Are you starting a new business and wondering what type of business structure to create? We'll cover 11 types of businesses that you can form based on your business need.. When starting a business, there are so many types of businesses to consider that it can be difficult to choose the right structure for you. There are at least 11 different business structures available today and we expect the possibilities will grow in the future. We'll help you understand what you should consider before you choose the type of legal structure of a business. Then we’ll discuss the different kinds of business entities and when each works best. After we've given you all the information you need to choose your company structure, we'll hook you up with one of our business partners to help you begin your business ownership. Let's look at how to choose which type of business structure will work for your business.

How to choose the right type of business structure

There are six questions to consider before you decide what type of business structure to choose:

1. Do you want to keep your personal and business finances separate?
2. What are your tax priorities?
3. Will there be more than one business owner?
4. Do you plan on hiring employees?
5. Are you starting a business to make a profit or help people?
6. Is your company meant to help the members achieve their goals by working together?

Let's look at each of these questions to help you understand how each of these plays into choosing the right business structure.

Do you want to keep your personal and business finances separate?

There are business structures that help separate your business and personal finances and the liability that occurs if an employee gets hurt or a customer files a lawsuit. If you can justify the additional costs, time spent submitting documents to government agencies, and processes to keep your business and personal finances separate, you should. But many of the business owners we interview on our YouTube channel tell people it's better to get started than wait until you can do it perfectly.  In this interview, Notto Jensen tells us that his improvising became his greatest strength because he couldn’t afford overhead. [su_youtube url="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Re6Bi62cjf4"] Every type of business entity, except for a sole proprietorship and a business partnership, can separate personal liability and assets from the business liability and assets as long as you use separate bank accounts for the business owned.

What are your tax priorities?

When considering what type of business entity to create, there are some questions you need to ask yourself about the tax treatment:

Is my business one that will qualify for tax-exempt status?

If so, you might want to consider a Non-Profit Organization (NPO) or Low-Profit Limited Liability Company (L3C).

Do I want to pay my business taxes on my personal tax return? 

If yes, you should not consider a C-Corporation (C-Corp) or NPO. All others can be structured to allow pass-through income. All but general partnerships and sole proprietorships can be formed in ways that may allow separate business tax returns.

Are there any tax deductions or tax benefits that a business will qualify for that my personal income will not?

All but a sole proprietor or general partnership have some tax benefits that might outweigh the double taxation that can occur in other kinds of businesses.

What tax code do the different entities follow? 

C-Corps follow subsection C, while S-Corporations (S-Corps) follow subsection S, and pass-through entities, like an LLC, will either be treated as a partnership or sole proprietorship, unless you file a Form 8832 to follow C-Corp laws. Co-ops are in Subsection T, which borrows from C, S, and K. Non-Profits are mostly in 501(c)(3). I suggest you view the IRS Business Structures page for a more detailed understanding of the tax requirements for each type of business structure or talk to a tax consultant.

Will there be more than one business owner?

All types of businesses will allow for a single owner except for the different types of business partnerships, which have to be two or more people. An S-Corp has a limit of 100 owners, as do Benefit Corps (B Corps) and Co-Ops that are structured under S-Corp tax laws.

Do you plan on hiring employees?

[caption id="attachment_25367" align="aligncenter" width="730"] Hiring employees impacts what types of businesses make the most sense for a business structure.[/caption] If you plan on hiring employees, you'll either want to do an LLC, LLP, corporation, NPO, or Co-Op. Do not hire people using a sole proprietorship or general partnerships as you have no legal protection if something goes wrong. In Co-Ops, the employees may be the owners. Profit is divided by rules that require distribution based on how much each person uses the co-op as opposed to how much they invested. If you conduct business in this manner to make the investment returns fair, each employee's investment needs to be equal to the work they put into the business.

Are you starting a business to make a profit or help people?

If you are trying to make a profit, you cannot be an NPO, but you can be an L3C that may qualify for tax exemption if you are investing in it through a foundation that is tax-exempt.  You also won't want to be a Co-Op unless each member pays 1/X of the expenses, where X = the number of members. This is because of how a co-op divides profits compared to other types of businesses.

Is your company meant to help the members achieve their goals by working together?

If your company is meant to help people and make a profit, then your business operations may want to be formed under laws for Co-Ops or Benefit Corporations. These types of businesses are meant to be more profitable for the members or employees. You'll see this kind of business structure in credit unions and companies like Winco. Check out their video about their Employee Stock Ownership Plan below. [su_youtube url="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1eWq0dKXxDY"] Now that you know about the business factors that impact the types of businesses and what business structures you can use, let’s look at the actual business types.

What type of business structure is normally best?

Sticking with a Limited Liability Company (LLC) is typically best unless:

1. You have high enough profit margins that you can benefit from the corporate tax structure.
2. Want to include your fringe benefits as tax-deductible. In that case, use a C-Corp.
3. Qualify as a Non-Profit.
4. Are trying to help benefit others without regard for getting most of the profit? In this scenario, Co-ops and B-Corps might make sense.

Check out our business startup guide for more great information about starting a business.

Types of businesses: Most common business structures

There are 11 business types you may want to consider when starting a new business. We'll look at the business legal structure for each of the following different business types:

1. Sole Proprietorship
2. Partnership
3. Limited Liability Partnership (LLP)
4. Limited Liability Company 
5. Series Limited Liability Company 
6. C-Corporation 
7. S-Corporation 
8. Non-Profit Organization 
9. Benefit Corporation 
10. Low-Profit Limited Liability Company 
11. Cooperative (Co-op)

Let's start by looking at the easiest types of companies to create, sole proprietorships.

Business Type 1. What is a sole proprietorship?

Sole proprietorships are the quickest, least expensive way of entering the world of business ownership.  This type of business structure operates where the owner and the person are one legal entity, sometimes called a business entity. 

What is a business entity?

A business entity is a company that is recognized as a separate legal entity from the person who owns it. This is beneficial because it separates:

• Business assets and personal assets
• Personal debt and business debt
• Business liability and personal liability.

Pros and cons of a sole proprietorship

The main benefit of being a sole proprietor is it is quick and easy to become a business this way. You can file income with your personal tax return. Some states even allow you to operate a sole proprietorship for free.  Unfortunately, there are some really nasty downsides to sole proprietorships including:

• Unlimited personal liability for business decisions.
• Business assets could be taken in a personal lawsuit.

Sole Proprietors and the IRS

The Internal Revenue Code considers these small businesses under self-employment taxes which means you can:

• Claim expenses that employees cannot, but not as many as a corporation.
• Own assets for the business. For instance, if you own a building and don't want to run the business anymore, you can close the business and rent the space to a new tenant.
• Have funds go directly into your personal bank accounts (this makes the next one much more difficult though).
• FIle the income with your personal tax returns. You will have to establish what is a business expense and personal expense. Check IRS Publication 334 for guidance on what you can claim and what you can't.
• Self-employment tax means that small business owners have to pay 15.3% of the first $137,700 in 2020, $142,800 in 2021, and $147,000 of income for 2022. This cap is adjusted every year based on inflation. The IRS is the definitive source for self-employment taxes. Make sure to read about them.

Keep reading for information on other types of businesses including partnerships.

Types of Businesses 2. What are Partnerships?

There are two types of partnerships , General Partnerships or Limited Partnerships. A General Partnership is when at least two people are participating in the business, while a Limited Partnership has at least one silent partner.

