Start a powder coating and finishing shop

Local welders and fabricators, machine shops, auto and motorcycle shops, contractors, small manufacturers and homeowners.

Per-piece or per-batch pricing, plus charges for prep, masking, special finishes and rush work. Steady accounts with a few local businesses help keep the oven busy.

• Surface prep and coating technique
• Quoting and job scheduling
• Quality control and consistency
• Building relationships with local trade customers

• Zoning and building use, since finishing shops often need industrial space, so check with your city or county
• Air quality, fire code and waste disposal rules, so check with your state environmental agency and local fire marshal
• Wet paint or plating involves chemicals and stricter permits, so check requirements before offering them
• General liability, property and workers' compensation insurance once you hire
• High energy bills for ovens, and worker safety (respirators, PPE) under OSHA rules

Startup costs are typically around $25,000 to $90,000, depending on the unit, curing oven, spray booth and blasting setup. Monthly revenue is typically estimated at $6,000 to $30,000, depending on volume and your trade customers.

Check zoning and building use, since finishing shops often need industrial space. Also check air quality, fire code and waste disposal rules with your state environmental agency and local fire marshal. Wet paint or plating involves stricter permits.

Plan for general liability, property and workers' compensation insurance once you hire. Check OSHA worker safety rules, such as respirators and PPE, and expect high energy bills for running ovens.