Open a custom framing shop with a storefront

Walk-in households, local artists, galleries, interior designers, businesses, schools and sports or military families framing memorabilia.

Custom framing jobs priced by size and materials, plus extras like conservation glass, mounting objects and sales of ready-made frames, art or gifts.

• Framing and mat cutting
• Design advice and upselling tactfully
• Pricing and job tracking
• Local marketing and trade relationships

• A business license, zoning approval and a certificate of occupancy are typically needed before trading from a storefront, so check with your city or county, along with signage rules for your location
• Register with your state for sales tax and check how resale certificates work for supplies
• General liability and property insurance, including cover for customers' items, and workers' compensation once you hire
• Lease terms and rent are the biggest fixed cost, check you can cover them in slow months
• Customer artwork can be valuable or irreplaceable, use clear job tickets and written terms

Startup costs are typically around $20,000 to $80,000, depending on the size of the space, your equipment and your opening stock. These are estimates. Rent is the biggest fixed cost, so check you can cover it in slow months.

Monthly revenue is typically estimated at around $6,000 to $30,000, depending on location, walk-in traffic and trade clients such as designers and galleries. Rent and other costs come out of that revenue.

Check with your city or county about a business license, zoning approval, a certificate of occupancy and signage rules. Also check state sales tax and resale certificates, insurance covering customers' items, and workers' compensation once you hire.