Here is some information on how to legally register and start a woodworking business in the state of Texas. A woodworking business could include woodturning, woodcarving, woodburning, wood pallet projects, chainsaw carvings, furniture making, wood crafts, and more. Make sure you do your own thorough research, as laws change regularly. Here are some steps you may have to take (not necessarily in order) to start legally making money in your wood shop, along with links to more information.
Here is a website that will help if you want to start a business in Texas: Start a Business in Texas
You may not want or need liabilty insurance if you are doing your work in your own woodshop. If you will be doing any work on location, you should consider liabilility insurance. Find an insurance agent that offers liability insurance. You may want to shop around, as prices and options can vary. More on liability insurance here: Liability Insurance Options
7. Worker’s Compensation.
You don’t need Worker’s Compensation unless you have employees.
8. Get Health Insurance.
Since you will be self-employed, you will need your own health insurance. If you want to have employees, you will need a plan that will include their health needs also.
9. Register as a Contractor
Check with your local government to see if you need to register as a contractor.
10. City License.
You may be required to obtain a license to operate your woodworking business in a particular locale, whether you are a resident, or not.
Here is information on how to legally start a handyman business in the state of Indiana. You may want to start here: How To Start A Handyman Business. Make sure you research properly as laws are constantly changing.
Getting Started- Indiana has a website to help you get started with your handyman business: https://inbiz.in.gov/
Business software will streamline your handyman business before you even start, giving you visibility and control over all your leads, sales, jobs, and tasks from a single program to get your company on the fast track toward growth.
You’ll also be able to create estimates, place material orders, automate the boring (but necessary) stuff, empowering you and your team to finish jobs on time and on budget. Try JobNimbus for Free!
-Get Liability Insurance.
We work with ContractorsLiability.com because they’re the one-stop-shop for General Liability insurance and are able to get online quotes in all 50 states. Learn more >
You need to find out if your state or city requires you to register as an insured contractor.
-Get Health Insurance.
Since you will be self-employed, you will need your own health insurance. If you have employees, you will need a plan that will include their health needs also.
-City License.
You may be required to obtain a license to operate your handyman business in a particular locale, whether you are a resident, or not.
-Permits.
Depending on the locale, you may need to apply for permits before commencing certain types of handyman jobs.
-Building Code and Inspections.
You must be aware of building codes for your particular job, and may be subject to inspections.
-OSHA.
Depending on how many employees you have, you may need to follow OSHA regulations. http://www.osha.gov/
How to Start a Handyman Business In South Carolina
There are a number of steps to become a legal handyman business in the state of South Carolina. You must do your own thorough research, as laws change regularly. You may want to start here: How To Start A Handyman Business. Getting started– A website created by the state of South Carolina to help you start your business can be found here: South Carolina Business One-Stop
Business software will streamline your handyman business before you even start, giving you visibility and control over all your leads, sales, jobs, and tasks from a single program to get your company on the fast track toward growth.
You’ll also be able to create estimates, place material orders, automate the boring (but necessary) stuff, empowering you and your team to finish jobs on time and on budget. Try JobNimbus for Free!
-Get Liability Insurance.
We work with ContractorsLiability.com because they’re the one-stop-shop for General Liability insurance and are able to get online quotes in all 50 states. Learn more >
Since you will be self-employed, you will need your own health insurance. If you have employees, you will need a plan that will include their health needs also.
-City License.
You may be required to obtain a license to operate your handyman business in a particular locale, whether you are a resident, or not.
-Permits.
Depending on the locale, you may need to apply for permits before commencing certain types of handyman jobs.
-Building Code and Inspections.
You must be aware of building codes for particular jobs, and may be subject to inspections.
-OSHA.
Depending on how many employees you have, you may need to follow OSHA regulations. http://www.osha.gov/
Sole-proprietor, LLC, Partnership, Corporation, etc. Click on Step 2 at this link to find out more about business structure: https://www.tnsmartstart.com/
Business software will streamline your handyman business before you even start, giving you visibility and control over all your leads, sales, jobs, and tasks from a single program to get your company on the fast track toward growth.