Benefits of Partnerships

Both General Partnerships and Limited Partnerships have the same benefits:

• Easy to create
• Pass-through taxation, meaning they have the same benefits as a sole proprietorship regarding taxes
• Partners fully control the business
• You can get investors

Disadvantages of Partnerships

Both Limited Partnerships and General Partnerships share the problems of:

• Unlimited liability for the business's debts
• Personally liable for the other peoples' actions

Like Sole Proprietors, these types of businesses are not recommended because of the lack of liability protection against a business's debts. The next type of partnership is far better when considering different types of businesses.

Business Type 3. What is a Limited Liability Partnership? 

Limited Liability Partnerships (LLPs) are similar to other Partnerships but come with protection against liability for others' actions.

What are the benefits of an LLP?

The benefits include:

• Only liable for others' actions to the amount that you invested in the company (but still personally liable for your own actions)
• Independent legal entity
• Pass-through income
• 20% qualified basic income deduction. See IRS QBI page for more details.
• Easy to add partners

What are the disadvantages of an LLP

The issues with these business entities are:

1. They are not offered for all industries in all states.
2. Some states may require a franchise fee on top of the standard limited partnership and limited liability formation fees.

In most states, you will need a formal operating agreement and to register with the Secretary of State to create an LLP. You can find information for starting a business in your state at USA.gov. Keep reading for information on Limited Liability Companies.

Business Types 5. What is a Limited Liability Company?

A Limited Liability Company (LLC) is a company that provides separation of business and personal assets and liability while allowing pass-through income. People will almost always tell you to start an LLC if you ask "What type of business should I register as?" Most of the time they are right.

What are the benefits of an LLC?

The reasons everyone loves LLCs are:

1. They separate personal and business liability.
2. They can have as many members as you want.
3. Anyone or any business entity can own an LLC.
4. The business determines whether to file taxes as either a pass-through entity or a corporation.

What are disadvantages of an LLC?

The main drawbacks are:

• Raising capital can't be done through selling shares.
• You can't jump back and forth between corporate taxes and pass-through taxes.
• LLCs are more complex to start than a sole proprietorship.
• You’ll have more costs associated with setting up and maintaining an LLC.

How to get an LLC

You'll need an operating agreement and articles of organization, which are fairly easy. You can create a separate business entity through our partner BetterLegal and save $30 when you create an LLC. Keep reading for more more types of businesses that avoid unlimited liability.

What is a Series Limited Liability Company (Series LLC) Business Type?

A Series LLC is nearly identical to a normal LLC but with one distinguishing difference: You can have a parent LLC with multiple distinct LLCs underneath it. This is basically the same concept a conglomerate (Berkshire-Hathaway, for those unfamiliar) uses, but much less costly.

Who should use a Series LLC?

A series LLC is commonly used by:

1. Serial entrepreneurs
2. People who own multiple franchises
3. Landlords

What are the benefits of a Series LLC?

The benefits of a Series LLC over a normal LLC include:

• Lower cost than starting multiple LLCs
• Has the same benefits as an LLC, but can share costs
• Less complexity than conglomerates or thousands of non-series LLCs

What are the disadvantages of a Series LLC?

The drawbacks are:

• More costly originally, but saves money the larger the series
• A larger series means more complexity. Only offered in the following locations: Alabama, Arkansas, Delaware, District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Montana, Nevada, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Puerto Rico, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Wyoming.
• Tax clarity due to series LLC being based on local laws

I've provided the links for some of the states. You can find your state by searching "register a Series LLC in (insert state)."

What types of businesses are C-Corporations? 

A C-Corporation is a business formed and taxed under Subsection C of the U.S. tax code. Before the 1990s, C-Corporations accounted for the vast majority of the revenue in the U.S. Now they make up less than 50%.

What are the advantages of a C-Corporation?

A C-Corp has the following benefits:

1. Able to sell stock
2. Able to pay dividends to the owner reducing the taxable consequences
3. Limited liability
4. Easier to get investors
5. Can offer yourself better benefits fully tax-deductible.
6. Unlimited owners

That doesn't mean it doesn't have downsides too.

What are the disadvantages of a C-Corp?

A C-Corp includes many business challenges that other types of businesses do not, including:

• The corporate tax, which can be avoided through good estimating if you pay yourself enough
• Complexity due to filing and reporting requirements. Requirements can be found on the IRS website.
• Double taxation, need to pay taxes on corporate earnings and personal income

C-Corps are the most common type of corporation, but let's look at the S-Corp next.

What types of businesses are S-Corporations? 

An S-Corporation is a cross between an LLC and a corporation. In fact either can file to pay taxes as an S-Corp. The main differences between an S-Corp and C-Corp are:

• No more than 100 stockholders in S-Corps.
• Only U.S. Citizens, resident aliens, some NPOs, and some trusts or estates can own S-Corps. Check with a lawyer if you are thinking about starting an S-Corp and investing in it with an NPO, trust, or estate.
• Earnings are pass-through income, but S-Corp business owners still have to pay themselves as employees. Meanwhile C-Corps are taxed on corporate and personal income.
• S-Corps can only have one class of stock, while C-Corps may have multiple stock classes.
• An S-Corp files under subsection S of the U.S. tax code, while a C-Corp files under class C.

You can run an LLC or a Corporation as an S-Corp. Learn more about the differences in the two structures in our blog LLC vs. S-Corp or go to the IRS S-Corporations page to learn more learn more about forming an S-Corporation. The other types of businesses we are about to discuss are less common business structure, but might make sense for unique business needs.. Keep reading to learn about Non-Profit Corporations.

What is a Non-Profit Organization (NPO)?

Non-profit organizations are types of businesses that work for the better good of the community. They are typically in the medical field, free or low-cost legal services, churches, or other social services.

What are the benefits of running an NPO?

The benefits of these types of businesses include:

1. No corporate tax
2. Legally allowed to receive donations to raise money.
3. Profits on the sale of a property can go to help people.

What are the disadvantages of running an NPO?

NPOs are not always the best business structure even though they are tax exempt. These types of businesses are more complicated because:

• The states Approve whether you can raise money, but the federal government approves an NPO's tax-exempt status.
• There are lots of legal documents required to keep your tax exemption.
• If the business closes, you have to donate the assets.

Unless you are specifically looking at types of businesses that are serving the greater good and don't want to make a profit, an NPO probably isn't the best option for a small business.

What is a Benefit Corporation?

When wondering, “What type of business should I start,” consider a benefit corporation if how you impact your community is important to you. This type of corporation is an addendum to an S-Corp or C-Corp. Follow the four steps below:

1. Apply for an S-Corp or C-Corp.
2. Mark the box that says, “I want to be a Benefit Corp.” 
3. Specify how the corporation intends to benefit the community.
4. Create and publish a report of how you improved the community every year.

Remember to follow your state's requirements to create a B-Corporation, and to learn more go to BenefitCorp.net. 

What is a Low-Profit Limited Liability Company (L3C)

L3Cs are used in nine states when an organization is focused on the greater good, but they may also earn a profit. These companies normally do not qualify for Non-Profit status, but they might be able to if all owners are Non-Profits and the business is within their core functions. If it doesn't, then it will have taxable earnings. These are primarily used by the Bill Gates Foundation and newspapers for projects that could turn a profit but don't and rely on contributions to keep them going.  Use this option with caution because of the uncertainty in the tax treatment. I'd suggest going with a more established form of business, but you can learn more about L3C usage on UpCounsel.

