Stone countertop cutting and fabrication
Cut and finish granite, quartz and marble countertops for kitchens and bathrooms from a small workshop.
- $25k-120k
- Full-time
- Own premises
- Licence or permit needed
Estimates for a small start in the US, not guarantees.
Official data
2,163 US businesses with employees in this field, +1.4% in a year
NAICS 327991 “Cut stone and stone product manufacturing”. Source: U.S. Census Bureau, County Business Patterns 2023.
What it is
A small workshop that cuts, shapes, polishes and edges stone slabs into custom kitchen and bathroom countertops, vanity tops and sink cutouts, usually from a template taken at the customer's home.
Your first three steps
- Get hands-on experience at a fabrication shop or a trade course, and learn slab handling and edge finishing
- Price out a small leased unit, a bridge or CNC saw, hand tools and dust control, and compare slab suppliers in your area
- Offer sample quotes to local remodelers and kitchen designers, and ask for a small first job to build a portfolio
Who pays
Homeowners, kitchen remodelers, general contractors, interior designers and small builders.
How it makes money
Price per square foot of finished stone, plus charges for edge profiles, sink cutouts and installation. Repeat work from remodelers and contractors adds steady volume.
Skills that help
- Precise measuring and templating
- Operating saws, grinders and polishers
- Safe lifting and handling of heavy slabs
- Quoting and customer service
Watch out for
- Silica dust from cutting stone is a serious health risk, so check OSHA rules on dust control, wet cutting and respirators
- Check zoning for your unit, and whether your city or county requires a business license
- General liability insurance, and workers' compensation once you hire anyone
- Contractor licensing rules for installation vary by state, so check with your state licensing board
- Slabs are heavy and expensive, so plan for lifting equipment and breakage risk
Deep research report · US
Everything you need to start: stone countertop cutting and fabrication
Researched with live web search for United States: real startup prices, the licences and rules, what others charge, a break-even example, how to find your first customers and a 30-day launch plan. With sources.
- Startup costs with real prices
- Licences, registration and rules
- Pricing: what others charge
- Break-even example
- Finding your first customers
- 30-day launch plan
- Risks and how to reduce them
Questions people ask
How much does it cost to start a countertop fabrication shop?
Startup costs are typically around $25,000 to $120,000, depending on your premises, cutting equipment and lifting gear. These are estimates, and slabs are heavy and expensive, so plan for handling equipment and breakage risk.
How much can a stone countertop shop earn?
Monthly revenue is typically around $6,000 to $30,000, depending on how many jobs you complete and their size. These are estimates, not guarantees, and the work typically involves at least about 35 hours a week.
What safety rules and licenses should you check?
Silica dust from cutting stone is a serious health risk, so check OSHA rules on dust control, wet cutting and respirators. Also check zoning, your city or county business license, insurance, and state contractor licensing for installation.
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