Start a trade business
How to start your own trade business.
Starting a trade business comes down to five things: getting licensed, registering and insuring the business, buying your core equipment, pricing the work, and landing your first customers. What that takes varies a lot by trade — a cleaning business starts for under $3,000, an HVAC business can run $20,000. Pick your trade for a step-by-step guide grounded in real pay and job-cost data.
electrical business
Startup cost: $3,000–$15,000
License, tools, and first jobs for a solo electrical business.
Read the guideplumbing business
Startup cost: $5,000–$15,000
Licensing, gear, and pricing to launch a solo plumbing business.
Read the guideHVAC business
Startup cost: $5,000–$20,000
EPA cert, equipment, and seasonal pricing for an HVAC startup.
Read the guidehandyman business
Startup cost: $1,000–$5,000
The low-barrier trade — tools, legal limits, and fast pricing.
Read the guidelandscaping business
Startup cost: $5,000–$15,000
Equipment, recurring routes, and pricing for lawn care startups.
Read the guideroofing business
Startup cost: $5,000–$25,000
Licensing, crews, insurance, and big-ticket pricing for roofers.
Read the guidepainting business
Startup cost: $2,000–$10,000
Low-cost startup, lead-paint rules, and estimate-driven sales.
Read the guidecleaning business
Startup cost: $500–$3,000
The lowest-barrier service business — supplies, trust, and recurring clients.
Read the guidelocksmith business
Startup cost: $5,000–$15,000
Training, tools, state licensing, and fast mobile jobs.
Read the guidepest control business
Startup cost: $5,000–$15,000
Applicator licensing, equipment, and recurring contracts.
Read the guidepool service business
Startup cost: $5,000–$20,000
Route-based recurring maintenance, equipment, and seasonal pricing.
Read the guidepressure washing business
Startup cost: $2,000–$10,000
Affordable startup, gear, and seasonal-plus-recurring pricing.
Read the guideGot the business. Now run it.
JobStack is the AI-powered CRM for solo tradespeople — scheduling, estimates, invoicing, and AI follow-ups from your phone. Launching soon.
See JobStack by tradeUseful next: trade pay by state, job cost guides, and free tools.