Fiberglass repair workshop

Boat owners, marinas and boat dealers, truck and RV owners, body shops that outsource fiberglass work, and businesses with fiberglass equipment.

Quoted price per job based on labor and materials. Subcontract work for body shops and dealers can fill quiet weeks.

• Fiberglass lay-up, fairing and finishing
• Estimating labor and materials
• Managing job schedules
• Customer service

• Zoning, fire code and air-quality rules for resin, solvents and spraying, so check with your city, county and fire department before signing a lease
• Insurance that covers customers' property in your care (ask about garagekeepers coverage) as well as general liability
• Hazardous waste disposal for resin, solvents and contaminated rags
• Worker safety rules and workers' compensation once you hire help
• Rent is a fixed cost, so build a customer base before taking on a large unit

Startup costs are typically estimated at around $10,000 to $40,000, depending on the size and rent of your unit, ventilation, tools and insurance. A smaller bay can help keep costs toward the lower end.

Monthly revenue is typically estimated at around $4,000 to $18,000, depending on the size of jobs and how steady your customer base is. Rent is a fixed cost, so build customers before taking on a large unit.

Check zoning, fire code and air-quality rules for resin, solvents and spraying with your city, county and fire department before signing a lease. Also check garagekeepers and general liability insurance, hazardous waste disposal, and workers' compensation once you hire.