How to Start a Custom Playsets Business

Start a custom playsets business by following these 10 steps:

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

We have put together this simple guide to starting your custom playsets 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 ourCustom Playsets 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 custom playsets business?

Opening a custom playset business that has an online design platform likeCedarWorksrequires a substantial investment, for the custom web design work is expensive. Business owners don’t need such a fancy website, though.

Business owners who have limited capital can get started for very little if they already have the necessary tools and a workshop (or garage). Business owners need:

• Tools for constructing and assembling playsets
• A vehicle for transporting playsets to installation sites
• A space for building individual parts
• Marketing materials

Those who don’t have these things can keep their costs minimal by purchasing used tools, renting a pickup truck when they need one, and working outside on fair-weather days. Marketing materials can be as simple as a few business cards and flyers when first starting out.

To make sure customers don’t cancel orders, business owners can require an upfront deposit. The deposit can be used to purchase any necessary building materials and features (e.g. slides).

What are the ongoing expenses for a custom playsets business?

The ongoing expenses for a custom playset business are minimal. They include rent (if leasing a workshop), utilities, vehicle costs, and any advertising expenses.

Who is the target market?

Parents are the target market for a custom playset business. Most customers are parents who have discretionary income and live in suburbia, where backyards afford space for swing sets.

How does a custom playsets business make money?

A custom playset business makes money by selling playsets. Sometimes an installation fee is charged as a separate cost, and sometimes it’s included in the price of a playset. In a few cases, customers may choose to install a playset themselves so that there is no installation fee.

How much can you charge customers?

John Lapp, an Amish custom playset business owner, sells basic playsets for $375 and fancy ones for as much as $3,000. Other businesses sell custom models for $5,000 or more. Barrett Brown, who owns CedarWorks, sold one playset for $40,000.

Installation usually runs between $200 and $700, although it can be more for larger playsets.

How much profit can a custom playsets business make?

The profit potential for a custom playset business is substantial. John Lapp sold around 700 playsets in a single year, which would have generated a revenue between $262,500 and $2.1 million depending on how fancy those playsets were.

How can you make your business more profitable?

A custom playset business can increase revenue by offering maintenance services for playsets and/or providing moving services for larger playsets. CedarWorks also makes indoor play spaces, which may appeal to some customers.

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 custom playsets 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 custom playsets business. Learn more about licensing requirements in your state by visitingSBA’s reference to state licenses and permits.

Certificate of Occupancy

A custom playsets 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 custom playsets business.
• After a major renovation, a new CO often needs to 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 custom playsets business will be in compliance and able to obtain a CO.

Service Contracts

Custom playsets businesses should consider requiring 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, service level expectations, and so on.

STEP 7: Get business insurance

正如执照和许可,您的业务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?

Many business owners who start custom playset businesses enjoy woodworking and being outdoors, which makes creating swing sets in backyards a natural choice.Gabriel Millansays that the smiles kids have when they see a new swing set is another added bonus for him, and it likely is for most other business owners.

What happens during a typical day at a custom playsets business?

Custom playset business owners and employees spend a lot of their time building playsets and installing those playsets. When not actively constructing or putting together a playset, business owners pick up supplies and help customers custom-design their playsets.

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

而企业主应该有一些基本的woodworking and handyman skills, an advanced knowledge of carpentry isn’t necessary to start a custom playset business. Businesses that don’t already have these skills can gain them by either enrolling at a local vocational school or working for a playset installation business in the area.

In order to ensure that custom-designed playsets are safe, business owners should familiarize themselves with theASTM International standard F1148.This is a voluntary standard for home playground equipment.AAA State of Playmakes ASTM-certified playsets and explains why this standard is so important.

For help with the actual designing of custom playsets, business owners can look at what other companies are offering and consult books likeBackyards for Kids,Homesthetics.net, andPaul’s Playhouseshave a number of design ideas that can be incorporated into designs.

What is the growth potential for a custom playsets business?

Most custom playset businesses have a single location where they make playsets. Some businesses offer installation only throughout the local area around their workshop or factory, while other businesses partner with playset installers so they can serve customers throughout the Continental U.S. (and occasionally Canada, Alaska and Hawaii). A few businesses grow to have their own stores throughout the U.S.

CNY Playsetsin East Syracuse, NY is a typical small custom playset business that serves the surrounding community.Swingsets Lancasteroffers delivery and installation throughout the Continental U.S., andAdventure World Playsetspartners with dealers in several states.