What is a Cooperative (Co-Op)?

A Co-Op is a group of people or businesses working together to achieve a goal. Co-Ops fall under Subchapters C, K, S, and/or T of the tax code depending on what legal structures they follow. The key difference between Co-Ops and other businesses is distributions are by usage, not investment. The primary industries that use Co-Ops are agricultural, healthcare-related, community-funded energy projects, and employee-owned companies. You'll definitely need a lawyer to establish the best strategy for Co-Ops, but check out Co-opLaw.org to learn more about how co-ops work. I'd personally love to see more Co-Ops, but there needs to be a balance where employees get 33% of the profits, investors get 33% of the profits, and founders get 34% of the profits. I think this would truly be a great way of running a company for everyone involved.

Did you narrow down the types of businesses you want to start?

If you are ready to set up your business, go to your Secretary of State (SOS) website. Look for your SOS at search.usa.gov, or reach out to our partner BetterLegal to help you with all your business filing needs. BetterLegal handles everything from business formation to state and federal reporting within one to three weeks. Regardless of whether you start a sole proprietorship, LLC, corporation, or another type of company, UpFlip has you covered. If you're ready for the next step in the process, read our article on how to register a business. What business structure are you leaning toward?

Did you know that approximately one in nine men owns a small business? If you want to join the ranks of small business owners, check out some of our best business ideas for men.

Many of these business ideas are working with your hands. Most of them make great money and will help you become more self-sufficient. 

What are the 10 most profitable businesses for men?

Want to get the most bang for your buck? We’ll start our list with the most profitable business ideas, ones with a high return on your investment of time and energy.

#1. Social media marketing

Average Annual Revenue: $817K
Average Profit Margins: 6.9%
Startup Costs: $100-$10K
Time To Revenue: 1-6 months
Annual Market Growth Rate: 1.3%
Best for: Social media experts, people with strong digital marketing skills

These days, just about every business owner uses social media sites to connect with their customers, but not all entrepreneurs are experts in these platforms. That makes becoming a social media manager one of the most profitable business ideas for men with strong marketing skills and social media expertise. 

While you can make good money in social media marketing as a one-man business idea, starting an agency lets you scale revenue even further. Eric Berman started Brandetize in 2001, and today the company earns an average revenue of $400,000 a month. Listen to his advice on how to get started here:

#2. App and software development

Average Annual Revenue: $400K-$1M+
Average Profit Margins: 14.5%
Startup Costs: $100-$50K, depending on size and scope
Time To Revenue: 3 months to 2 years
Annual Market Growth Rate: 3.1%
Best for: Programmers, software developers, digital design experts

An average of 250 million apps are downloaded every day, with $129 billion spent on apps in 2022. You can get in on this billion-dollar industry by starting your own business selling apps on the Google Play store or Apple app store.

One great thing about software or app development is the variety of revenue streams. You can sell the app itself, include in-app purchases, or design custom software for other businesses. 

Whatever business model you choose, you don’t need much to get started. With just a few tools and coding skills, you can turn your app idea into a lucrative business venture. 

How lucrative? Pace Ellsworth makes an average of $45,000 a month with his software development business. Find out more in this podcast interview:

#3. Dropshipping business

Average Annual Revenue: $36K-$50K
Average Profit Margins: 5%
Startup Costs: $150-$500
Time To Revenue: 1-3 months
Annual Market Growth Rate: 25%
Best for: marketing, social media, and automation experts; organized and process-oriented entrepreneurs

If you’re looking for profitable one-man businesses you can start from home, dropshipping is an excellent way to earn money online with a small startup capital investment.

In a dropshipping business, you sell products that are made and stored elsewhere. The dropshipper markets and sells products to customers through their own website or online store but doesn’t need to store or ship the inventory themselves. 

The UpFlip blog on how to start dropshipping has step-by-step advice for starting your own successful business in this niche. We also did a podcast interview with Heather Johnson, who started her print-on-demand dropshipping business as a side hustle and now makes an average of $15,000 a month in revenue. Hear her advice here:

#4. Cleaning business

Average Annual Revenue: $74K+
Average Profit Margins: 6.7%
Startup Costs: $1K-$30K
Time To Revenue: 1-6 months
Annual Market Growth Rate: 1.2%
Best for: Detail-oriented entrepreneurs, organizers and neat freaks

In the post-pandemic world, people are more concerned than ever with keeping their environment clean both at home and in the workplace. This makes a cleaning business a very profitable small business idea with a high demand. 

There are a variety of models for a cleaning business. You can work with both residential and commercial customers or focus on a tighter niche, like home cleaning or janitorial services. You can also work with other local businesses like Airbnbs or apartment building landlords. 

The UpFlip 7-Figure Cleaning Business Blueprint is an excellent resource for anyone who’s considering this profitable small business idea. You can also hear advice from course instructor Chris Mondragon in this YouTube interview:

[su_youtube url="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YcYIYdqegGA"]

#5. Catering business

Average Annual Revenue: $124K+
Average Profit Margins: 5.5%
Startup Costs: $1K-$100K
Time To Revenue: 6-18 months
Annual Market Growth Rate: 1.0%
Best for: chefs, cooks, bakers, and other food experts

Restaurant businesses can be very lucrative, but they require substantial financial resources to start and have a high failure rate, with 80% failing within their first 5 years according to the National Restaurant Association.

A catering business is an excellent alternative, with significantly lower startup investment and more flexibility than a brick-and-mortar restaurant business.

Connecting with other small business owners is a great way to grow a catering business. For example, you could sell grab-and-go options in a cafe, or partner with an event planning business to cater weddings, parties, or corporate events.  

#6. Food truck business

Average Annual Revenue: $41K+
Average Profit Margins: 6.4%
Startup Costs: $1K-$100K
Time To Revenue: 3+ months
Annual Market Growth Rate: 1.2%
Best for: outgoing food experts, chefs, and cooks with strong marketing and customer service skills

Another alternative way to get into the food retail industry is to start a food truck. Like catering, this is a profitable business idea for people who have cooking and customer service skills but lack the capital to start a full-service restaurant. 

Like a catering business, a food truck offers lots of flexibility and room for growth. Carlo Chalisea started with a small food cart, expanding into a full truck and then into a restaurant as his business grew. Hear his story here:

[su_youtube url="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8MPTE67PYcY&list=PLaU6uY9Yy7XltYGQUA7hfYfjwCWGHgwiC&index=8"]

#7. Bakery business

Average Annual Revenue: $1.52M
Average Profit Margins: 5.4%
Startup Costs: $100-$3M
Time To Revenue: 1-6 months
Annual Market Growth Rate: 1.1%
Best for: foodies, bakers, food service professionals

Another of the most profitable small business ideas for men who love food is to open a bakery. Like catering, there are multiple ways to start your own bakery business. One business model is to have your own storefront, like the 7-figure Wild Wheat bakery:

[su_youtube url="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j2_xwBgyFFU"]

You can also make bread and pastries for commercial customers like cafes and restaurants or sell baked goods directly to customers in an online store. 

The variety of revenue streams you can explore is why a bakery is among the most profitable small business ideas in the food industry.

