Starting A Countertop Business

Countertops are challenging to install. More importantly, they’re substantial. Installing, removing, or repairing a countertop requires expert experience, planning, and equipment. Because the homeowner chooses the design, materials, and installation requirements of the countertop, services focused toward personalised scheduling are quite valuable. Countertop company owners are often very proficient maintenance professionals. They understand house repairs, fashion trends, and safety regulations.

Follow these ten steps to start a countertop business:

Plan your Countertop Company

Create a legal entity for your countertop business.

Taxes must be registered for your countertop business.

Create a Business Bank Account and a Credit Card

Create an accounting system for your countertop business.

Get the Permits and Licenses You Need for Your Countertop Business

Purchase Countertop Business Insurance.

Create a brand for your countertop business.

Make a website for your countertop business.

Configure your Business Phone System

Starting a company entails more than just registering it with the state. This basic guide to launching your countertop company has been put up by us. These stages will guarantee that your new company is well-planned, correctly registered, and legally compliant.

STEP 1: Make a business plan.

A well-thought-out strategy is vital for entrepreneur success. It will assist you in mapping out the intricacies of your organisation and uncovering some unknowns. Consider the following crucial topics:

What are the initial and continuing expenses?

Who is your intended audience?

How much money may you charge your customers?

Fortunately, we have done a lot of the legwork for you.

What are the expenses of starting a countertop business?

A municipal business licence is required before launching a countertop company. This typically costs between $50 and $100. Following that, you’ll need to get liability insurance, which may differ depending on your insurance provider. As a supplier selling countertops, you’ll need to get raw materials, either in-house or through another provider. Wholesale supplies are much less expensive than installation fees. Uninstalled, raw-slab granite costs between $10 and $40 per square foot. Meanwhile, uninstalled marble slabs range between $50 and $250 per square foot.

Don’t forget about your company’s utilities, rent, and labour expenditures. You’ll need to figure out your rent charges based on square footage. A modest workshop in a retail area will typically cost approximately $23 per square foot. So, if the area was 1,900 square feet, the monthly cost would be $3,642. Consider working out of your garage to generate initial money.

In terms of staff expenses, fabricators and installers typically earn between $13 and $17 per hour. As your firm expands, your sales workers will most certainly anticipate more compensation.

What are the continuing costs of running a countertop business?

You will need to pay for your supplies as a countertop company owner. If you make them yourself, you’ll have to pay for specialist labour. Of course, utilities, rent, and installation tools are all part of the continuing expenditures, as does equipment depreciation.

Who is the intended audience?

The majority of your customers will be homeowners. Preferred clientele are those that need more than simply countertop installation. These folks will hire you to assist them choose designs and materials, as well as install the countertop after the ideal top has been selected. You will be able to charge these consumers for both design plans and implementation. These consumers not only provide you with a higher profit possibility, but they also have the ability to grow more comfortable and content with your company, making them more inclined to share their experience and recommend your services to others.

How does a countertop company earn money?

Individual contractors and countertop company owners profit from the installation, removal, and maintenance of counters. Many countertop companies have continuous client ties. Countertops deteriorate with time, and expert competence is required to fix cracks, smooth out scratches, and install personalised embellishments. While the initial purchase of a countertop pays handsomely, the most constant income sources are continuing maintenance and addition services.

How much money may you charge your customers?

Clients should expect to pay between $20 and $100 per square foot for high-quality material installation. This adds up, with an average installation costing between $2,500 and $3,500. Having said that, materials do matter. Wood, for example, is far less expensive to install than a quartz slab. After deducting company expenditures, a small countertop business manager may anticipate to make about $46,000. A countertop company financial controller may earn about $69,000 per year. A countertop company should ideally do a few thousand projects every year.

How much money can a countertop company make?

A little countertop company owner may still generate a significant amount of money. While yearly income is difficult to estimate owing to the wide range of countertop services, a typical profit margin per installation is about $80 to $120 per square foot. Yes, a successful countertop company may earn hundreds of thousands of dollars each year if they provide continuous service. However, tiny countertop enterprises may struggle to maintain a steady customer flow.

How can you increase the profitability of your company?

At the end of the day, your company’s profitability is determined by the quality of its services. There are numerous countertop companies out there, and many of them offer distinctive designs and affordable prices. To be lucrative, you must provide both innovative designs and excellent service. It is critical to be responsive, accessible, and able to communicate effectively with your customers.

STEP 2: Establish a legal entity

Sole proprietorship, partnership, limited liability company (LLC), and corporation are the most frequent business structure forms.

If your countertop company is sued, forming a formal business structure, like as an LLC or corporation, shields you from being held personally accountable.

STEP 3: File your taxes

Before you can begin for business, you must register for a number of state and federal taxes.

To register for taxes, you will need to get an EIN. It’s really simple and completely free!

Taxes on Small Businesses

Depending on the business form you choose, you may have multiple choices for how your company is taxed. Some LLCs, for example, may benefit from being taxed as a S company (S corp).

These guides will teach you more about small company taxes:

Taxes on LLCs

LLC vs. sole proprietorship

Corporation vs. LLC

S Corp vs. LLC

How to Form a S Corporation

S Corporation vs. C Corporation

There may be state taxes that apply to your company. In our state sales tax guides, you may learn more about state sales taxes and franchise taxes.

