I am / was considering an FI course. First quote £7,700 inc vat. My other half has a domestic ironing business that pays a better hourly rate than a basic FI and it's not seasonal and it doesn't cost a fortune and a lot of effort to qualify. FI time may pay off as a stepping stone to a commercial job but compare the lost opportunity cost when you could have simply splashed out on a TR and fast tracked to a living wage. Otherwise just be an FI for the love of it and hopefully have other incomes to supplement the low and unreliable pay, particularly in the winter months.