#8. Vending business

Average Annual Revenue: $182K+
Average Profit Margins: 4.3%
Startup Costs: $2K-$10K
Time To Revenue: 3+ months
Annual Market Growth Rate: 0.5%
Best for: organized entrepreneurs who like driving; people who want a semi-passive business

Vending machines are a convenient way to provide food and drinks in schools, workplaces, and other places people gather. A vending business is among the best business ideas for men who want full control over their schedule. It’s also one of the top business ideas for beginners since you don’t need special skills or equipment to be successful. 

The start-up costs for a vending business vary widely. They can be as low as a few thousand dollars if you start with just a few machines, or $25,000 or more if you’re buying an entire route. 

Adam Hill of Hill Vending walks through the process of starting a vending business step-by-step in UpFlip’s Vending Bootcamp. You can also hear some of Adam’s insights in this YouTube interview:

[su_youtube url="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-s_Y-O1nosw"]

#9. Construction business

Average Annual Revenue: $696K+
Average Profit Margins: 3.4%
Startup Costs: $1K-$100K
Time To Revenue: 1-6 months
Annual Market Growth Rate: -1.3%
Best for: skilled tradesmen, architects, builders, and real estate experts

The U.S. construction market was a $2.1 trillion industry in 2022, and that market is growing. General contractors and other construction professionals work with both residential and commercial customers, and both sectors are forecasted to grow over the next five years. 

You will need to be licensed to run your own successful business in construction. You don’t need to go to school to get the necessary skills and knowledge, though. Vitaly from VP Homes learned the trade on the job when he was 18 and now builds custom homes for a very healthy profit (hear his advice in the video below).

[su_youtube url="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wuqVb9B58CE"]

#10. Car rental business

Average Annual Revenue: $5M+
Average Profit Margins: 6.8%
Startup Costs: $100K-$3.5M
Time To Revenue: 6-18 months
Annual Market Growth Rate: 2.0%
Best for: mechanics, car experts, and collectors

If you have a passion for classic or luxury cars, you can turn that into a profitable small business idea with a rental service. 

While buying a large rental fleet can mean a 7-figure investment, there are more affordable ways to get started, too. One option is to rent out cars you already own through a site like Turo, then use that revenue to expand your fleet. Car repair experts can also save on both initial and ongoing costs by restoring and maintaining vehicles themselves. 

As for how much you can make, Ronnie Danelian averages $175,000 a month with Legends Car Rentals. Hear how he got started in this interview:

[su_youtube url="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W_01eckETe0"]

12 unique business ideas for men

#1. Floor coating business

Average Annual Revenue: $1.2M+
Average Profit Margins: 2.8%
Startup Costs: $100K-$3.5M
Time To Revenue: 6-18 months
Annual Market Growth Rate: -0.1%
Best for: construction and repair professionals, systems-oriented entrepreneurs, people with skills in math and chemistry

Epoxy floor coating is a protective layer often used in commercial spaces or residential garages. Installing floor coatings is one of the best small business ideas for men who like both working with their hands and meeting and talking to people. 

It’s also a great choice for people who want to build a team and focus on sales, marketing, and growing the business. That’s what Brandon Wise did when he started Wise Coatings, and he quickly scaled to $500,000 a month in revenue. Here’s how he did it:

[su_youtube url="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q6mghjqijuU"]

You will need some niche knowledge to install floor coatings. Getting a mentor in the business can be a huge help in doing this if you don’t have experience to draw on. 

#2. Solar business

Average Annual Revenue: $1.3M
Average Profit Margins: 5.7%
Startup Costs: $100K-$3.5M
Time To Revenue: 6-18 months
Annual Market Growth Rate: 1.9%
Best for: construction workers, effective salesmen, people with a passion for the environment

Solar panel installation is a fast-growing industry, projected by the BLS to grow at a CAGR of 27% through 2031. As people look for ways to live more sustainably, the demand for solar power will continue to rise. 

Installing solar panels requires some construction knowledge in areas like roofing, metal fabrication, and basic contractor skills. This is one reason it’s great for a male entrepreneur with a background in construction. 

A solar business can make very good money for those with a combination of sales and construction skills. There are also niches like solar landscape design or photovoltaic system installation that can be a profitable business model in saturated markets.

#3. Drone business 

Average Annual Revenue: $50K
Average Profit Margins: 7.3%
Startup Costs: $1K-$10K
Time To Revenue: 1-6 months
Annual Market Growth Rate: 0.3%
Best for: photographers and videographers, drone users and experts

Drone photography has a ton of uses. You can record events like festivals and weddings, work with real estate agents and land surveyors, or make marketing and advertising materials for other local businesses. 

Whichever of these drone business ideas you’re drawn to, it’s a unique and lucrative way to start your own business as a photographer. Mile High Productions started as a side hustle and grew to $35,000 in revenue a month by landing high-profile clients. Hear their advice on getting started in this video:

[su_youtube url="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EUcv1HAAbns"]

#4. Scrap metal business

Average Annual Revenue: $52M+
Average Profit Margins: 2.9%
Startup Costs: $100K-$3.5M
Time To Revenue: 6-18 months
Annual Market Growth Rate: 1.9%
Best for: materials and construction experts, business men who like physical work

Scrap metal recycling might not be the most glamorous option on the list, but its high demand makes it a great small business idea for men who like physical work. The sector is expected to grow to $88.5 billion by 2030, opening up lots of opportunities for new profitable business ideas.   

A scrap metal business collects recyclable materials and turns them into raw materials for new goods. Along with being a potentially profitable small business idea, this helps the environment by reducing the trash in landfills and the need to mine new metals.

You will need some niche knowledge about different metals and how to process and separate objects for scrap. Getting experience or a mentor in the industry is a crucial factor in succeeding in this industry.

#5. Car repair or tuning

Average Annual Revenue: $268K+
Average Profit Margins: 6.1%
Startup Costs: $100K-$3.5M
Time To Revenue: 6-18 months
Annual Market Growth Rate: 2%
Best for: mechanics and car experts, detail-oriented entrepreneurs

More than 91% of U.S. households own at least one car, and people are keeping those cars longer than in the past. The consistent demand for automotive services puts this among the best small business ideas for men who love cars.

One option is to open an auto repair shop.This can require a high startup investment, though it can also yield big returns. This step-by-step blog post explains how Lucky Sing started his $500,000 a year auto shop with $20,000.

Car tuning is another niche business for auto experts. You can learn how the $7 million tuning company Sheepy Race started in this video:

[su_youtube url="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gpaXqc2fbIU"]

#6. Fingerprinting business

Average Annual Revenue: $132K+
Average Profit Margins: 9.1%
Startup Costs: $500-$250K
Time To Revenue: 6-18 months
Annual Market Growth Rate: -0.6%
Best for: legal and security professionals, regulatory experts, process- and detail-oriented entrepreneurs

Lots of people need fingerprinting services, from law enforcement to businesses doing background checks on new hires. 

Fingerprinting is a great business idea with a minimal initial investment. While you will need some training, you don’t need a degree or other costly education. 

Dan Jurkowisch is an expert in fingerprinting businesses, and he shared his insights on how to start this profitable business idea in this podcast:

#7. Cell phone or electronics repair

Average Annual Revenue: $560K+
Average Profit Margins: 5.7%
Startup Costs: $500-$5K
Time To Revenue: 1-3 months
Annual Market Growth Rate: 1.4%
Best for: detail- and systems-focused entrepreneurs, electronics and repair experts

Electronics repair is a billion-dollar business—$21.1 billion in 2022, to be exact. This puts it among the profitable small business ideas for men who know how to fix cell phones, computers, and other electronics.

