Solo wood floor installer

Homeowners, landlords, condo owners, small renovators and general contractors who sub out flooring.

Usually a price per square foot for labour, with materials either supplied by the client or marked up. Extras such as stair work, removing old flooring and levelling are charged separately.

• Accurate measuring and cutting
• Using saws, nailers and other flooring tools
• Quoting jobs and managing client expectations

• Commercial general liability insurance, since damage to floors and finished homes is a real risk
• Check whether your province or municipality requires a business licence, and whether flooring work falls under any trade rules
• Register with your provincial workers' compensation board (WCB/WSIB) if you hire anyone, as rules vary by province
• Moisture and subfloor problems can ruin a job, so check conditions and put limits in writing in your quotes
• Heavy, knee-intensive work, so plan for physical strain
• Register for GST/HST once you pass the small supplier threshold

Startup costs are typically estimated at around $3,000 to $12,000, depending on the tools, insurance and vehicle set-up you already have. Estimates suggest at least about 20 hours a week, working on your own or with a helper on smaller jobs.

Monthly revenue is typically estimated at around $2,500 to $10,000, depending on how many jobs you win, their size and your local market. Moisture and subfloor problems can ruin a job, so put limits in writing in your quotes.

Check commercial general liability insurance, since damage to finished homes is a real risk. Also check whether your province or municipality requires a business licence or applies trade rules, WCB or WSIB registration if you hire, and GST/HST once past the small supplier threshold.