How to Start a PAT Testing Business in the UK (2026)

A PAT testing business is one of the most accessible technical service businesses you can start in the UK. The qualification takes one day, requires no prior electrical experience, and the total start-up cost — course plus equipment — is typically under £1,200. Self-employed PAT testers charge £150 to £300 per day and build a recurring client base that reorders annually.

There is no licence required to operate a PAT testing business in the UK. What you do need is proof of competence: the City & Guilds 2377-77 is the qualification that insurers, landlords, schools, and businesses all recognise and ask for. Without it, getting public liability insurance and convincing commercial clients to hire you is difficult.

The City & Guilds 2377-77(In-Service Inspection and Testing of Electrical Equipment) is a Level 3 Award and the UK's industry-standard PAT testing qualification. It replaced the older 2377-22 and 2377-32 in November 2020 and is aligned with the IET Code of Practice 5th Edition.

Key facts about the qualification

• ✓Duration: one day of classroom and practical training at a City & Guilds approved centre
• ✓Prerequisites: none — no prior electrical qualifications or experience required
• ✓Assessment: practical assessment using real PAT testing instruments on the day
• ✓Cost at Total Skills: £260 including VAT — the City & Guilds exam and certificate are included with no extra fees
• ✓Certificate: does not expire — you earn it once and hold it indefinitely
• ✓CPD value: for qualified electricians, the 2377-77 also counts as continuing professional development

The course covers the legal framework (Health and Safety at Work Act, Electricity at Work Regulations), equipment construction classes (Class I earthed, Class II double-insulated, Class III extra-low voltage), visual inspection techniques, electrical testing (earth continuity, insulation resistance, leakage current), and how to record results and apply pass/fail labels in line with the IET Code of Practice.

PAT testing has one of the lowest start-up costs of any trade-related business. The two essential investments are the qualification and your equipment.

The qualification

The City & Guilds 2377-77 course at Total Skills costs £260 including VAT. The exam and City & Guilds certificate are included — there are no separate fees.

PAT testing equipment

A dedicated PAT testing instrument is your main equipment cost. Instruments range from around £200 for a basic model to £800 for a top-end unit with Bluetooth connectivity, automatic test sequences, and built-in memory. Mid-range instruments with data logging and label printing typically cost £400 to £600 and suit most business use cases well.

Beyond the tester, you will need pass and fail labels (typically a few pounds per roll of 500), a logbook or PAT testing software for recording results, basic hand tools for visual inspections, and a carry case. These add a small amount to the overall outlay.

Insurance

Public liability insurance is essential before taking on commercial clients. Most insurers require your 2377-77 certificate to issue a policy. Professional indemnity insurance is also advisable. For a new sole trader, insurance typically costs a few hundred pounds a year — check current quotes from specialist trades insurers. For detailed guidance, see our electrician insurance guide.

The most reliable early clients for a new PAT testing business are organisations with large numbers of appliances and a legal duty to maintain them safely.

Landlords and letting agents

Every furnished rental property requires PAT testing of appliances provided with the tenancy. HMOs (Houses in Multiple Occupation) often require PAT testing as a condition of the landlord licence. From May 2026, social landlords in England — housing associations and local authorities — are legally required to carry out in-service inspection and testing of all electrical appliances provided with tenancies. This regulation change creates significant new demand for qualified PAT testers across thousands of properties.

Approach local letting agents directly. Agents managing large portfolios need a reliable PAT tester on their books and will pass your details to landlords. A single agent with 100+ managed properties can provide substantial recurring work.

Small businesses, offices, and schools

• ✓Offices — computers, monitors, desk fans, phone chargers, extension leads, and kitchen appliances all require periodic testing
• ✓Schools and nurseries — high compliance expectations, large numbers of appliances, and a duty of care to pupils
• ✓Restaurants and cafes — commercial kitchen appliances are high-use and high-risk; many insurers require regular PAT records
• ✓Churches and community centres — often have old donated equipment and limited budgets, but consistent annual need
• ✓Construction sites — the Electricity at Work Regulations require portable tools to be tested regularly on site
• ✓Hotels and guest houses — high appliance counts across bedrooms, kitchens, and common areas, with strict insurance requirements

Building recurring revenue

The real long-term value in a PAT testing business is annual retesting contracts. Most commercial environments retest appliances every one to two years, and higher-risk environments (construction sites, workshops) test more frequently. Once a client is set up in your schedule and records system, retesting is straightforward and the work reorders automatically.

Many PAT testers charge per appliance with a minimum call-out fee to make smaller jobs viable. This is a common and accepted pricing model across the industry — clients understand the minimum because they need the tester to travel to their premises.

Self-employed PAT testers typically operate on day rates or per-item pricing. Based on figures from the course supplement for the City & Guilds 2377-77:

• ✓Day rate: £150 to £300 per day — common for office blocks, schools, and industrial premises where you test all appliances on site
• ✓Per-appliance: many testers charge per item with a minimum call-out fee for smaller jobs
• ✓Annual retesting contracts: the foundation of a stable income — clients return each year without the need for re-marketing

A self-employed PAT tester working four to five days a week with a growing client base can realistically earn £30,000 to £50,000 per year. Earnings increase as your retesting contracts build up, because you spend less time quoting and more time testing. For electricians adding PAT testing as an additional service, even one or two days per week of PAT work generates meaningful supplementary income.

Once qualified and insured, the practical setup of a PAT testing business is straightforward.

Recording and documentation

Good record-keeping is what separates a professional PAT tester from an amateur one. Clients — especially businesses with health and safety obligations — want clear documentation: a register of every appliance tested, the date, the result, your name and qualification, and the next test due date. Many PAT testers use dedicated software that prints labels, generates PDF reports, and sends retest reminders. Some PAT instruments include companion apps that handle this automatically.

Pricing your work

Day rates of £150 to £300 are the industry norm for larger jobs. For smaller jobs — a single landlord property with ten appliances — a minimum call-out fee keeps the work viable. Many testers charge per item with a minimum, so a client with 8 appliances pays the minimum regardless. Setting a clear minimum from the start avoids awkward conversations later.

Growing beyond your own labour

As demand builds, some PAT testing business owners take on employed or subcontract testers to expand capacity. This is a natural progression once your client base is too large to service alone. For guidance on the business side of running a trade service, see our self-employed electrician guide, which covers HMRC registration, VAT, and client management.

Combining services

PAT testing pairs naturally with fire extinguisher servicing, emergency lighting checks, and basic electrical maintenance. Offering a combined safety inspection service increases your revenue per visit and makes you more valuable to clients who want a single point of contact for compliance. For a more in-depth view of how the electrical testing market works, see our PAT testing explained guide.

Starting a PAT testing business follows a clear, short path:

• ✓Book and complete the City & Guilds 2377-77 course (one day, £260 including VAT and exam)
• ✓Purchase a PAT testing instrument — a mid-range model handles most business needs
• ✓Get public liability and professional indemnity insurance — your 2377-77 certificate is required by most insurers
• ✓Identify your first target clients — landlords, local letting agents, and nearby small businesses are the easiest starting points
• ✓Set up your record-keeping system before your first job — PAT software or a logbook, labels, and a professional report template
• ✓Build annual retesting contracts — these are the foundation of a stable income

For more on the commercial side — how PAT testing fits into the broader landlord compliance picture — see our PAT testing for landlords guide.