A fence installation company contracts with clients to perform a number of services. Contracts are negotiated based on the measurements of the area to be fenced, the materials used, the degree of difficulty, and the amount of time and labor required.
Ready to turn your business idea into a reality? Tailor Brands is our top recommendation because it guides you through every step of the process with hands-on support.
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Start a fence company by following these 10 steps:
- Plan your Fence Company
- Form your Fence Company into a Legal Entity
- Register your Fence Company for Taxes
- Open a Business Bank Account & Credit Card
- Set up Accounting for your Fence Company
- Get the Necessary Permits & Licenses for your Fence Company
- Get Fence Company Insurance
- Define your Fence Company Brand
- Create your Fence Company Website
- Set up your Business Phone System
We have put together this simple guide to starting your fence company. These steps will ensure that your new business is well planned out, registered properly and legally compliant.
Exploring your options? Check out other small business ideas.
STEP 1: Plan your business
A clear plan is essential for success as an entrepreneur. It will help you map out the specifics of your business and discover some unknowns. A few important topics to consider are:
- What will you name your business?
- What are the startup and ongoing costs?
- Who is your target market?
- How much can you charge customers?
Luckily we have done a lot of this research for you.
What will you name your business?
Choosing the right name is important and challenging. If you don’t already have a name in mind, visit our How to Name a Business guide or get help brainstorming a name with our Fence Company Name Generator
If you operate a sole proprietorship, you might want to operate under a business name other than your own name. Visit our DBA guide to learn more.
When registering a business name, we recommend researching your business name by checking:
- Your state’s business records
- Federal and state trademark records
- Social media platforms
- Web domain availability
It’s very important to secure your domain name before someone else does.
What are the costs involved in opening a fence company?
Opening expenses include a business and tax license, a contractor’s license, and liability insurance. Insurance is necessary to protect your business in the event of an accident or injury. Purchasing a surety bond is also a good idea. Many come in amounts from between $6000 to $12000, but coverage for up to $50,000 can be purchased for large projects. The cost of yearly premiums for a small business averages between $500 and $900. At minimum, you’ll need a full size truck with an extended bed for delivering materials. A forklift can also be useful in loading fencing materials quickly and easily. The necessary equipment required for building fences includes post drivers, fence stretchers, saws, drills, air compressors, hydraulic augers, and a concrete mixer. Purchasing that equipment new will require a minimum investment of approximately $10,000. Finally, you’ll need a place to store all of that equipment as well as office space for storing files and contracts. Fortunately, depending on your local zoning laws, your home may be able to serve those multiple purposes.
What are the ongoing expenses for a fence company?
Ongoing expenses for a fence installation business may include:
- Vehicle and equipment maintenance
- Fencing materials
- Storage costs
- Shipping fees
- Credit card processing fees
- Website maintenance and office supplies
- Employee payroll
Who is the target market?
Preferred customers are homeowners, business owners, real estate developers, farmers, ranchers, and government agencies.
How does a fence company make money?
A fence installation business makes money by purchasing fencing supplies at wholesale prices and charging for the labor and expertise necessary to design and install fences.
How much can you charge customers?
It is estimated that the average cost of a fence is $2,620. In many places, building permits are required. The average building permit costs about $800. If the area to be fenced is sloped or contains obstructions that need to be removed, the cost can be significantly higher. For a simple wooden fence, the industry standard for materials is currently from between $7 and $19 per linear foot. The charge for a vinyl fence can be as high as $33 per linear foot. Other materials, such as decorative wrought iron, can be priced as high as $300 per linear foot when installation costs are included. Labor costs per linear foot vary from $7 to $12, depending on the type of materials used.
How much profit can a fence company make?
Depending on the level of training and experience, the annual salary for a fence installation worker ranges from between $21,160 and $51,800 with an average of $32,450. A large, well- established fence installation business can create as much as 1.4 million in annual revenue.
How can you make your business more profitable?
One way to make your business more profitable is by creating a display showcasing all the different types of fencing your company offers for potential customers. Erecting a number of small sections of each type, using different materials, including decorative elements, provides your customers with a visual representation of the finished product. Another important step you can take to make your business more profitable is teaming up with other fencing contractors who specialize in different types of fences than those your company normally builds. Cooperation as well as competition between industry professionals benefits everyone involved. It can both increase your company’s name recognition and result in a greater number of satisfied customers.
Want a more guided approach? Access TRUiC’s free Small Business Startup Guide – a step-by-step course for turning your business idea into reality. Get started today!
STEP 2: Form a legal entity
One crucial aspect that cannot be overlooked when starting your fence company is the importance of establishing a solid business foundation. While sole proprietorships and partnerships are the most common entity types for small businesses, they’re a far less stable and advantageous option than LLCs.
