How to Start a Jewellery Business in the UK [Complete 2025 Guide]

Jewellery might start as a passion, but turning it into a business in the UK takes more than just creativity. 

From choosing the right business model to handling legal requirements, sourcing materials, and building a brand that sells, this guide walks you through every step to launch your jewellery business the right way in 2025.

Step 1: Decide on your jewellery business model

Before you dive into branding or building a website, it’s important to figure out how your jewellery business will operate day-to-day. There are several viable models, and your choice should reflect both your creative strengths and your long-term goals.

🔸 Handmade jewellery

If you're a maker at heart and love working with your hands, starting with handmade jewellery might be the most rewarding route. 

This model gives you complete creative control, allowing you to create truly unique pieces and build a personal connection with your audience.

However, it’s labour-intensive and not always easy to scale unless you bring in help or create repeatable designs. 

Handmade models are well-suited for artisan markets, Etsy stores, and collectors who value craftsmanship.

🔸 Outsourced production

If you’re aiming for consistency and larger volumes, consider outsourcing your designs to a third-party manufacturer. 

This works well for trend-driven brands that need to release seasonal collections or produce fashion jewellery in batches. 

UK-based manufacturers offer the benefit of easier communication and local marketing appeal, while overseas partners might offer lower costs. In either case, it’s crucial to request samples and maintain quality control.

🔸 Print-on-Demand (POD) jewellery

Print-on-demand offers a low-risk, hands-off entry into the jewellery market.

It’s ideal for entrepreneurs who want to test ideas or focus on personalisation without handling inventory or production. 

You create a design – like an engraving, illustration, or message – and upload it to a POD platform. When a customer orders, the platform makes and ships the piece directly.

🔸 Curated or dropshipped jewellery

If you're not making your own designs but have a strong eye for style, consider reselling or dropshipping jewellery made by others. 

You can curate collections from wholesalers or use platforms like Spocket or Syncee to dropship directly from suppliers. This approach lets you test demand without investing in stock upfront.

This model works well for trend-conscious sellers who want to build a lifestyle brand around an aesthetic or niche (e.g., boho jewellery, celestial themes, minimalist sets).

Step 2: Choose a business structure

Your business structure affects everything from how you pay taxes to how much paperwork you deal with. In the UK, the most common options for small businesses are sole trader, partnership, and limited company.

Step 3: Handle legal requirements

Before you start selling your pieces, you’ll need to make sure your business is legally registered and compliant.

1. Choose and register your business name

Pick a unique name and check if it’s available on Companies House or through ANNA’s free Name Checker.

To protect your brand, consider trademarking it through the UK IPO.

2. Register your business structure

3. Open a business bank account

Even if you’re starting small, it’s best to keep business and personal finances separate.

4. Get the right insurance

At a minimum, you should consider:

5. Comply with online selling rules

If you’re selling online:

6. Check for licenses and permissions

You don’t need a special jewellery license, but you may need:

7. Understand Product Liability and Consumer Law

Under the Consumer Rights Act 2015:

For jewellery, this might mean avoiding harmful metals (like lead or nickel in large quantities), clearly stating materials, and providing care instructions or choking hazard warnings for children’s items.

8. Protect your intellectual property

If you're designing original pieces, photos, packaging, or branding assets, consider how to protect them:

To avoid issues, ensure you have contracts with freelancers who help with design, photography, or branding. These should clearly state that you own the rights to the work they produce for you.

Step 4: Define your jewellery niche

You might be tempted to sell everything from stackable rings to gemstone chokers, but when you're starting out, it’s smarter to narrow your focus. 

The UK jewellery market is busy, and finding a niche helps you stand out, connect with the right customers, and build a brand that people remember.

You may also think this is something we covered in step 1, but here’s how it’s different:

🔸Why a niche matters

Without a defined niche, your products might blend into a sea of similar items. But with a specific focus – whether that’s ethical sourcing, bold design, or personalisation – you become easier to find, easier to trust, and easier to market.

A niche also helps guide your product development, pricing, brand identity, and even the platforms you sell on.

🔸 Types of jewellery niches to explore

Then refine it further. Consider these angles:

🌸 Examples:

Edge of Ember found success with ethical, modern jewellery that doesn’t sacrifice style. Their collections are made from recycled materials and often feature personalised engraving options.

Orelia London focuses on affordable luxury, offering fashion-forward designs that are wearable and giftable.

Bonito carves out a niche with vibrant, bold pieces designed to be dopamine-boosting accessories, not background noise.

Step 5: Set up your workshop or studio

Even if you're starting from home, having a dedicated, well-organised space is important, especially for handmade or assembly-based jewellery businesses.

🔸Working from home

🔸 Essential tools (for handmade jewellery)

If you’re doing silversmithing or casting, you may need additional equipment or studio space with ventilation and fire safety measures.

🔸 Shared or commercial space

If working from home isn’t ideal:

✅ Tip: Keep safety in mind and use proper PPE, store chemicals securely, and tie up long hair near tools.

Step 6: Take great product photos

Photos sell your jewellery. Good lighting, clean backgrounds, and detailed shots make your pieces stand out and help customers feel confident buying.

🔸 Capture the right angles

✅ Tip: Include a hand or neck for scale, especially with rings and necklaces.

Step 7: Build your online store

Your website is often the first impression customers will have of your brand, so make it count. Whether you’re launching your own site or starting on a marketplace, your online shop should be easy to use, mobile-friendly, and reflect your jewellery’s aesthetic.

You’ve got a few options, depending on your goals:

Many UK jewellery businesses start on Etsy and later build their own Shopify store once they’ve tested the market.

As of May 2025, 13,277 Shopify stores sell jewellery products.

Jewellery business growth checklist

How ANNA can help you start and run your jewellery business in the UK

Starting a jewellery business, no matter if you're handcrafting each piece or launching an online brand, comes with a surprising amount of admin.

Company registration, taxes, bank accounts, compliance... It's a lot to handle when all you want to do is design, sell, and grow.

ANNA gives you the tools, services, and support to launch and run your business smoothly, without the paperwork headaches.

🔸 Start strong: Company registration made easy

With ANNA, you can register a limited company and open a business bank account at the same time – often in under a day. 

If you apply by 3 pm, you’ll usually be trading by the evening, complete with your certificate of incorporation and ready-to-use account.

Plans start from just £19 (with no hidden Companies House fees), or you can choose a more complete package that includes ongoing support with tax filing, annual returns, and other mandatory filings. 

Perfect if you’d rather skip the paperwork and focus on launching your first collection.

🔸 A business account built for creatives

Every jewellery business needs a business account, and ANNA’s is designed with simplicity in mind. You’ll get:

And if you’re running an online store, ANNA connects with Shopify, WooCommerce, Etsy, eBay, and Amazon. Your sales and payments sync automatically – no more spreadsheets or manual importing.

🔸 Stay compliant without the stress

Keeping up with HMRC deadlines can be overwhelming. ANNA takes care of your core compliance tasks:

You’ll even get reminders and real-time support from the Cardiff-based ANNA team if anything needs your attention.

🔸 Add a London address (Without moving)

Want to protect your home address or level up your brand image? ANNA offers a virtual London business address, complete with same-day mail scanning and forwarding – ideal if you’re working from home but want to appear more established.

Ready to launch your jewellery business?

Skip the admin stress and start strong with ANNA. Register your company, open a business account, and stay compliant – all in one place.