How to Start a Countertop Business

Start a countertop business by following these 10 steps:

1. Plan your Countertop Business
2. Form your Countertop Business into a Legal Entity
3. Register your Countertop Business for Taxes
4. Open a Business Bank Account & Credit Card
5. Set up Accounting for your Countertop Business
6. Get the Necessary Permits & Licenses for your Countertop Business
7. Get Countertop Business Insurance
8. Define your Countertop Business Brand
9. Create your Countertop Business Website
10. Set up your Business Phone System

We have put together this simple guide to starting your countertop business. These steps will ensure that your new business is well planned out, registered properly and legally compliant.

Exploring your options? Check out othersmall business ideas.

STEP 1: Plan your business

A clear plan is essential for success as an entrepreneur. It will help you map out the specifics of your business and discover some unknowns. A few important topics to consider are:

• What will you name your business?
• What are the startup and ongoing costs?
• Who is your target market?
• How much can you charge customers?

Luckily we have done a lot of this research for you.

What will you name your business?

Choosing the right name is important and challenging. If you don’t already have a name in mind, visit ourHow to Name a Businessguide or get help brainstorming a name with ourCountertop Business Name Generator

If you operate asole proprietorship, you might want to operate under a business name other than your own name. Visit ourDBAguide to learn more.

Whenregistering a business name, we recommend researching your business name by checking:

• Your state's business records
• Federal and state trademark records
• Social media platforms
• Web domain availability.

It's very important to secure your domain name before someone else does.

What are the costs involved in opening a countertop business?

在一个工作台面创业之前,你需要to acquire a city business license. This regularly costs between $50 and $100 dollars. Next, you’ll need to acquire liability insurance—which will vary depending upon your insurance provider. As a provider who sells countertops, you’ll need to source either raw materials—crafting them in-house—or source them from another provider. Wholesale materials are significantly cheaper than their installation costs. Raw-slab granite costs between $10 and $40 per square foot, uninstalled. Marble slabs, meanwhile, cost between $50 and $250 per square foot, uninstalled.

Don’t forget about your business’s utilities, rent and employee costs, either. You'll need to calculate your rent costs bysquare footage. On average, a small workshop near a shopping area will cost around $23 per square foot. So, every month, such a space would carry a $3,642 expense if it were 1,900 square feet. If you're in need of starting revenue, consider working out of a garage.

As for employee costs, average payment is between $13 and $17 per hour for fabricators and installers. Your sales associates, as your company grows, will likely expect payment at the upper end.

What are the ongoing expenses for a countertop business?

As a countertop business owner, you’ll need to pay for your materials. If you’re fabricating them yourself, you’ll need to pay for specialized workers. Utilities, rent, and installation tools, of course, are part of the ongoing costs—as well as equipment depreciation.

Who is the target market?

Most of your clients will be homeowners. Preferred clients are those that are looking for someone to offer more than just installation of countertops. These people will be employing your services to help them select designs and materials in addition to installing the countertop once the desired top has been chosen. You will be able to charge these customers for design plans as well as for installation. Not only do these customers present your with a better opportunity for profit, they also have the potential to become more comfortable and satisfied with your business; therefore, they are more likely to share their experience and promote your services to others.

How does a countertop business make money?

Individual contractors and countertop business owners make money by installing, removing, and maintaining countertops. A lot of countertop businesses have ongoing client relationships. Countertops can wear down over time, and it takes professional skill to repair cracks, buffer out scratches, and install customized additions. While the initial purchase of a countertop pays well, ongoing repair and addition services are the most consistent revenue streams.

How much can you charge customers?

On average, you can charge clients between $20 and $100 dollars per square foot of high-grade material installation. This adds up, averaging to between $2,500 and $3,500 per installation. That said, materials matter. Wood, for example, costs far less to install than a quartz slab. Once a business' expenses are paid, a small countertop business manager can expect to earn about $46,000. That said, a countertop business financial controller can make approximately $69,000 per year. Ideally, a countertop business conducts a couple thousand jobs per year.

How much profit can a countertop business make?

A small countertop business owner can still make a lot of money. While annual revenue is hard to pin down—due to the sheer variety in countertop services—a typical profit margin, per installation, is about $80 to $120 dollars per square foot. Yes, this means a successful countertop business can make hundreds of thousands of dollars, yearly, if they’re providing consistent work. That said, small countertop businesses may find it difficult to obtain a consistent client flow.

How can you make your business more profitable?

At the end of the day, your business’s profitability will depend on its service quality. There are a lot of countertop businesses out there, and many offer unique styles and competitive pricing. So, to be profitable, you’ll need to both offer unique designs and assure great services. It is essential to be quick, available, and able to communicate well with your clients.

STEP 2: Form a legal entity

The most commonbusiness structuretypes are thesole proprietorship,partnership,118bet金博宝 , andcorporation.

Establishing a legal business entity such as anLLCorcorporationprotects you from being held personally liable if your countertop business is sued.

You can金宝搏188是什么公司yourself and pay only the minimal stateLLC costsor hire one of the118金宝app for a small, additional fee.

STEP 3: Register for taxes

You will need to register for a variety of state and federal taxes before you can open for business.

In order to register for taxes you will need to apply for an EIN. It's really easy and free!