This is because unincorporated business structures (i.e., sole proprietorships and partnerships) expose you as an owner to personal liability for your business’s debts and legal actions, while LLCs protect you by keeping your personal assets separate from your business’s liabilities.
In practice, this means that if your fence company were to face a lawsuit or incur any debts, your savings, home, and other personal assets could not be used to cover these costs. On top of this, forming your business as an LLC also helps it to appear more legitimate and trustworthy.
Ready to Turn Your Business Idea Into a Reality?
Tailor Brands is our top recommendation because it guides you through every step of the formation process with hands-on support — from paperwork and compliance to devising a detailed plan to help you achieve your business goals.
Note: If you’re interested in more information before getting started, we recommend having a look at our How to Start a Business guide (DIY) or our in-depth Best Business Formation Services review (for those opting for a professional service).
STEP 3: Register for taxes
You will need to register for a variety of state and federal taxes before you can open for business.
In order to register for taxes you will need to apply for an EIN. It’s really easy and free!
You can acquire your EIN through the IRS website. If you would like to learn more about EINs, read our article, What is an EIN?
There are specific state taxes that might apply to your business. Learn more about state sales tax and franchise taxes in our state sales tax guides.
STEP 4: Open a business bank account & credit card
Using dedicated business banking and credit accounts is essential for personal asset protection.
When your personal and business accounts are mixed, your personal assets (your home, car, and other valuables) are at risk in the event your business is sued. In business law, this is referred to as piercing your corporate veil.
Open a business bank account
Besides being a requirement when applying for business loans, opening a business bank account:
- Separates your personal assets from your company’s assets, which is necessary for personal asset protection.
- Makes accounting and tax filing easier.
Recommended: Read our Best Banks for Small Business review to find the best national bank or credit union.
Get a business credit card
Getting a business credit card helps you:
- Separate personal and business expenses by putting your business’ expenses all in one place.
- Build your company’s credit history, which can be useful to raise money later on.
Recommended: Apply for an easy approval business credit card from BILL and build your business credit quickly.
STEP 5: Set up business accounting
Recording your various expenses and sources of income is critical to understanding the financial performance of your business. Keeping accurate and detailed accounts also greatly simplifies your annual tax filing.
Make LLC accounting easy with our LLC Expenses Cheat Sheet.
STEP 6: Obtain necessary permits and licenses
Failure to acquire necessary permits and licenses can result in hefty fines, or even cause your business to be shut down.
State & Local Business Licensing Requirements
Certain state permits and licenses may be needed to operate a fence company. Learn more about licensing requirements in your state by visiting SBA’s reference to state licenses and permits.
Most businesses are required to collect sales tax on the goods or services they provide. To learn more about how sales tax will affect your business, read our article, Sales Tax for Small Businesses.
Services Contract (e.g. MSA)
Fence companies should require clients to sign a services agreement before starting a new project. This agreement should clarify client expectations and minimize risk of legal disputes by setting out payment terms and conditions and service level expectations. Here is an example of one such services agreement.
Recommended: Rocket Lawyer makes it easy to create a professional service agreement for your fencing business when you sign up for their premium membership. For $39.95 per month, members receive access to hundreds of legal agreements and on call attorneys to get complimentary legal advice.
STEP 7: Get business insurance
Just as with licenses and permits, your business needs insurance in order to operate safely and lawfully. Business Insurance protects your company’s financial wellbeing in the event of a covered loss.
There are several types of insurance policies created for different types of businesses with different risks. If you’re unsure of the types of risks that your business may face, begin with General Liability Insurance. This is the most common coverage that small businesses need, so it’s a great place to start for your business.
Another notable insurance policy that many businesses need is Workers’ Compensation Insurance. If your business will have employees, it’s a good chance that your state will require you to carry Workers’ Compensation Coverage.
Find out what types of insurance your Fence Company needs and how much it will cost you by reading our guide Business Insurance for Fence Company.
STEP 8: Define your brand
Your brand is what your company stands for, as well as how your business is perceived by the public. A strong brand will help your business stand out from competitors.
If you already have a logo, you can also add it to a QR code with our Free QR Code Generator. Choose from 13 QR code types to create a code for your business cards and publications, or to help spread awareness for your new website.
How to promote & market a fence company
Joining your local Chamber of Commerce can provide valuable information about future planned real estate development as well as the opportunity to network within your community. Realtors offices and homeowner’s associations are also great places to leave your business card with a link to your website. Members of farming and ranching cooperatives regularly require fence repair.
