Start a Custom Carpentry and Renovation Business

Skilled carpenters already have the tools and the demand; the missing piece is quoting their own jobs instead of building someone else's margin.

1. 1

   Check licensing thresholds in your state

   Many states require a contractor license above a certain job value, and some cities add their own permits. Verify the thresholds before quoting so a licensing gap never kills a job.

2. 2

   Set up the legal shell

   Form an LLC, carry general liability (roughly $1,000 to $2,000 a year), bond where required, and add workers comp the day you hire help.

3. 3

   Choose your profitable lane

   Built-ins, trim, and stairs sell on craftsmanship at high margins; full renovations sell on project management. Pick one and price for it.

4. 4

   Build your quoting math

   Materials plus labor hours plus 30 to 50 percent markup, in writing, with a deposit and a draw schedule. Underquoting is how skilled tradespeople go broke.

5. 5

   Quote three network jobs

   Your former employer's overflow, past clients, and friends-of-friends will produce the first jobs without a dollar of marketing spend.

6. 6

   Document work and get found

   Photograph every finished project, set up a Google Business Profile, and ask each happy homeowner for a review. Local trades win on visible proof.