Memorial and lettering stone carver

Families arranging a memorial, monument dealers, funeral homes, cemeteries, churches and heritage organizations.

A price per job, based on stone type, size, lettering and design detail, plus fees for restoration, recutting and installation. Steady work from a few dealers can smooth out income.

• Precise lettering and layout
• Hand carving and tool control
• Sensitivity when working with grieving families
• Basic business admin and quoting

• Silica dust from granite and other stone is a serious health risk; check your provincial workplace safety rules and use extraction, wet methods and respirators
• Cemeteries set their own rules on stone size, material and installation, so check each one before quoting
• Check whether your province regulates cemetery or funeral-related services and any consumer rules on contracts and deposits
• Commercial general liability insurance, and cover for stones in your care and during installation
• WCB or WSIB coverage if you hire help, with rules that vary by province
• Spelling or dating errors can be costly, so build in a proofing step with the family before carving
• Check municipal zoning and noise rules for your workshop, and expect slower installation periods in winter ground conditions

Startup costs are estimates, typically around $8,000 to $40,000 CAD, depending on your workshop, equipment and the extraction and safety gear you choose. Insurance covering stones in your care and during installation should be part of your budgeting.

Monthly revenue is an estimate, typically around $2,000 to $9,000, depending on whether you work with families directly or take work from dealers and funeral homes. Plan for at least about 25 hours a week.

Check your provincial workplace safety rules on silica dust and each cemetery's rules on stone size, material and installation. Also check whether your province regulates cemetery or funeral-related services, and any consumer rules on contracts and deposits.