How to keep customers coming back
Social media is a great place to advertise for new customers because it provides an inexpensive way to track consumer response to special offers. Donating time and materials to local charities is a good way to showcase your best work and demonstrate your commitment to the improvement of your local community. This type of business requires a high level of consumer trust, so building a good reputation is essential for success. One satisfied customer can mean many recommendations to friends and neighbors. Since this business can also be weather-dependent, it’s important to nurture long-term client relationships year-round.
STEP 9: Create your business website
After defining your brand and creating your logo the next step is to create a website for your business.
While creating a website is an essential step, some may fear that it’s out of their reach because they don’t have any website-building experience. While this may have been a reasonable fear back in 2015, web technology has seen huge advancements in the past few years that makes the lives of small business owners much simpler.
Here are the main reasons why you shouldn’t delay building your website:
- All legitimate businesses have websites – full stop. The size or industry of your business does not matter when it comes to getting your business online.
- Social media accounts like Facebook pages or LinkedIn business profiles are not a replacement for a business website that you own.
- Website builder tools like the GoDaddy Website Builder have made creating a basic website extremely simple. You don’t need to hire a web developer or designer to create a website that you can be proud of.
Recommended: Get started today using our recommended website builder or check out our review of the Best Website Builders.
Other popular website builders are: WordPress, WIX, Weebly, Squarespace, and Shopify.
STEP 10: Set up your business phone system
Getting a phone set up for your business is one of the best ways to help keep your personal life and business life separate and private. That’s not the only benefit; it also helps you make your business more automated, gives your business legitimacy, and makes it easier for potential customers to find and contact you.
There are many services available to entrepreneurs who want to set up a business phone system. We’ve reviewed the top companies and rated them based on price, features, and ease of use. Check out our review of the Best Business Phone Systems 2024 to find the best phone service for your small business.
Recommended Business Phone Service: Phone.com
Phone.com is our top choice for small business phone numbers because of all the features it offers for small businesses and it’s fair pricing.
Is this Business Right For You?
This business is ideal for people who enjoy working outdoors and helping people increase the security, beauty and functionality of their property.
Want to know if you are cut out to be an entrepreneur?
Take our Entrepreneurship Quiz to find out!
What happens during a typical day at a fence company?
Daily activities can include:
- Meeting with potential clients
- Surveying and measuring areas to be fenced
- Performing safety checks on utilities
- Obtaining building permits
- Preparing bids and estimates
- Negotiating prices and purchasing supplies
- Using tools and equipment such as augers and spades
- Erecting and repairing fences
- Interviewing, hiring and training support staff
- Marketing
What are some skills and experiences that will help you build a successful fence company?
Some of the skills necessary in this business include:
- Physical strength and dexterity
- Knowledge of building and construction
- Ability to understand clients’ needs and give clear and logical presentations
- Ability to accurately estimate costs, time and materials needed to complete jobs
- Knowledge of tools and materials needed
- Time management skills
- Experience in repairing tools and machinery
- Math skills for measuring distance, area and ensuring structural integrity
Certification in fence and gate design is highly desirable. In addition to formal education courses, there are also a number of helpful books available.
What is the growth potential for a fence company?
This industry is expected to exceed $9 billion dollars in sales by the year 2018. Many fencing companies have grown large enough to offer franchise opportunities for those wishing to gain knowledge and experience from seasoned professionals.
Take the Next Step
Find a business mentor
One of the greatest resources an entrepreneur can have is quality mentorship. As you start planning your business, connect with a free business resource near you to get the help you need.
Having a support network in place to turn to during tough times is a major factor of success for new business owners.
Learn from other business owners
Want to learn more about starting a business from entrepreneurs themselves? Visit Startup Savant’s startup founder series to gain entrepreneurial insights, lessons, and advice from founders themselves.
Resources to Help Women in Business
There are many resources out there specifically for women entrepreneurs. We’ve gathered necessary and useful information to help you succeed both professionally and personally:
- Funding
- Events
- Guides
- Support
If you’re a woman looking for some guidance in entrepreneurship, check out this great new series Women in Business created by the women of our partner Startup Savant.
What are some insider tips for jump starting a fence company?
Joining the American Fence Association can benefit your business. They provide industry discounts as well educational opportunities and valuable network connections. Their prestigious Blue Ribbon designation signifies that a company has demonstrated the highest professional and ethical industry standards.
How and when to build a team
While maintaining a small, one-person operation is possible, building a team of trusted suppliers and skilled workers from the beginning is essential for the continued growth of your business. Hiring independent contractors may be more economical while building your business, but hiring permanent employees makes it easier to maintain a consistent level of quality and dependability.