Electronics repair is a flexible business with low start-up costs. You need just a few tools and a space to make repairs. As a home business for men that advertises services online, you can get started for under $100. 

A physical storefront will cost more but also has higher revenue potential. Find out how Joe’s Electronics Repair grew to a 7-figure small business in this interview:

[su_youtube url="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rqce8NAZWYw"]

#8. Shed building business

Average Annual Revenue: $696K+
Average Profit Margins: 3.4%
Startup Costs: $1K-$100K
Time To Revenue: 1-6 months
Annual Market Growth Rate: -1.3%
Best for: handymen, DIY builders, construction and woodworkers

Building a shed is one way homeowners can maximize the usable space on their property. Since the training and licensing requirements are lower compared to other construction businesses, it’s a good business idea for men who love to build things but don’t have construction industry experience.

Having a niche can help you grow faster in this industry. Outdoor Office focuses on building shed workspaces. After starting in a garage, it quickly grew to a $1.2-million-a-year business. 

[su_youtube url="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S1z9ulIh7QU"]

#9. Painting business

Average Annual Revenue: $76K+
Average Profit Margins: 7.2%
Startup Costs: $1K-$100K
Time To Revenue: 6-18 months
Annual Market Growth Rate: -2.0%
Best for: men who like physical and outdoor work, painters and artists, construction and repair pros

Painting is another excellent small business idea for men in the construction niche that doesn’t require licensing or extensive training. 

Many successful small businesses in painting start as small one-man business ideas. There’s a lot of growth potential, too. Doug Caris bought Arizona Painting Company in 2014 and has grown it to 5 locations with $2 million in monthly revenue. He explains how he did it in this podcast:

#10. Van conversion business

Average Annual Revenue: $665K+
Average Profit Margins: 7.8%
Startup Costs: $100K-$3.5M
Time To Revenue: 6-18 months
Annual Market Growth Rate: 1.8%
Best for: DIY builders and makers, creative problem solvers, interior design pros

Converted vans are a favorite vehicle of digital nomads and other travelers. Turning vans into mobile living spaces can be a fun and lucrative business for men, letting you earn money from your building and design skills. 

Axis Vehicles is just one of many successful small businesses in this niche. You can find out how they grew to $65,000 a month in this YouTube interview:

[su_youtube url="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=McRyeamnWXY"]

#11. Trucking business

Average Annual Revenue: $449K+
Average Profit Margins: 5.5%
Startup Costs: $1K-$100K
Time To Revenue: 3+ months
Annual Market Growth Rate: 0.9%
Best for: logistics experts, travelers and drivers, vehicle repair and maintenance pros

Roughly 72% of freight in the U.S. is transported by truck, driving the industry’s $875 billion in revenue in 2021. That puts trucking among the best business ideas for men who have a mind for logistics or experience in freight transportation. 

While a trucking business can have high start-up costs, there’s a lower barrier to entry on the knowledge side. Mikael Sant started Sant Lines when he was only 19, so this is a good option for a young business man, too. Hear how Mikael grew his company in this podcast interview:

#12. Gym or personal trainer business

Average Annual Revenue: $16K+
Average Profit Margins: 10.9%
Startup Costs: $500-$5K
Time To Revenue: 1-6 months
Annual Market Growth Rate: 0.6%
Best for: athletes, fitness and exercise experts, strong communicators and motivators

Fitness is another massive industry, especially in the United States, where it generated over $1.5 billion in revenue in 2022. This puts being a personal trainer or gym owner among the best small business ideas for men with a passion for exercise and wellness. 

Being a personal trainer is a great home-based business for men who want to get into the fitness industry. You can teach out of a home studio, go to clients’ homes, or work out of a community center or local gym.

If you want your own brick-and-mortar business, you can start a gym. That has a higher startup cost, though it might be smaller than you’d expect. Jake Brog started his own gym for less than $10,000 and explains how in this interview:

[su_youtube url="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lchlyN9RBuw"]

1-man business ideas: What are 5 good business ideas for solo entrepreneurs?

#1. Start your own e-commerce business

Average Annual Revenue: $60K-$120K
Average Profit Margins: 5-15%
Startup Costs: $100-$1K
Time To Revenue: 30-90 days
Annual Market Growth Rate: -9.3%
Best for: makers and hand-crafters, designers, sales and marketing experts

Starting your own online store is a great way to earn money from anywhere on your own schedule. What’s great about an e-commerce business is that you can sell anything you can find a market for. 

An e-commerce business is the best fit for people with digital marketing skills, though you can also develop these as you grow if you don’t have them from the start.

This is also a business you can start with 1000 dollars or less. You can check out this step-by-step guide for advice on starting your own online store, or watch this interview with the founder of the unique e-commerce business I Heart Dogs:

[su_youtube url="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tqqhVT84pnc"]

#2. Event planning business

Average Annual Revenue: $34K+
Average Profit Margins: 12.2%
Startup Costs: $500-$5K
Time To Revenue: 3+ months
Annual Market Growth Rate: 1%
Best for: strong networkers, extroverts, organized and system-driven businessmen

Event planning is often overlooked on lists of manly business ideas, but it’s among the best small business ideas for men who are extroverted and excel at planning and organization.

A successful business man with a strong local network can make good money organizing private parties, community gatherings, or conferences and other corporate events. This variety is one reason it’s among the best self-employed ideas for men.

#3. Mobile detailing

Average Annual Revenue: $241K+
Average Profit Margins: 16.1%
Startup Costs: $1K-$100K
Time To Revenue: 1-6 months
Annual Market Growth Rate: 1.8%
Best for: car and truck lovers, detail-oriented and outgoing entrepreneurs

Mobile detailing is an ideal small business for men who want a minimal initial investment and high profit potential. Since you go to your customers, you don’t need a commercial space. The convenience of mobile services also gives this sector high demand.

You can start a mobile detailing business with as little as $500. Learn how Alan from GoDetail grew his detailing business revenue in this YouTube interview:

[su_youtube url="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=riTWH_MG6Uc&list=PLaU6uY9Yy7XkECNQPPT_LNAxEghhffqv7&index=3"]

#4. Affiliate marketing

Average Annual Revenue: $60K-$160K
Average Profit Margins: 8%
Startup Costs: $500-$2K
Time To Revenue: 1-3 months
Annual Market Growth Rate: 10.5%
Best for: bloggers, influencers, digital marketing and social media experts

Many successful bloggers use affiliate marketing as an extra revenue stream. It’s also among the top stand-alone home business ideas for men who want flexibility and the potential for passive income. All you need to start is your own website, blog, or other outlet to connect with customers.

As you might guess from the name, marketing skills are crucial for a small business man to succeed in this business. Matt Diggity is an expert in affiliate marketing and shares more tips in this podcast interview:

#5. Data entry

Average Annual Revenue: $35K-$50K
Average Profit Margins: 10.5%
Startup Costs: $100-$200
Time To Revenue: 1-3 months
Annual Market Growth Rate: 1.90%
Best for: fast typers, clerical and administrative pros, people with a sharp eye for details

Data entry is the best one-man business to start if you want to make money quickly without investing much up front. All you need is basic computer equipment and an account on a site like Upwork or PeoplePerHour to get clients. 

