Business Insights

10 Steps to Starting a Remodeling Business

Clock IconOctober 24, 2022 Glasses Icon1 minute read

10 Steps to Starting a Remodeling Business

Starting a business requires more than just filing the necessary paperwork with the government. This easy-to-follow guide will help you launch your remodeling business. These steps will guarantee that your new company is carefully thought out, legally compliant, and registered properly.

1. Create a Business Plan

For an entrepreneur to be successful, they must have a clear plan. You can use it to map out your company’s specifics and identify some unknowns. A few crucial subjects to think about are:

  • What will it cost to start the business and keep it going?
  • Who is your intended audience?
  • How much can you charge your customers?
  • What will be the name of your remodeling company?

Fortunately, we did a lot of the research for you.

How much does it cost to start a renovation business and keep it going?

The start-up cost will be between $50,000 and $75,000 if you are only providing your own expertise and time as a part-time remodeler because you will need a full set of tools, a car for transporting tools and materials, and the necessary licensing and insurance to operate in your state and region. Expect to need between $250,000 and $500,000 in startup cash if you want to establish a business providing substantial remodeling services because you’ll need to be able to pay for your first few orders of materials and recruit workers before your customer pays you for the finished job.

What are the recurring costs for a renovation company?

Accounts with material suppliers must be kept up to date, crews must be paid on time, and vehicles and equipment must be maintained. Fortunately, you can work from a small office space to save some money.

Who is your target audience?

Your ideal target audience would be owners of homes and businesses who want to hire professionals to revamp their spaces and who are prepared to pay a fair price for both labor and materials. Large enterprises may have more room and need renovations, allowing you to charge more for your remodeling services.

How does a remodeling company make money?

By charging customers for labor and supplies for their renovation, your remodeling firm makes money. As part of your trade, you are in charge of providing your own tools. However, you will buy materials like paint, hardware, timber, flooring, and other things at a wholesale price and then charge your customer more for them. The type of work being done, the level of expertise required, and locally available rates will all affect your hourly labor costs.

What is the average rate you can charge your customers?

Depending on the scope and complexity of the task, your fees will change. Rates can be lower or higher and range from $45 to $85 per hour. To make sure your client is receiving a decent deal, you should conduct a thorough competitive comparison. The typical cost varies largely on the size of the project. 

How much profit can a remodeling business generate?

15% is the usual markup on materials. A one-man business can make about $20,000 a year working part-time, while a big contractor with many teams can make seven figures when they successfully finish numerous significant tasks throughout the year.

How can you increase the profitability of your company?

The best way to increase business and, ultimately, profit is to deliver high-quality work that entirely pleases your customers. For your remodeling firm to be successful, you must constantly put quality control and customer service first.

What will the name of your company be?

Choosing the perfect name is difficult and crucial. You might choose to use a business name other than your own name if you run a sole proprietorship.

We advise conducting the following checks before registering a business name:

Business records for your state

records for federal and state trademarks

Social media channels

Availability of a web domain.

Securing your domain name before someone else does is crucial.

2. Get Your Remodeling Company Established As A Legal Entity

The sole proprietorship, partnership, limited liability company (LLC), and corporation are the four main types of business structures.

If your remodeling company is sued, creating a legal business entity, such as an LLC or corporation, saves you from being held personally accountable.

You have the option of creating an LLC on your own while only incurring the minimal state fees or, for a small additional expense, hiring one of the Best LLC Services.

3. Set Up a Tax Account For Your Remodeling Business

Upon starting a business, you must register for a number of state and federal taxes.

You will need to apply for an EIN in order to file for taxes. It’s really simple and cost-free!

Small business taxes

Your choices for how your firm will be taxed may vary depending on the business form you select. For instance, some LLCs might benefit from S corporation tax treatment (S corp).

We recommend doing research on the following business types to learn more about small business taxes: 

LLC Taxes

Sole Proprietorship vs LLC

LLC vs Corporation

LLC vs S Corp

How to Start an S Corp

S Corp vs C Corp

4. Open a Business Bank Account & Credit Card

For the security of personal assets, it is crucial to use special business banking and credit accounts.

If you don’t separate your personal and business accounts, your personal assets—your home, vehicle, and other personal belongings are in jeopardy if your firm is sued.  This is known as “piercing your corporate veil” in business law.

Additionally, understanding how to establish business credit can help you secure loans, credit cards, and other funding under your company’s name rather than your own, as well as get better terms and credit limits.