You’ll also be able to create estimates, place material orders, automate the boring (but necessary) stuff, empowering you and your team to finish jobs on time and on budget. Try JobNimbus for Free!
Get Liability Insurance.
We work with ContractorsLiability.com because they’re the one-stop-shop for General Liability insurance and are able to get online quotes in all 50 states. Learn more >
Since you will be self-employed, you will need your own health insurance. If you have employees, you will need a plan that will include their health needs also.
-City License.
You may be required to obtain a license to operate your handyman business in a particular locale, whether you are a resident, or not.
-Permits.
Depending on the locale, you may need to apply for permits before commencing certain types of handyman jobs.
-Building Code and Inspections.
You must be aware of building codes for your particular job, and may be subject to inspections.
-OSHA.
Depending on how many employees you have, you may need to follow OSHA regulations. http://www.osha.gov
Here are some steps on how to become a legal handyman business in the state of West Virginia. You may want to start here: How To Start A Handyman Business. Getting started– The state of West Virginia has created a few links to help you start your business:
Business software will streamline your business before you even start, giving you visibility and control over all your leads, sales, jobs, and tasks from a single program to get your company on the fast track toward growth.
You’ll also be able to create estimates, place material orders, automate the boring (but necessary) stuff, empowering you and your team to finish jobs on time and on budget. Try JobNimbus for Free!
-Get Liability Insurance.
We work with ContractorsLiability.com because they’re the one-stop-shop for General Liability insurance and are able to get online quotes in all 50 states. Learn more >
Since you will be self-employed, you will need your own health insurance. If you have employees, you will need a plan that will include their health needs also.
-City License.
You may be required to obtain a license to operate your handyman business in a particular locale, whether you are a resident, or not.
-Permits.
Depending on the locale, you may need to apply for permits before commencing certain types of handyman jobs.
-Building Code and Inspections.
You must be aware of building codes for particular jobs, and may be subject to inspections.
-OSHA.
Depending on how many employees you have, you may need to follow OSHA regulations. http://www.osha.gov
Here are some steps to take to start a handyman business in the state of Virginia. You must do your own thorough research, as laws change regularly. You may want to start here: How To Start A Handyman Business. Getting started– The state of Virginia provides resources for getting your handyman business started: Virginia Business One Stop
You will need to open a separate bank account for your handyman business with your new business name.
-Taxes.
You may want to file your own taxes if you are a small company. As you grow, it will be easier to have an accountant do the work. More info about taxes here:
Business software will streamline your business before you even start, giving you visibility and control over all your leads, sales, jobs, and tasks from a single program to get your company on the fast track toward growth.
You’ll also be able to create estimates, place material orders, automate the boring (but necessary) stuff, empowering you and your team to finish jobs on time and on budget. Try JobNimbus for Free!
-Get Liability Insurance.
We work with ContractorsLiability.com because they’re the one-stop-shop for General Liability insurance and are able to get online quotes in all 50 states. Learn more >
Since you will be self-employed, you will need your own health insurance. If you have employees, you will need a plan that will include their health needs also.
-City License.
You may be required to obtain a license to operate your handyman business in a particular locale, whether you are a resident, or not.
-Permits.
Depending on the locale, you may need to apply for permits before commencing certain types of handyman jobs.
-Building Code and Inspections.
You must be aware of building codes for particular jobs, and may be subject to inspections.
-OSHA.
Depending on how many employees you have, you may need to follow OSHA regulations. www.osha.com
It is extremely important to have liability insurance coverage as a contractor. An accident or carelessness on the job can cause injuries to homeowners and bystanders. Poor communication or a misunderstanding with a property owner, or neglect to properly complete a job can possibly lead to a lawsuit.
No matter what unpredictable event may happen at your job site causing thousands of dollars of damage, you need to protect yourself and your business. This is just as important for a small business run where the owner is a sole-proprietor as it is for large company with many employees.
The purpose of liability insurance is to help protect you and your business from job-related problems that could possibly put you out of business. It is critical for any contractor to have, and is actually required by many states in the United States in order for you to be a legal contractor.
Be sure to research the contractor laws in your state to see what your requirements are.
A liability insurance policy can protect you in a number of ways:
Personal injury: This involves slander, libel, and other types of damage to a person’s or business’s reputation.
