Glass etching for shops, offices and trade

Cafes, shops, offices, builders, glaziers, interior designers and homeowners renovating.

Quoted per job or per square metre, with higher prices for custom artwork. Repeat work comes from glaziers, builders and designers who refer or subcontract jobs.

• Design and layout for stencils
• Measuring and quoting accurately
• Careful, safe handling of large glass panels
• Dealing with trade customers

• Sandblasting produces silica-containing dust, so check your state's work health and safety rules for dust control and protective equipment
• Etching toughened or laminated glass can weaken or ruin it, so check with the glass supplier or glazier first
• Check council zoning rules for running a workshop or unit, including noise and dust
• Public liability and product liability insurance, and workers compensation once you hire
• Lifting large glass panels is a safety risk, so use proper handling gear and get help
• Glazing work on site may fall under building or glazier licensing in your state, so check with your state licensing body

Startup costs are typically estimated at around $5,000 to $25,000, depending on your sandblasting or film equipment, workshop space and handling gear for large glass panels. Treat this as an estimate and get quotes for your own setup.

Monthly revenue is typically estimated at around $1,500 to $7,500, depending on whether you win regular work from shops, offices, builders and glaziers. That is revenue before costs. Expect to start at around 15 hours a week.

Check your state's work health and safety rules for silica dust control and protective equipment. Also check with a glazier before etching toughened or laminated glass, council zoning for workshops, insurance, and whether on-site glazing falls under your state's licensing.