Playground supply and install company
Supply, deliver and build play equipment and safety surfacing for schools, parks and childcare centers.
- $15k-60k
- Full-time
- Out and about
- Licence or permit needed
Estimates for a small start in the US, not guarantees.
Official data
5,355 US businesses with employees in this field, -0.9% in a year
NAICS 423910 “Sporting and recreational goods and supplies merchant wholesalers”. Source: U.S. Census Bureau, County Business Patterns 2023.
What it is
A small crew that handles the whole job: advising on equipment, ordering it, preparing the site, installing it and fitting safety surfacing such as mulch or rubber.
Your first three steps
- Take a manufacturer installation training course and look into playground safety certification such as CPSI
- Ask your state licensing board and county whether you need a contractor license, and get quotes for general liability and workers' comp insurance
- Start with small jobs for local daycares, churches and HOAs, then build a portfolio to bid on school and parks work
Who pays
Schools and school districts, parks departments, childcare centers, churches, HOAs and apartment complexes.
How it makes money
A fixed project price covering equipment markup, labor and surfacing, plus smaller income from repairs, upgrades and maintenance.
Skills that help
- Hands-on building and heavy lifting
- Reading installation manuals and site plans
- Estimating and quoting
- Managing a small crew safely
Watch out for
- Many states require a contractor license above certain job sizes, so check with your state licensing board
- General liability insurance, and workers' compensation once you hire; public jobs may also require bonding
- Public playgrounds should follow ASTM standards, CPSC guidelines and ADA accessibility, so check what each customer needs
- Public works projects may have prevailing wage and bid rules, so check with the buying agency
- Heavy equipment, trucks and trailers add cost and injury risk, and payment from public bodies can be slow
Deep research report · US
Everything you need to start: playground supply and install company
Researched with live web search for United States: real startup prices, the licences and rules, what others charge, a break-even example, how to find your first customers and a 30-day launch plan. With sources.
- Startup costs with real prices
- Licences, registration and rules
- Pricing: what others charge
- Break-even example
- Finding your first customers
- 30-day launch plan
- Risks and how to reduce them
Questions people ask
How much does it cost to start a playground installation company?
Startup costs are typically around $15,000 to $60,000, depending on the trucks, trailers and tools you need and how big a crew you run. These are estimates, so get local quotes for equipment before you buy.
How much can a playground install company earn?
Monthly revenue is typically around $8,000 to $40,000, depending on job size, how many projects you complete and your crew. Payment from public bodies can be slow, so plan your cash flow carefully.
What licenses and rules should I check before installing playgrounds?
Check your state licensing board for contractor license rules above certain job sizes. Also check general liability, workers' compensation once you hire, bonding for public jobs, ASTM, CPSC and ADA expectations, and prevailing wage and bid rules.
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