There are specific state taxes that might apply to your business. Learn more aboutstate sales taxand franchise taxes in our state sales tax guides.

STEP 4: Open a business bank account & credit card

Using dedicated business banking and credit accounts is essential for personal asset protection.

When your personal and business accounts are mixed, your personal assets (your home, car, and other valuables) are at risk in the event your business is sued. In business law, this is referred to aspiercing your corporate veil.

Open a business bank account

Besides being a requirement when applying for business loans, opening a business bank account:

• Separates your personal assets from your company's assets, which is necessary for personal asset protection.
• Makes accounting and tax filing easier.

Get a business credit card

Getting abusiness credit cardhelps you:

• Separate personal and business expenses by putting your business' expenses all in one place.
• Build your company's credit history, which can be useful to raise money later on.

STEP 5: Set up business accounting

Recording your various expenses and sources of income is critical to understanding the financial performance of your business. Keeping accurate and detailed accounts also greatly simplifies your annual tax filing.

Make LLC accounting easy with ourLLC Expenses Cheat Sheet.

STEP 6: Obtain necessary permits and licenses

Failure to acquire necessary permits and licenses can result in hefty fines, or even cause your business to be shut down.

State & Local Business Licensing Requirements

Certain state permits and licenses may be needed to operate a countertop business. Learn more about licensing requirements in your state by visitingSBA’s reference to state licenses and permits.

Services Contract

In business where services are provided on an extended basis, a services contract is often put in place outlining terms and conditions of service.

Countertop installation businesses should require clients to sign a services agreement before starting a new project. This agreement should clarify client expectations and minimize risk of legal disputes by setting out payment terms and conditions, and service level expectations. Here isan example of such a service agreement.

Recommended:Rocket Lawyer makes it easy tocreate a professional service agreementfor your countertop business when you sign up for their premium membership. For $39.95 per month, members receive access to hundreds of legal agreements and on call attorneys to get complimentary legal advice.

Certificate of Occupancy

A countertop business is generally run out of a workshop. Businesses operating out of a physical location typically require aCertificate of Occupancy(CO). A CO confirms that all building codes, zoning laws and government regulations have been met.

• If you plan to lease a location:
• It is generally the landlord’s responsibility to obtain a CO.
• Before leasing, confirm that your landlord has or can obtain a valid CO that is applicable to a countertop business.
• 后一项重大革新,新的公司常常需要be issued. If your place of business will be renovated before opening,it is recommendedto include language in your lease agreement stating that lease payments will not commence until a valid CO is issued.

• If you plan to purchase or build a location:
• You will be responsible for obtaining a valid CO from a local government authority.
• Review all building codes and zoning requirements for your business’ location to ensure your countertop business will be in compliance and able to obtain a CO.

STEP 7: Get business insurance

Just as with licenses and permits, your business needs insurance in order to operate safely and lawfully.Business Insuranceprotects your company’s financial wellbeing in the event of a covered loss.

There are several types of insurance policies created for different types of businesses with different risks. If you’re unsure of the types of risks that your business may face,begin withGeneral Liability Insurance. This is the most common coverage that small businesses need, so it’s a great place to start for your business.

Another notable insurance policy that many businesses need isWorkers’ Compensation Insurance. If your business will have employees, it’s a good chance that your state will require you to carry Workers' Compensation Coverage.

Is this Business Right For You?

熟练的工匠们涌向台面的企业,and for good reason: They’re expressive, they hold many opportunities, and they give contractors the freedom they seek, work-wise. Independent workers who love stone-crafting, interior design, repair work, and hands-on work are fantastic marble and granite contractors. While countertops needn’t be made of fine materials, a lot of countertop contractors love the artistic aspects of installation.

What happens during a typical day at a countertop business?

Countertop businesses operate on a service call basis. So, they’re likely to answer a variety of service needs. Countertop business owners must be familiar with granite, marble, and other popular countertop materials. Day-to-day activities include giving homeowners quotes, choosing countertop styles, formatting a countertop’s installation plans, and cutting countertop materials. As for actual installation, maintenance, and removal, countertop business workers perform basic maintenance operations. Meanwhile, the business owner strategizes services by creating effective price plans. There’s a lot of competition in the countertop industry. For this reason, a lot of business owners focus onmarketing. Printed ads, internet ads, and even mobile ads are important. As with any contracting-centric business, a countertop business owner spends most of their time planning finances, sourcing materials, and targeting niche markets.

What are some skills and experiences that will help you build a successful countertop business?

First and foremost, you’ll need to understand the basics of home improvement. Kitchen renovations, utility maintenance, concrete maintenance, and general home repair are incredibly important. You’ll need to secure education which fosters these skills, too. From a business ownership standpoint, it pays off to have skills in management, financing, and marketing. As a starting entrepreneur or small business owner, it’s a good idea to develop interpersonal skills, as well.

What is the growth potential for a countertop business?

Like many contractor-focused businesses, a countertop business has incredible scale. Again, it isn’t rare to see an individual countertop contractor. Large-scale countertop businesses also have a niche in the grand scheme of home improvement. If your business grows, scales effectively and can handle mass amounts of material and human resources, it can even become a specialized provider, favored by high-quality home décor lovers.