Small countertop shop with showroom and fabrication

Homeowners, remodelers, home builders, kitchen and bath designers and property developers.

You charge per square foot or per job, combining material markup, fabrication and installation. Steady trade accounts with builders and remodelers help keep the shop busy.

• Stone or solid surface fabrication
• Templating and precise measuring
• Estimating and pricing jobs
• Managing a small team and schedule

• Silica dust from cutting engineered stone is a serious health risk, so check OSHA guidance and your state's rules on ventilation, wet cutting and protective equipment
• Zoning and permits for an industrial or light-industrial unit, and any local environmental rules on wastewater
• Contractor licensing for installation varies by state, so check with your state board
• General liability and property insurance, plus workers' compensation as soon as you hire
• High equipment cost and slab inventory tie up cash, and one cracked slab can wipe out a job's profit

Startup costs are typically estimated around $50,000 to $200,000, depending on the unit you rent, cutting equipment and how much slab inventory you hold. Equipment and slabs tie up cash, so budget for both.

Monthly revenue is typically estimated around $15,000 to $60,000, depending on how many jobs you complete, your pricing and your team size. One cracked slab can wipe out a job's profit, so factor that in.

Check OSHA guidance and your state's rules on silica dust, ventilation, wet cutting and protective equipment. Also check zoning and permits for the unit, local wastewater rules, contractor licensing for installation, and insurance including workers' compensation once you hire.