How to start a trades business
Guides to starting a home service or trades business, one trade at a time. Each covers what it really costs to start, the licenses and insurance you need, how to price your first jobs and get your first customers, with a startup-cost calculator and a day-one checklist you can download.
Start a business
- CleaningHow to start a cleaning business in 2026: a startup cost calculator, insurance and bond costs, licensing, first-job pricing and a free launch checklist.
- HandymanStart a handyman business in 2026: a startup cost calculator, state dollar limits for unlicensed work, insurance costs, pricing and a launch checklist.
- Junk removalStart a junk removal business: startup cost calculator, dump fees, DOT and CDL weight limits, hauler permits, insurance, load pricing and a checklist.
- LandscapingStart a landscaping business: startup cost calculator, state landscape and irrigation licenses, Insureon insurance costs, install pricing and a checklist.
- Lawn careStart a lawn care business in 2026: startup cost calculator, when you need a pesticide license, mower prices, per-visit pricing and a launch checklist.
- PaintingStart a painting business in 2026: startup cost calculator, EPA lead-safe certification, state painting licenses, insurance costs, pricing and a checklist.
- Pest controlStart a pest control business in 2026: startup cost calculator, state pesticide license rules, insurance minimums, treatment pricing and a checklist.
- PlumbingStart a plumbing business in 2026: a startup cost calculator, master plumber and contractor license rules, insurance costs, job pricing and a checklist.
- Pressure washingStart a pressure washing business: startup cost calculator, washwater rules, lead-paint limits, equipment prices, job pricing and a launch checklist.
- HVACStart an HVAC business in 2026: startup cost calculator, EPA 608 and state license rules, HVAC insurance costs, service pricing and a launch checklist.
Launching this month?
Get the phones and books set up first.
We'll set up your phones and books so day one is clean. Book 15 minutes with Ethan, or text us your questions.
Prefer email? eeharris2004@gmail.com