While data entry isn’t the most exciting work for many, it is very flexible, and there’s consistent demand for these services. You can also use automation and other software tools to handle the more repetitive work, increasing your profitability at the same time.

What are 3 good business ideas for 25-year-old men?

#1. Tutoring 

Average Annual Revenue: $30K-$50K
Average Profit Margins: 13.1%
Startup Costs: $100-$1K
Time To Revenue: 1-6 months
Annual Market Growth Rate: 8.5%
Best for: Educators, experts in academic subjects, people who want to help and mentor others

Offering tutoring services is a popular way for students and recent graduates to earn extra cash. It’s also an excellent home-based business idea with a low startup cost. 

Communication skills are key to starting a successful business in tutoring services. Having knowledge in a school subject area is helpful, too, but that won’t help your students if you can’t convey that knowledge effectively. 

As for where to get students, one great way is to connect with local schools and colleges. You can also tutor online through platforms like The Tuition Teacher, Preply, TutorMe, or Wyzant.

#2. Pressure washing business

Average Annual Revenue: $64K+
Average Profit Margins: 8.8%
Startup Costs: $200-$5K
Time To Revenue: 3+ months
Annual Market Growth Rate: 0.9%
Best for: men who want to work outdoors; people with customer service, time management, and mechanical skills

Pressure washing is among the best small businesses for men under 25 because it’s cheap to start and easy to learn. A pressure washing business also has big revenue potential. 

Chase Lille started his business when he was 18, and he brings home 50% margins on his $12,000 average monthly revenue. Hear how he got started in this interview:

[su_youtube url="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MNzuP6V0UhA"]

#3. Landscaping business 

Average Annual Revenue: $272K+
Average Profit Margins: 8.7%
Startup Costs: $1K-$100K
Time To Revenue: 1-3 months
Annual Market Growth Rate: 8.1%
Best for: gardeners, landscape designers, people who love hands-on, outdoor work

Rounding out our recommended self-business ideas for men under 25, a landscaping business shares a lot of advantages with pressure washing. This includes a low startup cost, no licensing or education requirements, and high scalability.

Mike Andes was in his early 20s when he started Augusta Lawn Care. Within three years, he grew it to 7-figures and started franchising to grow even further. Hear his story in this interview:

[su_youtube url="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MTnmagGo32Q&list=PLaU6uY9Yy7Xk_AjUgCgvs6gxYuSFNHBJW&index=5"]

3 small business ideas for a 50 year-old man

#1. Real estate business 

Average Annual Revenue: $298K+
Average Profit Margins: 44.6%
Startup Costs: $500-$5K
Time To Revenue: 1-3 months
Annual Market Growth Rate: -0.3%
Best for: strong communicators and negotiators, smart investors, construction and home repair pros

If you’re a business man with money, investing that into real estate could be your best business idea. There are a variety of small business ideas for men in the real estate sector, from flipping homes to managing multi-family properties to renting homes out as a landlord or Airbnb host.

Thach Nguyen built his real estate business from scratch. After starting as a realtor, he launched his own business by buying properties and now averages $800,000 in revenue every month. Hear his story and advice in this interview:

[su_youtube url="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TWCzwn3R78A"]

#2. Business consultant

Average Annual Revenue: $1.4K
Average Profit Margins: 6.4%
Startup Costs: $100K-$3.5M
Time To Revenue: 6-18 months
Annual Market Growth Rate: 1.3%
Best for: leadership experts, strong communicators, educators with business expertise

Experience is one advantage that comes with age. As a business consultant, you leverage that experience to earn an income and share successful entrepreneur small business ideas with others.

You can be a general business consultant or focus on a niche where you have expertise. For example, Ryan Gromfin pivoted from a career managing restaurants to consulting, giving him both more freedom and a higher income. Hear his advice in this interview:

#3. Handyman business

Average Annual Revenue: $204K+
Average Profit Margins: 5.4%
Startup Costs: $500-$5K
Time To Revenue: 3+ months
Annual Market Growth Rate: 0.7%
Best for: construction and repair pros, creative problem solvers, outgoing and hands-on entrepreneurs

Fixing things is one of those hobbies for men in their 40s that is also among the best business ideas for men in their 50s. A handyman does some physical work, but not the heavy lifting and exhausting labor found elsewhere in the construction industry.

This is also among the best side business ideas for men, and is a viable way to earn extra cash out of your home. Just advertise your services online through sites like Nextdoor or Craigslist and you can start building a customer base. 

Caleb Ingraham started in construction. Seeing the demand for handyman services prompted him to pursue his own small business idea. Learn how he makes $1,000 a day in this interview:

[su_youtube url="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=leUta_q_MPQ"]

Men’s Small Business Ideas FAQ 

What is the best business to start for men?

There’s no single answer for the best business for men because some men like working outdoors, some like managing, some like problem-solving, and some just want to pay someone else to do the work.

If a business man wants the most profitable business, it’s an online lending company with nearly 100% gross profit and up to 30% net profit.

What businesses are easy to own?

The easiest businesses to own are where you trade your time for money. They normally have low startup costs, few regulations, and are exempt from taxes in many places. Consider ones like:

• Tutoring
• Affiliate marketing
• Personal Trainers
• Fingerprinting
• Data Entry
• Repair Businesses
• Recycling

What are some business ideas for black males?

Black businessmen can do anything any other businessmen do. The wealthiest black people in America develop their wealth from the entertainment industry and fashion, but these industries create the most millionaires

• Finance and Investments
• Technology
• Manufacturing
• Fashion and Retail
• Healthcare

I Wanted 1000 Business Ideas!

Be wary of anyone claiming to have more than 1,000 business ideas. 

Here’s why:

The North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) currently only has 1055 NAICS codes. That means lists of business ideas with more businesses are repeating their ideas. 

Here’s the downloadable all-business list.

What small business idea do you like?

There are so many business ideas for men that you can pursue whatever you want, but that doesn’t mean you should just jump in. 

Women-owned businesses tend to be more successful, which means you might be better off partnering to get a more balanced approach.

If you start a business, would it be on your own or with a partner?

Clients pay hefty sums for a good residential painting company. Want to know how to start a painting company and make $10,420 per hour?

We’ll show you how Carmelo Marsala started Spray-Net and makes over $21 million per year. He discusses his painting services, pricing, and how to get painting jobs. Along the way, he shares a bit of his business philosophy.

[su_quote]You can’t fail if you don’t quit.[/su_quote]

Read on to learn how to get started in painting from a business owner who has trained more than 117 franchisees to use his patented painting process for roofs, vinyl, and other unique materials.

[su_note note_color="#dbeafc"] Click on any of the links below to jump to that section, or just continue reading.

