Wood flooring crew with sanding and finishing

Homeowners doing remodels, builders, property managers, interior designers and small commercial clients.

Per square foot pricing for installation plus materials markup, with added revenue from sanding, refinishing, repairs and staircases. Larger jobs bring bigger tickets.

• Installation and finishing know-how
• Estimating jobs and managing materials
• Scheduling and supervising helpers

• Contractor licensing rules often apply to larger or whole-home jobs, check your state licensing board
• Workers' compensation once you hire, and how your state classifies helpers
• Dust, fumes and finishing products, check ventilation, respirator and safe-storage requirements
• Cash flow, as you may pay for materials before the customer pays, so consider deposits in your contract
• Warranty callbacks if floors cup, gap or squeak, so document conditions and follow manufacturer instructions

Startup costs are typically around $12,000 to $50,000, depending on your tools, equipment, vehicle and how much material you buy up front. These are estimates, so get quotes for your own setup before you commit.

Monthly revenue is typically around $8,000 to $40,000, depending on how many jobs you take, how big they are and the size of your crew. That is revenue, not profit, so materials, labor and other costs come out of it.

Contractor licensing rules often apply to larger or whole-home jobs, so check your state licensing board. Also check workers' compensation once you hire, how your state classifies helpers, and ventilation and respirator requirements for finishing products.