What will I be doing?

You can turn your skills as a carpenter into a lucrative business that offers you an income greater than working for someone else. A carpenter designs and builds with lumber. Carpenters work in both remodeling and new construction. They use lumber to help build homes, storage buildings, business buildings and other structures. They typically work as subcontractors
to general building contractors.

What will I need to start?

Why would anyone hire a carpentry service to build something? Because the carpenter can build faster, more efficiently and better than the person who does the hiring. So what you’ll need to start your carpentry service is skill, efficiency and knowledge of construction with lumber. You can get this advanced skill by attending a trade school or through on-the-job training working for someone else.

You’ll also need some tools. The typical residential carpentry service has a pickup truck and/or utility trailer for transporting tools: power saws, fastening equipment, measuring tools and materials. Many carpenters rely on air compressors to power nail guns and other fastening equipment. Some carpenters will also need heavy equipment for moving materials or even large ladders for reaching some jobs.

Who will my customers be?

Your customers will be general building contractors, other subcontractors, homeowners, business owners and government contractors. Most carpentry services specialize in working with one or two types of customers because good reputations get around and bring them more business. For example, one carpentry service specializes in working with general contractors in the restaurant remodeling business. Focusing your business also makes it easier to find and keep customers.