Masonry crew for walls, patios and chimneys

Homeowners, home builders, general contractors, landscapers and commercial property owners.

Bid or fixed quote per project, covering materials, crew labor and margin. Subcontract work for builders can give steadier jobs.

• Several years of masonry experience
• Reading plans and estimating
• Managing a crew and schedules
• Dealing with clients and builders

• Contractor license and bonding requirements, which differ by state and often by job size
• Workers' compensation insurance for employees, and rules on classifying workers as employees or independent contractors
• Building permits and structural or engineering requirements for retaining walls and chimneys
• Underbidding jobs, since materials prices and weather can wipe out margins
• Late payments from builders, so check lien rights and payment terms in your state
• Heavy equipment, scaffolding and silica dust safety

Startup costs are typically estimated at around $15,000 to $75,000, depending on your equipment, scaffolding, licensing, bonding and insurance. Treat this as a rough estimate and get quotes for each item first.

Monthly revenue is typically estimated at around $12,000 to $60,000, depending on crew size, the type and size of jobs and how steady your work is. These are estimates, not guarantees.

Check your state's contractor license and bonding requirements, workers' compensation for employees, and rules on classifying workers as employees or independent contractors. Also check building permits, engineering needs for retaining walls and chimneys, and lien rights.