# 15.11, Tools of the trade: what to buy first and what can wait
You don't need a van full of shiny gear to start earning. You do need enough decent kit to work safely and not rinse your cash on the wrong stuff.
1. The rule of thumb
If a tool won't earn itself back in 3–6 months of real jobs, it can wait.
Buy for the work you've got booked, not the work you might get one day. Everything else is dead money sitting in the van.
2. Starter kit: realistic costs
These assume you already bought some kit as an apprentice and now need to "go self-employed ready." If you're starting from almost nothing, roughly double the lower ranges, but don't buy everything at once.
| Trade (domestic focus) | Bare-minimum top-up (already got basics) | More complete starter kit | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Electrician | ~£300–£800 | ~£1,000–£2,000 | Extra hand tools, testers, drill/driver, storage, PPE |
| Plumber / heating | ~£300–£800 | ~£1,000–£2,000 | Specialist hand tools, pumps/press/solder kit, power tools |
| Joiner / carpenter | ~£400–£1,000 | ~£1,500–£3,000 | Saws, routers, nailers, cordless kit, levels, benches |
| General builder | ~£500–£1,000 | ~£1,500–£3,000+ | Mixers, breakers, lasers, power tools, hand tools, PPE |
These are realistic ranges, not RRP wish-lists, and they sit underneath the annual spends below.
Tip for new starters: You don't need the full kit on day one. Most trades build up over the first year, buying as they hit real jobs that need specific tools. That's normal, not a sign you're behind.
3. What trades actually spend on tools each year
Source: ElectricalDirect research (via Insight DIY and PHAM News), survey of 500+ UK tradespeople.
| Trade | Average annual spend on tools |
|---|---|
| Electrician | £1,546/year |
| Plasterer | £1,502/year |
| Builder | £1,318/year |
| Joiner | £1,247/year |
| Roofer | £1,212/year |
| Bricklayer | £964/year |
| Landscaper | £948/year |
| Carpenter | £804/year |
| Plumber | £769/year |
| Painter & decorator | £755/year |
| All trades (overall average) | £1,110/year |
And the uncomfortable bits:
- 33% say they can't afford the new tools they need.
- 27% keep tools for longer to avoid buying new ones.
- 13% admit to using damaged tools because they can't afford replacements.
- 42% are buying more second-hand tools to save money.
That's your proof that tool spend is a real, ongoing cost, not a one-off hit in year one. Build it into your prices from the start.
4. The tool mistakes that empty your wallet
The short version:
- Buying big "all-in-one" kits and never using half of it.
- Going too cheap on safety-critical kit (ladders, test gear, cutting tools).
- Skipping tool security (van locks, safes, trackers) even though tool theft costs trades hundreds to thousands per incident and is rising.
- Maxing merchant credit on tools that don't earn their keep.
- Not budgeting for the £1k+/year of ongoing replacements and upgrades.
And the longer version:
Buying everything at once "just in case"
Big bundles and full sets look good on the shelf, but half of it never leaves the van. You end up with three sizes of something you've used once and nothing left in the bank when you actually need a specific bit of kit for a real job.
Better approach: Buy for the work you've got booked. When you hit a job that needs something you haven't got, buy it then. Within a year you'll have a kit that matches your actual work, not a catalogue fantasy.
Going too cheap on critical tools
Surveys show tradespeople regularly keep tools longer, bodge repairs, or use damaged kit because they can't afford replacements. Cheap, inaccurate or unsafe tools, ladders, test gear, cutting tools, cost you more in time, callbacks and risk than they ever save.
The split: Go budget on stuff that doesn't matter much (tape measures, spirit levels, basic hand tools). Spend properly on anything that keeps you safe, keeps you accurate, or stops your day if it breaks.
No plan for security
Trade reports show an average extra spend of hundreds of pounds a year on tool security, locks, boxes, trackers, because theft is rife. New starters often skip this entirely and end up wiped out when the van gets done over.
Sort your security before you fill the van, not after. See Guide 12.1: Tool theft.
Maxing credit on tools that aren't earning yet
Easy finance from merchants and manufacturers tempts you into big purchases before you've got the work to justify them. That's how you end up with a £60/week payment for a laser you use twice a month.
The test: Can you see that tool earning money every week for the next six months? If yes, finance might make sense. If not, wait.
5. Buy now vs buy later
Buy now (before your first solo job)
- Core cordless kit · drill/driver, impact driver, torch. One battery platform, stick with it.
- Trade-specific essentials · whatever you physically can't do the job without (testers for sparkies, press kit for plumbers, saw for chippies).