Bodily injury: This deals with protection in case of any job-related injury to a non-employee.
Medical payments: This can help cover medical expenses incurred because of someone injured at your workplace.
Advertising injury: If your customer claims a loss due to any products or services you have advertised.
Independent contractors liability: Independent contractors you have hired should have their own liability insurance, but this adds another level of protection.
Depending on what type of work you are doing (construction, painting, roofing, masonry, landscaping, home repairs), your options and prices for liability insurance will vary. Be sure to meet with multiple insurance agents to find the best policy and price for you. Liability policies for some types of contracting work such as roofing may cost slightly more than other businesses because of a higher risk.
You need to make sure you have proper coverage in case of any unforeseen disaster. You should consider a minimum $1,000,000.00 umbrella policy. Most major lawsuits will not be cheap.
If your business will have employees, you should also discuss your options for Worker’s Compensation, to help protect yourself in the event of injury or death of an employee.
Most states require you to purchase a bond and General Liability Insurance to obtain your license. We work with ContractorsLiability.com because they’re the one-stop-shop for General Liability insurance and are able to get online quotes in all 50 states. Plus, their expertise means they’re fast when it comes to getting the right bond and liability coverage. Roofers need to win the job and stay protected at an affordable price. Learn more >
(This page will also help show you how to start a woodworking business)
A carpentry business or woodworking business can involve a number of different skills including custom trim work, woodturning and woodcarving, reproductions, and many other miscellaneous and odd projects that may come your way. Being a successful carpenter not only requires excellent woodworking skills, but also involves organization, knowledge, patience, perseverance, people-skills, and a number of other traits. Many new business owners won’t make it, not because they weren’t highly skilled in working with their hands, but because they were not skilled in running a business.
There are three basic steps to starting a carpentry company from scratch. First is the planning stage. This is important when starting any business. Second is registering with proper government institutions. Lastly, you will need to promote your business in some way to attract customers.
Before starting any type of woodworking business, you should work up at least a simple business plan. This plan will include your present and future goals for your company, estimated startup costs, and estimated operating costs. Don’t forget about insurance costs, not only for you, but for any employees. A business plan is an outline of your business that will help organize your goals and priorities and help you make wise decisions.
Planning properly will help you decide if you are going to specialize in a specific niche such as reproduction work, or if you will offer a variety of services.
Set short and long-term goals – Decide which direction you want your business to go.
Decide what services you will offer – Start with what you do best.
Find a niche – What will be your specialty? What will set you apart from the competition?
Choose a business name – Put some thought into deciding a name for your carpentry or woodworking business.
Decide what you will charge for your services
Financing – You may possibly need to get a business loan to help get your company started.
Get Organized
As soon as you get started with your carpentry business, you will need to get organized so you can keep your paperwork, orders, and customer data in order. You won’t necessarily need a full office when starting out. An office desk dedicated to your company paperwork would be helpful.
A daily planner or smartphone is helpful to schedule estimates, jobs, and other work-related appointments. A schedule will help you plan your day, week, and month, so you can make best use of your time and your customer’s time. Make sure you document your communications with your customers. You don’t want to make the mistake of forgetting an important detail in a custom piece.
Set up an office
E-mail
Business phone
Estimate forms
Bill Forms
Equipment needed when starting your carpentry company
Hopefully, if you are planning to be a professional carpenter, you already have many of the tools you will need. If you still need to set up a shop, you may have to spend a bit of money to fill it with the equipment you will need. Setting up a woodworking shop from scratch can be very expensive. Starting out, you don’t necessarily need all brand-new tools and equipment. You will save thousands of dollars in startup costs by purchasing used woodworking tools, and other misc. tools and equipment. Another tip is to only buy tools and gadgets as jobs require them. This will help keep you from going into debt for tools and equipment you may end up never using.
2. Register Your New Carpentry Business
Make it legal
You will have to research the local and regional requirements in your area. This means having necessary insurance, following tax codes, getting proper licenses and permits, etc. This applies even to a part-time carpentry business.
Some steps to starting your carpentry company legally:
Select your business structure (sole-proprietor, LLC, Corporation, etc.)
