Kitchen cabinet and countertop installer

Homeowners updating their kitchens, plus home flippers, landlords, and kitchen showrooms or big-box stores that need installers.

Fixed price per job or per cabinet run, usually quoted after measuring the room. Installers working for showrooms and contractors are often paid per job, while direct clients pay a larger price that includes your labor.

• Carpentry and accurate measuring
• Reading kitchen plans
• Customer service and clear quotes
• Managing other trades on a job

• Contractor license rules vary a lot by state and sometimes by job size, so check before you quote
• Plumbing and electrical work often needs a licensed tradesperson and a permit
• General liability insurance, and workers' compensation once you hire help
• Homes built before 1978 may involve lead paint rules, check EPA renovation requirements
• Measuring mistakes and delayed deliveries can cost money, so agree payment stages in writing

Startup costs are estimates, typically around $3,000 to $12,000, depending on the tools and vehicle you already own, insurance and how much you spend on marketing.

Monthly revenue is an estimate, typically around $3,000 to $12,000, depending on how many jobs you complete, job size and whether you work solo or with a helper. These figures are revenue, not profit.

Check contractor license rules for your state and job size, whether plumbing and electrical work needs a licensed tradesperson and permit, insurance, and EPA renovation requirements for homes built before 1978.