Countertop supply and install, no workshop

Homeowners doing kitchen or bath updates, remodelers, small builders, landlords and property managers.

You charge per square foot or per job, covering material with a markup plus installation labor. Repeat work from remodelers and contractors can fill your schedule.

• Accurate measuring and templating
• Basic carpentry and fitting
• Quoting and customer service
• Building trade relationships

• Contractor licensing rules vary by state and sometimes by city, so check what applies to installation work
• General liability insurance, and workers' compensation once you hire help
• Measuring mistakes on expensive slabs can cost you the whole material price, so double-check and agree who pays for errors
• Heavy lifting: stone is heavy, so plan for a second person and proper lifting gear
• Sales tax registration with your state if you sell materials

Startup costs are typically estimated around $3,000 to $15,000, depending on your tools, vehicle setup, lifting gear and insurance. Because you buy cut pieces from a fabricator, you do not need a workshop or cutting machinery.

Monthly revenue is typically estimated around $3,000 to $15,000, depending on how many jobs you take, the materials you sell and your hours. Material errors can be costly, so agree who pays for mistakes.

Check your state and city, because contractor licensing rules vary and may apply to installation work. Also check general liability insurance, workers' compensation once you hire help, and sales tax registration with your state if you sell materials.