Register your carpentry business name
Register your carpentry business entity
Register as a home improvement contractor with your state (US)
Open a business bank account
Taxes- either get an accountant, or do research on filing yourself
You can’t just start a new business and expect people to have a full work schedule immediately. You will need to market your business effectively in order to gain new customers. Success and profit won’t come overnight.
Customers
Beside employees, dealing with customers can cause a great amount of stress. Learning how to communicate well with customers can help boost sales and increase word-of-mouth leads.
Learn how to sell a carpentry job to a potential customer
Estimate your carpentry work accurately
Communicate regularly and clearly with the customer
Be fair and honest- take responsibility for your mistakes
Marketing is a critical way to build your carpentry business. Some low-cost advertising to get started can include a basic 1 or 2 page website, setting up a free business listing for your construction company on Google and other online directories, social media accounts, business cards and a few yard signs.
It would also be helpful to network with other home improvement contractors such as roofers, masons, painters, etc. They can use you when they need woodworking done, and you can refer customers to them for their services.
Below, you will find links to register your new carpentry business in the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom. The links were created for roofing contractors, but will apply to any home improvement contractor.
How to Start a Carpentry Business in the United States
A painting business can be an excellent full or part-time business. Here are some steps you may have to take to start your own new painting business, along with links to more information. Laws change regularly, so make sure you research thoroughly.
Painting software will streamline your business before you even start, giving you visibility and control over all your leads, sales, jobs, and tasks from a single program to get your company on the fast track toward growth.
You’ll also be able to create estimates, place material orders, automate the boring (but necessary) stuff, empowering you and your team to finish jobs on time and on budget. Try JobNimbus for Free!
-Get Liability Insurance
We work with ContractorsLiability.com because they’re the one-stop-shop for General Liability insurance and are able to get online quotes in all 50 states. Plus, their expertise means they’re fast when it comes to getting the right bond and liability coverage. Contractors need to win the job and stay protected at an affordable price. Learn more >
You will need to register as a contractor in Pennsylvania. There is a fee to register. The registration lasts two years. You can apply for your registration here: https://hic.attorneygeneral.gov/login.aspx . You will receive a certificate in the mail along with your official Pennsylvania Home Improvement Contractor number. According the the law, “The registration number must be included in any advertisements, contracts, estimates and proposals that you use in Pennsylvania.”
-Health Insurance.
You will need to provide health insurance for any employees you may have.
-Licenses and Certifications.
You may be required to obtain a city license to operate your painting business in a particular locale, whether you are a resident, or not. You also may need to be licensed or certified to perform certain jobs such as lead paint removal.
-Permits, Building Codes, Inspections, and OSHA.
Depending on your area, you may need to apply for permits before commencing certain types of painting jobs. You must be aware of building codes for your particular job, and may be subject to inspections. Depending on how many employees you have, you may need to follow OSHA regulations. http://www.osha.gov
One of the difficult choices when starting a construction company is choosing the best name. It can be frustrating trying to come up with a business name that will adequately represent your construction company while being attractive to customers. If you want helpful information on starting a construction company- How To Start A Construction Company.
Here are a few tips to help choose the best name for your new construction company. These tips with help with any construction-related business including excavation, building, renovations, home improvement, paving, etc.
It is best to choose a name that is easy to spell, and easy to remember. A customer may see your name on the side of a truck, but not have time to write down the phone number. You want to have a construction company name that they will be able to easily recall at a later time.
You may wish to use your own name for a personal touch. Another option is to attach a descriptive adjective to your company name such as Royal, Superior, Elite, Quality, or some other adjective that promotes incredible workmanship.
If you have a specialty such as excavation or renovations, you will need to decide if you want to feature that niche in your company name, or if you want a more general, all-inclusive construction name. If you choose to feature a specialty in your business name, customers may not be aware of all that your company offers without finding out more information through additional promotional materials or your website.
Here are some sample construction company names that you can use for inspiration in choosing your own name. Make sure you research properly before choosing your construction company name before registering your business and ordering marketing materials. The name you choose may be trademarked, or may already be in use in your area.
More tips here: How To Choose A Construction Company Name
