How to start a flooring business – starting your own floor installation company

Flooring is a particularly niche industry, however in 2021 it was thought to worth almost £2 billion. So, if you have the right skillset for floor installation, why not join one of the fastest growing markets and consider starting a floor installation business?

Here’s how?

What do floor businesses do? 

Floor fitting is not something the average person can do without the correct skills and training. As a flooring company, you will be tasked with fitting a variety of floor types across a range of clients. This may include commercial buildings or a family home and you can be dealing with anything from carpet, to laminate. 

You may also decide to offer other services such as maintenance and repair, alongside installations. 

How to start

If you have come to the conclusion that you wish to begin a flooring business, it’s likely you already have all or some of the skillsets required.

However, you may also consider getting a certification of training to add integrity and legitimacy to your business. You will also have to consider whether to employ staff who already have an accreditation, or if you will pay for their training. 

You will also have to do a lot of essential business admin when starting up. This will include forming an LLC or Corporation and registering it as a business, purchasing a business domain, creating branding, and setting up social media profiles.

You must also identify a demand for your business. This is where having good industry connections comes in hand as you can gain many benefits from these relationships. This may come in the form of industry news and knowledge, client referrals, and perhaps discounts. 

Costs

Assessing your outgoings is essential when starting a business. The first thing you will have to factor in is your labour costs. However, when starting out, this is likely to be done by yourself. You can also drive down costs by enlisting the help of family members if they are skilled in the trade. 

Secondly, the next big cost you will have to consider is your materials. This includes anything from the physical flooring, the equipment required to install it. 

Look at joining a builder’s warehouse where you can purchase common flooring materials such as plywood for a much lower price than found at retail suppliers.  

Building a strong reputation

Offering a service which you consistently complete to an excellent standard, along with a competitive price, is ultimately what drives people to choose your business over others. 

This is why building up a strong reputation is invaluable when first starting off. Be patient and simply watch the range and number of your clients grow!

Marketing

Good marketing is also a key factor in forming a successful business. If you are savvy with social media, you can use apps such as Instagram to build up a following and showcase your work to gain new clients – you may offer discounts for anyone who discovered you by social media.

In the early days, it is also a good idea to target your local area. You can print business cards, promotional leaflets, and posters to post through people’s letterboxes, hand out in town, or stick in the window of your local corner shop. This will help build brand recognition, which will ultimately lead to more clients.

If starting a flooring business sounds like the right career path for you – what are you waiting for?