Solo carport and pergola builder

Homeowners wanting covered parking or outdoor living space, plus landlords and small property owners.

Fixed-price quotes per job covering materials, labour and a margin. Most jobs run from a few days to a week or two.

• Carpentry or building skills
• Reading plans and measuring accurately
• Quoting and costing jobs
• Dealing with customers and councils

• Most states require a builder or carpentry licence above certain job values, check your state's rules before quoting
• Council or private certifier approval is often needed for carports and larger pergolas, so check local requirements
• Home warranty or building insurance may be required on bigger jobs in some states
• Public liability insurance and safe working at height
• Material price changes can eat your margin, so put validity dates on quotes
• Workers compensation insurance once you hire anyone

Startup costs are typically estimated at around $5,000 to $25,000, depending on the tools and vehicle you already have, insurance, and how much you need to cover materials before customers pay.

Monthly revenue is typically estimated at around $4,000 to $20,000, depending on how many jobs you complete, job size, material costs and hours worked. That is revenue before costs, not profit.

Check your state's builder or carpentry licence rules above certain job values, and local council or private certifier requirements for carports and larger pergolas. Also check whether home warranty or building insurance is required on bigger jobs.