Open a bank account for your company

Creating a business bank account is necessary for several reasons, including:

  • Enables you to preserve your personal assets by keeping them separate from those of your corporation.
  • Simplifies bookkeeping and tax filing.

Create net 30 accounts

Net 30 accounts are designed to boost cash flow and develop and strengthen business credit. Businesses purchase items using a net 30 account and pay back the entire sum within the allotted 30 days.

NetMany net 30 credit suppliers submit reports to the main business credit bureaus (Dun & Bradstreet, Experian Business, and Equifax Business Credit). Businesses do this to establish their credit so they can be approved for credit cards and other forms of credit.

Get a company credit card

Having a company credit card is beneficial because it:

  • Puts all of your company’s expenses in one location to help you distinguish between personal and corporate spending.
  • Creates a credit history for your business, which will be helpful if you ever need to acquire capital.

5. Organize Your Remodeling Business's Accounting

Documenting your various costs and sources of revenue is crucial for comprehending the financial performance of your company. Maintaining precise and thorough records also makes submitting your yearly taxes much easier.

6. Obtain the Required Licenses & Permits for Your Remodeling Business

Heavy fines and even the closure of your business may come from failing to obtain the required permissions and licenses.

Requirements for Local and State Business Licensing

To run a remodeling business, you might need to obtain specific state permits and licenses. By going to the SBA’s reference to state licenses and permits, you can find out more about the licensing requirements in your state.

For details on local regulations and licenses:

  • Consult the county, city, or town clerk’s office.
  • Consult one of the local organizations on the US Small Business Association’s database of local business resources if you need guidance.

Services contract

Before beginning a new project, remodeling companies should request that clients sign a services agreement. By defining payment terms and conditions, service level expectations, and intellectual property ownership, this contract should make client expectations clear and reduce the likelihood of legal conflicts.

7. Get Remodeling Business Insurance

Similar to how a business needs licenses and permits to function legally and safely, insurance is also necessary. The financial stability of your business is safeguarded by business insurance in the case of a covered loss.

For various business kinds with various risks, there are many insurance policy types. If you’re not sure what liabilities your company might encounter, start with general liability insurance. It’s a wonderful starting point for your company because this is the coverage that small businesses require the most frequently.

Workers’ Compensation Insurance is a prominent insurance program that many businesses require. There’s a high likelihood that your state will require you to obtain workers’ compensation coverage if your business employs people.

8. Define the Brand of Your Remodeling Company

Your company’s brand is what it represents and how the public views your organization. Your company will stand out from rivals with a strong brand image.

If you already have a logo, you should include it on a QR code for your business cards to further promote your published website.

How to market and advertise a remodeling company

Campaigns using direct mail can put your name in front of local residents. Ask the big box store in your neighborhood to sponsor a DIY workshop. On the side of every vehicle that shows up at the job site and the place where you order supplies, be sure to add your remodeling business name. To increase the effectiveness of your advertising, think about joining organizations like the National Association of Home Builders or the National Association of the Remodeling Industry.

How to entice clients to return

Potential customers appreciate seeing a sample of the work you’ve done in the past. Place signs in front of houses that you are renovating or that you have just finished. Request permission from happy clients to post images of their new kitchen or bathroom on your website and social media. Encourage client reviews because it will be far more credible than a simple commercial. Be prepared to return to the jobsite for up to a year to do touch-ups because a satisfied customer is more likely to use you again. Always offer contracts and business cards that have been effectively drafted, and make sure your phones are answered in a professional and timely manner.

9. Build Your Remodeling Business Website

After defining your brand and finalizing your logo the next step is to make a website for your business.

Although developing a website is a crucial first step, some may be concerned that they lack the skills necessary to do so because they have no prior experience. Despite the fact that in 2015 this would have been a legitimate concern, web technology has made significant strides recently that have greatly simplified life for small business owners.

The primary reasons for prioritizing website development are as follows:

  • Having a website gives you the chance to make a fantastic first impression and reassure potential customers that you are a legitimate company.
  • Websites help gain remodeling clients’ trust by establishing credibility.
  • It gives your remodeling business an online presence

10. Set Up a Phone For Your Business

One of the easiest ways to maintain privacy and separation between your personal and professional lives is to set up a business phone. Not only that, but it also helps you streamline your business, provides it respectability, and makes it simpler for potential clients to find and get in touch with you.

Entrepreneurs that wish to install a company phone system can choose from a wide range of services. The best businesses have been evaluated and ranked according to their cost, features, and usability. To choose the best phone service for your small business, research and read reviews to see what different companies offer and how they are rated against each other.

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