Stone Benchtop and Floor Installer

Stone fabricators, builders, kitchen and bathroom renovators, and some homeowners and designers directly.

Price per job, per square metre or per day. Repeat work from a few fabricators or builders keeps your diary full.

• Accurate measuring and fitting
• Safe lifting and handling of heavy slabs
• Neat finishing and sealing
• Reliable communication with builders and clients

• Check your state's licensing body to see whether stone or tiling installation needs a contractor licence
• Public liability insurance, and workers compensation once you hire anyone
• Dust and silica exposure when cutting stone: check current safe work rules and use proper extraction and masks
• Natural stone is expensive and breakable, so check who carries the risk for damage before you quote
• Heavy lifting means injury risk, so use two-person lifts and proper equipment

Estimates put startup costs at typically around $8,000 to $25,000, depending on your vehicle, lifting and cutting equipment, extraction and safety gear, and insurance. Costs vary with the types of stone work you take on.

Estimates suggest monthly revenue of typically around $3,000 to $15,000, depending on how much work you get from fabricators, builders and homeowners. That is revenue, not profit. It typically needs at least around 20 hours a week.

Check your state's licensing body to see whether stone or tiling installation needs a contractor licence. Also check public liability insurance, workers compensation if you hire, current safe work rules on dust and silica, who carries the risk for damaged stone, and safe lifting practices.