and a cutting table, a repair bench with secure storage, a photography studio or a tradesperson's tools and materials. The best businesses for a small unit keep stock compact, work with dry, low-risk materials and make the most of the walls with shelving.
Every unit at The Rock Factory has lighting, electricity and Wi-Fi already connected. Tenants get 24-hour access, free CCTV app access covering the entrance and the area outside the units, and shared facilities: a tea and coffee room, toilets and water. You can receive mail and clients at the unit.
Which unit fits your business?
| Unit | Access and price |
|---|---|
| 150 sq ft | Roller shutter · £65 a week |
| 160 sq ft | Security door · £69 a week |
| 180 sq ft | Roller shutter · £78 a week |
| 300 sq ft | Two storeys with upstairs office · £130 a week |
- 150 sq ft, roller shutter: the starter unit for online sellers, tradespeople, repair benches and small studios.
- 160 sq ft, security door: for small, valuable stock or quiet work: jewellery, phone repairs, trading cards, a podcast booth.
- 180 sq ft, roller shutter: extra room for bulky stock, long fabric rolls, framing or event props.
- 300 sq ft, two storeys: workshop or stock downstairs with an upstairs office or storage area with a window.
Every idea and the unit that suits it
| Business | Industry | Unit size |
|---|---|---|
| E-commerce stock storage | Online sellers & e-commerce | 150 sq ft or 180 sq ft |
| Vintage and reseller clothing | Online sellers & e-commerce | 150 sq ft or 160 sq ft |
| Subscription box packing | Online sellers & e-commerce | 180 sq ft or 300 sq ft |
| Trading cards, comics and books | Online sellers & e-commerce | 160 sq ft |
| Board game and book publishing fulfilment | Online sellers & e-commerce | 180 sq ft or 300 sq ft |
| Packaging supplies distribution | Online sellers & e-commerce | 180 sq ft or 300 sq ft |
| Tailoring and alterations | Textiles, leather & sewing | 150 sq ft or 160 sq ft |
| Embroidery and personalisation | Textiles, leather & sewing | 150 sq ft or 180 sq ft |
| Leather goods workshop | Textiles, leather & sewing | 150 sq ft or 160 sq ft |
| Curtains, blinds and soft furnishings | Textiles, leather & sewing | 180 sq ft or 300 sq ft |
| Costume and dancewear making | Textiles, leather & sewing | 150 sq ft or 160 sq ft |
| Picture framing | Makers & creative studios | 150 sq ft or 180 sq ft |
| Small-scale woodworking | Makers & creative studios | 180 sq ft or 300 sq ft |
| Jewellery bench | Makers & creative studios | 160 sq ft |
| Vinyl signs and decals | Makers & creative studios | 150 sq ft or 180 sq ft |
| Paper goods and stationery | Makers & creative studios | 150 sq ft or 160 sq ft |
| Product photography studio | Makers & creative studios | 150 sq ft or 180 sq ft |
| Podcast and voiceover booth | Makers & creative studios | 160 sq ft |
| Phone, tablet and laptop repair | Tech & repair workshops | 160 sq ft or 150 sq ft |
| PC building and IT services | Tech & repair workshops | 150 sq ft or 180 sq ft |
| Drone assembly and repair | Tech & repair workshops | 150 sq ft or 160 sq ft |
| Bicycle servicing | Tech & repair workshops | 150 sq ft or 180 sq ft |
| Locksmith base and key cutting | Tech & repair workshops | 160 sq ft |
| Tool and knife sharpening | Tech & repair workshops | 150 sq ft |
| Tradesperson tool and materials store | Trades & business storage | 150 sq ft or 180 sq ft |
| Event and wedding prop storage | Trades & business storage | 180 sq ft or 300 sq ft |
| Home staging furniture | Trades & business storage | 180 sq ft or 300 sq ft |
| Property maintenance supplies | Trades & business storage | 150 sq ft or 180 sq ft |
| Cleaning company equipment | Trades & business storage | 150 sq ft or 160 sq ft |
| Business archives and stock overflow | Trades & business storage | 160 sq ft or 150 sq ft |
What is not allowed
To keep the building and everyone's stock safe, some activities are not suitable. Low-risk materials such as wood, paper, card, fabric and dry goods are fine.
