Christmas Tree Delivery & Setup Service
Delivering real Christmas trees locally, setting them up in stands and collecting them for recycling in January.
Real trees are heavy, messy and awkward to transport - many households happily pay for delivery and setup. Typical offers: tree plus delivery, stand fitting, watering instructions and January collection for recycling. Pre-orders taken in November lock in volumes before buying from growers or wholesalers. Collection day in January creates a second touchpoint for next-year rebooking. Gross margin figures are planning estimates of revenue minus direct costs (materials, consumables, fuel and per-job expenses); they exclude the owner's own labour, so treat them as a guide to job economics rather than take-home pay.
- Starting capital: 900–2500 GBP
- Total starting capital: 1600 GBP
- Setup: 2-3 weeks
- Gross margin: 60-70%
- Business model: Margin on wholesale trees plus delivery, setup and January collection fees, with optional decoration packages
- Category: Seasonal Services
Risks
- Two-week peak: Most deliveries fall in early December.
- Perishable stock: Unsold trees lose value daily.
- Vehicle costs: A van or trailer is essential.
Costs
- Stock deposit — Wholesale tree order deposit for pre-sold volumes — 800 GBP
- Stands & kit — Stands, netting machine, straps and tarpaulins — 300 GBP
- Vehicle hire — Van hire for peak weekends — 200 GBP
- Marketing — Local leaflets, signage and social promotion — 300 GBP