• Case Study: Spray-Net
• UpFlip exclusive Spray-Net franchise
• Learn about the painting industry
  • How much does it cost to start a painting business?
  • Do painting business owners make good money?
  • Do painters need to be licensed and insured?
  • What equipment do I need to start a painting business?
• How to start a painting business
  • Step #1. Learn professional house painting skills
  • Step #2. Research the market
  • Step #3. Create a painting business plan
  • Step #4. Consider painting business names
  • Step #5. Choose your business structure
  • Step #6. Get a painter’s license
  • Step #7. Open a business bank account
  • Step #8. Get painting business insurance
  • Step #9. Establish painting services and prices
  • Step #10. Choose your painting equipment
  • Step #11. Set up accounting and bookkeeping
  • Step #12. Invest in painting business software
  • Step #13. Advertise your painting business
  • Step #14. Get your first customers
  • Step #15. Document everything
  • Step #16. Hire subcontractors or employees
• Spray-Net franchise offer
• Painting business influencers
• Painting business resources
• Start your own painting business [/su_note]

Case Study: Spray-Net

Straight out of college, Carmelo became a franchisee for the painting company College Pro. He realized exterior vinyl painting was something that was missing in the industry. He started digging into why and found that the standard paint production process just doesn’t work for vinyl application.

Carmelo started asking why additives weren’t added on site to adjust to weather conditions, and he kept hearing the same thing:

[su_quote]That’s just how it’s always been done.[/su_quote]

He decided to reimagine the process and formulate his own paint. Spray-Net was born, and today he makes around $21 million per year selling painting franchises and training the franchisees. There are now more than 130 Spray-Net locations in the U.S. and Canada.

Check out our interview with Carmelo below.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=va7wL-C_kxg

If you like how Spray-Net approaches the painting industry, consider our exclusive offer.

UpFlip exclusive Spray-Net franchise

We’ve partnered with Carmelo to offer you an exclusive opportunity to get a Spray-Net franchise and save.

Learn about the painting industry

How much does it cost to start a painting business?

Though car painting and artistic painting can be viable business options, in this guide, we’ll be covering house painting businesses.

Starting a house painting business requires startup costs between $50 and $35,000, depending on the type of painting business and whether you have the tools and equipment to start painting.

Painting companies that need a shop could cost much more than $35K because you’ll need to put a deposit on the space, remodel, and furnish the space. That's why many people consider starting a painting business from home. Costs will vary based on the region.

The basic painting supplies, like brushes, drop cloths, extension poles, paint trays, and rollers, aren’t that expensive. The main costs will be a vehicle, business formation, and insurance when you first start. You’ll save a lot of money if you already have a vehicle.

Do painting business owners make good money?

Yes, painting business owners can make great money, but it depends.

According to business research firm IBIS World, the average painting company makes about $140K per year with a 6.9% profit margin, which isn’t very good. Successful professional painters can make much more though. Carmelo told us about Spray-Net’s earnings.

[su_quote]The company makes $10,420 per hour. First-year franchises make around $500K [in] revenue per year, while older franchises average $1.2M. Gross margin is 59.44%.[/su_quote]

That means first-year painting business owners can take home over $100K in net profit. The older franchises are making about 2.5 times that. We came to these numbers by multiplying the revenue by the gross margin and then subtracting 40% (20% for taxes and 20% for additional business costs).

Do painters need to be licensed and insured?

Make sure to ask a licensed attorney about the requirements in your location, but most states require contractors to be licensed and insured. Make sure to register as a contractor if it is required in your location.

At a minimum, you should carry $1M per occurrence or $2M in lifetime general liability insurance to protect against damage done to clients’ property. In addition, you’ll probably need workers' compensation and commercial automotive insurance.

What equipment do I need to start a painting business?

You’ll want commercial painting equipment when you start a painting company. Some of the equipment you’ll need includes:

• Brushes
• Drop cloths
• Extension poles
• Paint trays
• Rollers
• A truck or van
• Painters tape

Spray-Net has additional painting equipment requirements, including sprayers and mixers, which are necessary to mix and spray the paint on location.

Their painting process is patent protected, so if you want to use their painting equipment you’ll need to buy a Spray-Net franchise.

How to start a painting business

Starting a painting business requires you to:

1. Learn professional house painting skills.
2. Research the market.
3. Create a painting business plan.
4. Consider painting business names.
5. Choose your business structure.
6. Get a painter’s license.
7. Open a business bank account.
8. Get painting business insurance.
9. Establish painting services and prices.
10. Choose your painting equipment.
11. Set up accounting and bookkeeping.
12. Invest in painting business software.
13. Advertise your painting business.
14. Get your first customers.
15. Document everything.
16. Hire subcontractors or employees.

Get ready to learn how to start a painting business.

Step #1. Learn professional house painting skills

You’ll need to learn how to paint professionally to avoid making mistakes that cost you time and money. Potential customers expect you to protect their property and don’t want to request touchups after you declare the job done.

Make sure to develop painting skills, like:

• Protecting the space
• Knowledge about acrylic, latex, and oil paints
• Using primers for interior painting (some exceptions apply)
• Properly using paint brushes, rollers, and sprayers
• Scraping, sanding, and patching
• Applying an even coat
• Cutting paint

And don’t forget to always paint a room from top to bottom.

Step #2. Research the market

This article is a good start for understanding the market and financial viability of a painting company. You’ll want to do more research to understand whether a painting business will be successful in your area.

Research the number of local painting businesses and their reputations, pricing, and services. You’ll also want to know how many area homeowners there are, or the number of potential commercial clients.

Understanding how others market their painting companies will help you manage your painting business so you can differentiate your marketing strategy from the rest of the pack.

Step #3. Create a painting business plan

Painting business plans help you, lenders, and your employees understand the company’s values, unique value propositions, and intended operations.

You can make a simple one-page business plan just to help you keep your business on track, or you can create a more extensive business plan for when you apply for business loans.

Carmelo told us:

[su_quote]I was young and gung-ho and didn’t have a plan. But now, I warn people [that] failing to plan is planning to fail.[/su_quote]

Learn more in our business plan writing guide.

Step #4. Consider painting business names

You’ll need a professional name for your painting business. Your business name will be how people recognize the business. It should be fun, easy to spell, and identifiable as a painting company.

You should look up your painting company name ideas on the United States Patent and Trademark Office website and other search engines to make sure the business name is available. Then you’ll want to choose your business structure and register your business.

Step #5. Choose your business structure

Painting contractors will need to register their painting business with their Secretary of State and potentially their local government. You have a few business structure options when starting a painting business, but the most common types are a limited liability company or sole proprietorship.

A limited liability company makes your painting business a unique entity (as long you keep your personal and professional finances separate). This prevents you from being personally liable if something occurs within the business. There are also tax benefits to a business being a separate entity.

Meanwhile, a sole proprietorship is a business structure where you and the house painting business are one entity, which means if an accident happens, your personal assets can be taken to reimburse the client or employee.

Learn more in our guide to business structures.

Step #6. Get a painter’s license

Many locations require you to become a licensed painter when starting a painting business.

A painter's license is just a business license that requires you to prove you have the insurance your area requires you to have. The best insurance to cover everything is often a business owner’s policy, but we’ll discuss insurance more below.

There may be other requirements, including testing or job experience, depending on the location.

Step #7. Open a business bank account

You’ll need a business bank account to keep your personal and business expenses separate. You can choose to get a business bank account from:

• Brick-and-mortar banks: These banks are local to you, have higher probabilities of approving loans, and are easier to deposit cash.
• Online-only business banks: A business owner can benefit from an online bank with lower fees and higher interest rates on savings, but it’s harder to deposit cash and get a loan.

Step #8. Get painting business insurance

A successful painting business needs insurance to protect the business owner, their employees, and their commercial and residential painting clients. You might be wondering, what insurance does a self-employed painter need?