- PPE · boots, ear defenders, eye protection, dust masks, gloves. Non-negotiable.
- Basic security · decent van lock, tool bag locks, cheap GPS tracker. Sort this before you load up.
- Measuring and marking · laser level, tape, pencils, chalk line. Accuracy earns you money.
Buy later (when a real job needs it)
- Specialist power tools · floor sander, SDS max, big mitre saw, pipe freezer. Buy or hire when the job lands.
- Full sets of anything · socket sets, drill bit kits, chisel sets. Buy the sizes you actually use, fill gaps over time.
- Nice-to-haves · tool wall in the van, branded workwear, fancy storage systems. They don't earn you a penny.
- Duplicate tools · a backup drill is handy eventually, but not before you've got regular work coming in.
6. Second-hand vs new: when each makes sense
With nearly half of trades buying more second-hand kit, it's clearly part of the mix. The question is where it's smart and where it's risky.
| Type of tool | Better bought used when... | Better bought new when... |
|---|---|---|
| Heavy corded tools (breakers, big saws, mixers) | You can inspect them in person, branded kit, obvious wear but still solid | You need full warranty and reliability for daily use |
| Everyday cordless kit (drill/impact, main saw) | You know the platform, batteries are healthy, price is genuinely good | It's your main money-maker and you can't afford downtime |
| Test equipment, ladders, safety gear | Rarely, only from a trusted source with known history and calibration | Almost always, you want warranty, calibration and clear provenance |
| Rarely used / niche tools | Great candidates (buy used or even hire) because they won't be used daily | New only if it's business-critical or safety-critical |
The line: used for heavy, simple or occasional kit. New for safety-critical and everyday graft tools.
7. Tool finance and credit options
The big merchants know you're skint in year one and make it very easy to "buy now, worry later."
| Provider | Product | Key features | Risk if you're new |
|---|---|---|---|
| Screwfix | Trade Credit Account (via Trade UK) | Up to 60 days interest-free credit, no annual fee, flexible limits, VAT-itemised invoices, extra cards for employees | Easy to let the balance creep; feels like free money but still has to be cleared |
| Toolstation | Trade Account | Up to 60 days interest-free credit, flexible limits, 5% off orders during some promos, pay when the job pays | Same issue, if you don't track it, you can sleepwalk into a big monthly bill |
Manufacturer finance
Many power tool brands and merchants offer 0% or low-rate finance on bigger kits, spread £1,000–£2,000 over 12–36 months. Fine if that kit is working every week. If not, it's just another fixed cost in the quiet months.
The honest version
Treat trade credit like a short-term bridge between buying kit and getting paid: not as an excuse to fill the van with toys.
Trade credit is helpful if you're disciplined. It smooths cashflow over a couple of months so you're not out of pocket before the customer pays. But it's dangerous if you treat it like free money. The balance creeps up, the quiet months hit, and suddenly you've got merchant debt on top of everything else.
Only finance tools that are already earning. If you're financing kit for work you hope to get, you're gambling.
8. Tool security basics
This isn't the full guide, see 12.1: Tool theft for the lot, but don't skip these before you load the van:
- Deadlocks on van doors. Factory locks are useless. Budget £100–£200 for decent aftermarket locks.
- Don't leave tools in the van overnight if you can help it. If you can't, park it somewhere lit and visible.
- Photograph and serial-number everything. Takes an hour, makes insurance claims and police reports actually work.
- Cheap GPS tracker in the van and in your main tool bag. £20–£50 each. Worth every penny if the worst happens.
- Tool insurance. Check your van policy · tools are often capped low or excluded entirely. Top up if needed.
What to do next
- Read: 12.1 · Tool theft: how it happens, how to prevent it, what to do when it does
- Read: 15.6 · The money reality: what you'll actually earn and spend in year one
- Read: 15.9 · Your first quote: how to not undersell yourself on day one
- Read: 6.5 · Tools-in-transit and tool insurance
- Read: 5.3 · What expenses can you claim as a self-employed tradesperson?
- Download: Cashflow forecast · 12 week template (build tool costs into your plan)
Sources (UK)
- ElectricalDirect Tool Spend Survey (2024) · average annual tool spend by trade, affordability data, second-hand purchasing trends.
- HMRC guidance on capital allowances and business expenses · tax treatment of tool purchases for self-employed tradespeople (gov.uk).
- Screwfix / Toolstation trade credit terms · published account terms and conditions.
- Trade insurer reports · tool theft statistics, security spend, claims data.
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