STEP 4: Establish a company bank account and credit card

Personal asset protection requires the use of distinct business banking and credit accounts.

When you combine your personal and business accounts, your personal assets (your house, vehicle, and other possessions) are at danger if your company is sued. This is known as penetrating your company veil in business law.

Furthermore, understanding how to develop corporate credit may help you get credit cards and other financing in your company’s name (rather than your own), lower interest rates, larger lines of credit, and other benefits.

Establish a business bank account.

Opening a business bank account is not only required when asking for business financing, but it also:

Separates your personal assets from the assets of your firm, which is required for personal asset protection.

It simplifies bookkeeping and tax reporting.

Create a net 30 account.

Net 30 accounts are used to develop and grow company credit while also increasing cash flow. Businesses use a net 30 account to purchase items and refund the whole debt within a 30-day period.

Many net 30 credit suppliers submit information to the main business credit agencies (Dun & Bradstreet, Experian Business, and Equifax Business Credit). This is how firms establish business credit in order to get approved for credit cards and other lines of credit.

Apply for a business credit card.

Obtaining a business credit card benefits you in the following ways:

Put all of your company’s costs in one location to separate personal and business spending.

Build your company’s credit history, which will be important for raising funds in the future.

STEP 5: Establish business accounting

Recording your numerous costs and sources of revenue is crucial to assessing your company’s financial status. Keeping precise and thorough accounting also makes yearly tax filing much easier.

STEP 6: Obtain all required permissions and licences

Failure to get appropriate permissions and licences may result in significant penalties or possibly the closure of your firm.

Requirements for State and Local Business Licensing

To run a countertop company, several state permissions and licences may be required. Visit the SBA’s reference to state licences and permits to learn more about licencing requirements in your state.

For information on local licences and permissions, visit:

Check with the clerk’s office in your town, city, or county.

Contact one of the local organisations mentioned in the US Small Business Associations database of local business resources for help.

Contract for Services

A services contract defining terms and conditions of service is often put in place in businesses where services are supplied on an ongoing basis.

Before beginning a new job, countertop installation companies should need customers to sign a services agreement. By defining payment terms and conditions, as well as service level expectations, this agreement should clarify client expectations and reduce the possibility of legal conflicts. Here’s an example of such a service contract.

When you join up with Rocket Lawyer’s premium membership, you can easily write a professional service agreement for your countertop company. Members have access to hundreds of legal agreements and on-call lawyers for free legal assistance for $39.95 each month.

Occupancy Certificate

A countertop company is often conducted out of a workshop. A Certificate of Occupancy is often required for businesses that operate from a physical site (CO). A certificate of occupancy certifies that all building rules, zoning laws, and government requirements have been satisfied.

If you intend to rent a space:

In most cases, it is the landlord’s obligation to get a CO.

Before leasing, ensure that your landlord has or can acquire a valid CO for a countertop company.

A new CO is often required after a big remodelling. If your location will be refurbished before opening, incorporate wording in your leasing agreement saying that lease payments would not begin until a valid CO is given.

If you intend to buy or create a location:

It is your responsibility to secure a valid CO from a local government entity.

Examine all building laws and zoning standards for the location of your company to guarantee that your countertop business will be in compliance and able to receive a CO.

STEP 7: Obtain commercial insurance.

Insurance, like licences and permits, is required for your company to operate safely and legally. In the case of a covered loss, business insurance protects your company’s financial well-being.

There are several sorts of insurance plans designed for various types of companies with varying risks. If you are unaware about the hazards that your company may encounter, start with General Liability Insurance. This is the most popular coverage required by small companies, so it’s a good place to start for yours.

Workers’ Compensation Insurance is another important insurance product that many companies need. If your company will have workers, your state may require you to purchase Workers’ Compensation insurance.

STEP 8: Establish your brand

Your company’s brand is what it stands for, as well as how the public perceives it. A strong brand will help your company stand out from the crowd.

How to Promote and Market a Countertop Company

Marketing-wise, countertop firms have an intriguing challenge. They would be better off marketing their services via print and online landing pages. Focusing on mobile marketing, social media marketing, and small company collaborations isn’t as beneficial since their largest customer demographic is homeowners.

How to Keep Customers Returning

To attract clients, your company should have a website, concentrate on SEO marketing, and reach out to prospective customers via printed ads. In terms of client retention, prioritising regular care, check-ups, and repairs will encourage them to return to you.

STEP 9: Create your company’s website.

After you’ve defined your brand and designed your logo, the next step is to build a website for your company.

While developing a website is an important step, some may be concerned that it is out of their grasp due to a lack of website-building skills. While this was a fair concern in 2015, online technology has made significant advances in recent years, making the lives of small company owners considerably easier.

The following are the primary reasons why you should not put off developing your website:

Every genuine company has a website, period. When it comes to bringing your company online, it doesn’t matter what size or sector it is.

Social media accounts, such as Facebook pages or LinkedIn company profiles, are not a substitute for your own business website.

STEP 10: Install your company phone system.

Getting a phone for your company is one of the finest methods to keep your personal and professional lives distinct and private. That isn’t the only advantage; it also helps you automate your company, provides it legitimacy, and makes it simpler for prospective clients to identify and contact you.