The small business insurance you need when starting a painting business is:

• General liability insurance: This coverage protects you if your painting company accidentally damages or hurts a non-employee. It is typically a $1M per occurrence or $2M for a lifetime policy, but some local governments or commercial clients may require higher limits.
• Workers compensation insurance: You’ll want this in case anyone gets hurt on the job. It will cover their injuries and their wages as long as they weren’t negligent or intoxicated. This is mandatory in nearly every state.
• Unemployment insurance: This insurance protects workers who get laid off. It’s required by law in every state.
• Commercial auto insurance: You’ll need separate car insurance for your business vehicles.

Many of these can be combined into one plan with a business owner’s policy. You can learn more in our business insurance guide.

When you’re ready, we suggest going to Simply Business to get quotes from the largest insurance companies in the world.

Step #9. Establish painting services and prices

At this point, you have a business entity, business license, and insurance. You can operate your own business, but what services are you going to offer, and how will you price painting jobs to establish positive cash flow?

To give you an idea, we’ll cover Spray-Net’s services and pricing.

Spray-Net offers three main services:

• Exterior painting: They have spray coatings that work on exterior vinyl, stucco, brick, and doors or glass windows.
• Kitchen cabinet painting: Spray-Net offers indoor services, as well, such as cabinet painting.
• Roof re-granulating: I wouldn’t think to hire painting contractors if my roof has issues, but Spray-Net paints roofs and says the painting job adds 15 years to the life of the roof. Check out their explainer video below.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9EX56JY5MqE

They price each job either by the square foot or the number of cabinets. They also provide an online estimator so potential customers can get an idea of how much the job will cost.

Their average ticket for a painting job is $5,815, which puts it between the cost of replacing and standard repainting. They offer warranties nearly three times longer than most residential painting companies.

Before you start a new painting business, you should probably look at their professional painting work. You might want to consider their franchise business model to make more money painting houses.

Step #10. Choose your painting equipment

As we stated earlier, when you start a painting company, you’ll need:

• Drop cloths
• Extension poles
• Paint trays
• Rollers
• Truck or van
• Painters tape
• Sprayers
• Mixers
• Paint brushes
• Booties for your shoes
• Respirators

You can get these at Home Depot, Lowe’s, or any paint supply store.

Step #11. Set up accounting and bookkeeping

You’ll need a good accountant and bookkeeper to keep your financials in order and help you comply with taxes. Ask other business owners in your area who they prefer.

Step #12. Invest in painting business software

You'll need software to run your own painting company. Here’s some of the essential software:

• Website: You’ll want to build a website. Which means you’ll need a domain name from somewhere like GoDaddy.
• Customer relationship management (CRM) system: You’ll also need to have a CRM to manage all your customers. Small business owners tend to like Jobber or Housecall Pro.
• Accounting software: You’ll want to get QuickBooks to manage your small business’s finances and payroll. A small business owner can make themselves an employee to receive a weekly paycheck.
• Payroll processor: A modern small business will need to accept credit cards, which means you’ll need a payment processor like Square.

Step #13. Advertise your painting business

Successful businesses require marketing to grow. Most small businesses in the service industry will use a combination of digital marketing and print marketing.

Carmelo explained:

[su_quote]We started by knocking on doors. Then when we painted town hall [and got news coverage for it], which created more jobs.[/su_quote]

Then he expanded to digital marketing and traditional marketing.

[su_quote]We spend $3-4M across the system, but you should spend about 10% of your revenue on marketing. Facebook and Google are best. Then you’ll want to add [NextDoor].[/su_quote]

Many people want to focus on branding, but Carmelo has other advice about how to start your own painting business.

[su_quote]Facebook and Google gets you in the door—then tell people about your brand [while you are providing a quote].[/su_quote]

Once you hit the point of diminishing returns on ads, it’s time to start making YouTube videos. Another marketing technique that helps drive customers to your own painting business is appearing on business shows.

[su_quote]DragonDen (similar to SharkTank) reached out. I originally said no, but after a few times, decided to do it. The business was so crazy Microsoft thought our server was broken.[/su_quote]

Next, you’ll want to get your first job.

Step #14. Get your first customers

A house painting company can use all kinds of techniques to get that first customer. Carmelo preferred going door to door.

You might want to practice painting pitches before you start providing quotes for painting houses. Carmelo used the one below when starting a painting company.

[su_quote]I noticed [this thing wrong on the house]. Did you know we can fix it for $X?[/su_quote]

After explaining the hows and whys, Carmelo continued:

[su_quote]I’ll give you a quote, then give us a call anytime. We’ll be in the neighborhood, so you should see us around.[/su_quote]

It might help to bring some painter's business cards. We cover the places you can get low-cost house painting business cards in our inexpensive business card guide.

Carmelo went on to explain:

[su_quote]Customer service is the biggest thing. There is a luck component to business. It’s a lot of hard work, but sometimes it’s just a matter of being at the right place at the right time.

For instance, when we got the town hall job, it was because we painted the house of a person working there. I strategically priced it to get the job for publicity. Then we got the press to cover it.[/su_quote]

You’ll also want to be careful about how much you take on at first. One of the biggest mistakes you can make is growing your painting business too fast. Carmelo explained:

[su_quote]We grew so fast that I stopped paying attention to the numbers. We reached a point where I wasn’t able to pay for payroll, and I had to change that.[/su_quote]

Step #15. Document everything

Before you hire employees or subcontractors, you’ll need to make sure to document your processes so you can teach them. As Carmelo said:

[su_quote]It’s especially important to [document everything] if you have ambitions to scale.[/su_quote]

This can include creating videos explaining everything you do on a job, typing your processes out, creating interactive tutorials, or all of the above. Carmelo explained one method he uses for documenting the processes for his specialized services:

[su_quote]We put a QR code on every paint can for the painting business pro to learn how to use it effectively.[/su_quote]

Step #16. Hire subcontractors or employees

Unless you want a really small painting company that just covers your salary, you’ll need employees or subcontractors. That means you’ll need a payroll processor. You’ll also need to do interviews and background checks.

Carmelo told us:

[su_quote]I base my hiring decisions based on whether I like them. If I don’t, I’m not going to like working with them. The other stuff I can teach.[/su_quote]

You can learn more about hiring straight from a recruiter in our hiring how-to.

Spray-Net franchise offer

Now you know how to become a house painter. Want to skip all the learning about how to get painting contracts, the average cost of painting a room, and advertising painting services?

Carmelo has a special offer for UpFlippers who want to learn how to become paint contractors. You can get a Spray-Net franchise and save.

Painting business influencers

You can find painting influencers like Carmelo and check out their videos, blogs, and social media to help inspire your own painting business.

Painting business resources

It’s useful to pay attention to industry trends as you learn how to start a painting company. There’s no better way than participating in industry organizations like:

• Commercial Painting Industry Association: Annual membership is $395 and comes with a peer networking group, networking events, webinars, subcontractor reviews, and more.
• Painting Contractors Association: Annual membership is $499 and includes annual awards, painter training, a streaming service, event and industry discounts, a recruitment portal, healthcare options, a magazine, and safety templates.

Start your own painting business

We’ve discussed how to get into painting with minimal startup costs, our special franchise offer for starting a painting business with no experience, and painting business resources that will help you as you go.

Ultimately, it’s up to you to put together a plan, get the startup costs, and open your business legally.

Will you start a house painting company, school painting company, or another type of painting company?