- Melting or heating combustibles. Candle making, soap making, wax melts, resin casting, plastic moulding and 3D print farms, or anything that melts waxes, plastics, resins or oils.
- Flammable liquids and gases. Fuel, solvent-based paints or chemicals in bulk, and gas cylinders, unless we have agreed otherwise in writing.
- Cars and vehicles. Car storage is not permitted.
- Cooking. Cooking or hot food preparation. Dry food packing may be possible; ask us first.
Making the most of a small space
- Go up the walls. Heavy-duty shelving and wall racks free up the floor for working.
- Put benches on wheels. Lockable mobile benches let you switch between making and packing.
- Plan the flow. Goods in at the door, work in the middle, finished orders back by the door.
- Label everything. Clear boxes and labels save time and make stock checks easy.
- Keep the floor clear. A clear route to the door is safer and makes deliveries quicker.
Start-up checklist
- Decide which unit suits your stock, machines and how you will load and unload.
- Message us with what your business does, so we can approve the use before you commit.
- Register your business with HMRC as a sole trader or limited company if you have not already.
- Speak to an insurance broker about public liability, contents and stock cover, and employers' liability if you have staff.
- Ask us whether business rates apply, and check Small Business Rate Relief on GOV.UK.
- Plan your layout: shelving up the walls, benches near sockets, and a clear route to the door.
- Arrange one month's rent, the deposit, photo ID and a Direct Debit mandate for move-in day.
Questions
Can I run a business from a 150 sq ft unit?
Yes. 150 sq ft is roughly the floor area of a single garage: enough for an online shop's stock and packing table, a sewing or repair bench, a small studio or a tradesperson's tools and materials. All business use needs our approval first, so tell us what you plan to do when you enquire.
What is included in the rent?
Lighting, electricity and Wi-Fi are already connected in every unit. Electricity usage is charged separately at the supplier rate, with no markup. Tenants get 24-hour access, free CCTV app access covering the entrance and the area outside the units, and shared facilities: a tea and coffee room, toilets and water.
Can I use the address on my Google Business Profile?
Yes. Tenants can use The Old Rock Factory, Keswick Road, Blackpool FY1 5PB as their business address on Google, so customers can find you without you putting your home address online.
Is there three-phase power?
No. Every unit has standard single-phase electricity, the same as a normal plug socket. Choose machines and tools that run on single-phase power.
What can't I do in a unit?
We do not allow anything that melts or heats combustible materials such as waxes, plastics, resins or oils, flammable liquids or gases in bulk, or car storage. Low-risk materials such as wood, paper, card, fabric and dry goods are fine. Every business use needs our approval.
How much does a unit cost?
Units are £65 a week for 150 sq ft, £69 for 160 sq ft, £78 for 180 sq ft and £130 for the 300 sq ft two-storey unit. Two offices are £70 a week each, available from January 2027. Prices are based on floor area and subject to availability.
What do I need to move in?
One month's rent in advance, a security deposit equal to one month's rent, valid government-issued photo ID and a signed Direct Debit mandate. The minimum term is one month.
When can I move in?
The units are available from 1 November, and pre-bookings get their first week free. Small to medium first-floor storage pods and rooms open in spring 2027.
Can I change unit if my business changes?
Yes. You can swap to a bigger or smaller unit at any time, subject to availability. As you grow you can rent two or three adjoining units, and some have interconnecting doors so you can move between them without going outside.
How much notice do I give to leave?
One month. You rent month by month with a minimum term of one month, and there are no utility deposits.
Do I need business insurance?
We recommend speaking to an insurance broker. Most small businesses consider public liability insurance and cover for their contents and stock. If you employ staff, employers' liability insurance is a legal requirement in the UK.
Do I have to pay business rates?
Business rates can apply to commercial units. Ask us about the unit you are interested in, and check whether you qualify for Small Business Rate Relief on GOV.UK.
Useful official guidance
- Set up a business (GOV.UK)
- Small Business Rate Relief (GOV.UK)
- Employers' liability insurance (GOV.UK)
- Register a food business (GOV.UK)
- Health and safety made simple (HSE)
This guide is general information, not legal, insurance or tax advice. Prices are subject to availability. Every business use needs our approval.
