Tiny houses are all the rage. These uber-small homes have just enough space for a minimalist individual or small family. A tiny house business builds, sells and/or rents tiny houses to those looking for a place to live or stay.
You may also be interested in additional unique business ideas.
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 tiny house business by following these 10 steps:
- Plan your Tiny House Business
- Form your Tiny House Business into a Legal Entity
- Register your Tiny House Business for Taxes
- Open a Business Bank Account & Credit Card
- Set up Accounting for your Tiny House Business
- Get the Necessary Permits & Licenses for your Tiny House Business
- Get Tiny House Business Insurance
- Define your Tiny House Business Brand
- Create your Tiny House Business Website
- Set up your Business Phone System
We have put together this simple guide to starting your tiny house business. 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 Tiny House Business 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 tiny house business?
The building materials are the primary expense. The construction of tiny houses requires an array of materials ranging from wood to nails, bricks, lighting, appliances, flooring and so on. An office for administrative functions will also be necessary. Your office needs computers, printers, desks, chairs and high-speed Internet. You will also need a team of tiny home builders to construct these cute little houses. Some tiny house builders buy the property upon which tiny houses are built. If you plan on purchasing such property before constructing the tiny houses, be sure to budget for these costly acquisitions of land.
What are the ongoing expenses for a tiny house business?
The cost of labor is one of the major tiny house business expenses. Your tiny house builders will require a wage of at least $12 to $15 per hour if not more. The construction foreman/manager will require a salary in the range of $45,000 to $100,000. You will have to hire a receptionist, administrator, marketing professional and accountant as time progresses. A receptionist and administrator will earn between $10 and $15 per hour. Marketing and accounting professionals typically earn between $35,000 and $55,000 per year.
You will need an office to conduct your tiny house business. This space will likely cost between $700 and $1,500 per month depending on its size and location. Utilities and high-speed Internet will cost between $150 and $250 per month. Budget in another couple hundred dollars per month for insurance. Constructing tiny homes requires building materials. The cost of these materials hinges on the number of tiny homes you plan on building. You will likely spend between $2,000 and $20,000 or more for each tiny house’s building supplies. The exact cost hinges on the size of the tiny home along with its appliances and luxuries. If you plan on buying property and then building tiny homes on the land you purchase, your budget will be exponentially higher. Though tiny houses are small, the land upon which they are built can cost anywhere between $10,000 and $50,000 or more.
Who is the target market?
The ideal customer is an individual with an expansive budget and a desire for an upscale tiny home. In some instances it is possible to sell several tiny homes to a real estate investor who intends to “flip” those properties or use them as tiny house rentals/hotels.
How does a tiny house business make money?
Tiny house businesses make money by selling tiny homes to buyers. It is also possible to rent out tiny houses.
How much can you charge customers?
Tiny houses sell in a price range between $5,000 and $50,000 or more. The exact price depends on the size, location, and amenities within the house. These diminutive homes are quite appealing to a wide variety of audiences. If you decide to rent out your tiny home as a hotel of sorts, you can charge upwards of $100 to $200 per night. People are willing to pay good money for a brief stay in a tiny house in order to determine if this style of living is appealing and also to find out what all the fuss is over.
How much profit can a tiny house business make?
A tiny house business has the potential to make six figures right off the bat. The amount of profit your tiny house business makes hinges on overhead costs, the number of properties your team can build and the state of your local real estate market. Keep building and selling tiny homes and it is possible to turn your business in a multi-million dollar enterprise within half a decade.
How can you make your business more profitable?
If you have a tiny home on the market that few (or no) people bid on, consider renting it out. It is also possible to rent tiny houses as hotels. If you understand the intricacies of tiny house construction, you can make extra money by teaching others how to build these highly unique structures.
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 tiny house business 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 tiny house business 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 tiny house business. 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
Tiny house businesses 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, service level expectations, and intellectual property ownership.
OSHA
Here is OSHA’s guide for the construction industry. There are particular regulations for building a home that may be relevant to building tiny houses too.
Liability Insurance
It is recommended that you obtain liability insurance to protect yourself, contractors, and customers in the case of an accident.
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 Tiny House Business needs and how much it will cost you by reading our guide Business Insurance for Tiny House Business.
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 tiny house business
Be selective when deciding on marketing methods. Tiny home-seekers tend to be young adults in their 20s or 30s. Target the mediums this age cohort is exposed to and you will maximize your marketing dollars. Of critical importance is your website and social media content. Millennials and other youngsters will almost certainly surf the web on over to your website and Facebook, and Twitter pages. Your web presence should be polished. Regularly update your social media accounts and website blog with helpful, intriguing keyword-laden content. Guest blog on other relevant websites to gain exposure.
How to keep customers coming back
It is important to hold frequent open houses. Do not lose sight of the fact that investing in a tiny house is quite the difficult decision for the average home-seeker. After all, tiny houses are quite unorthodox. Learn all the nuances of your tiny homes for sale so you can explain how a prospective buyer can live in such a small space with considerable comfort.
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?
If you are interested in architecture, construction and/or real estate, this business is perfect for you. It is also quite appealing to those who pride themselves on staying up to date with the latest trends.
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 tiny house business?
A tiny house business owner orders building materials, manages builders, secures plots of land, buys/sells tiny homes and establishes relationships with suppliers. Some tiny house business owners even handle the accounting and marketing duties until the business reaches the point where professionals can be hired to handle these responsibilities.
What are some skills and experiences that will help you build a successful tiny house business?
Knowledge of home construction with a particular focus on tiny house construction will certainly help. Those who are familiar with the real estate nuances of their area will have a firm grasp on the local codes that apply to tiny houses and the best places to build these homes. It will also help to be a savvy marketer. Though many tiny homes sell themselves, making target customers aware of your tiny homes for sale is critically important.
What is the growth potential for a tiny house business?
Tiny houses are as en vogue as it gets. Just about everyone wants to spend a night in a tiny house. Plenty of millennials are interested in these diminutive homes as permanent living spaces. Even baby boomers looking to downsize are interested in tiny houses. The potential for growth is exponential. If you build or acquire tiny homes in the next half-decade, they will almost assuredly sell at a profit. Capitalize on this trend now and you will be able to grow your tiny home company into a business empire across posterity. It is likely that tiny houses will remain popular far into the future as the population increases, space becomes more limited and traditional home values continue to soar.
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 tiny house business?
Become familiar with your local building codes. Find out the specific regulations in your jurisdiction that pertain to tiny house construction, location and living. Hire your building team with care. Only select builders who understand the nuances of tiny home construction. If you aren’t sure where to start and do not have experience with tiny houses, it is advisable to attend at tiny home workshop.
How and when to build a team
You will need a team of tiny house builders right away. You can’t build all these houses yourself. Furthermore, it will help to hire a real estate agent or tiny home expert to help you show the tiny houses you have for sale. If you do not want to answer the phone calls of prospective buyers throughout the day, it will be necessary to hire a receptionist. Hold off on hiring a marketing professional, accountant and administrator until your business ramps up.
Read our tiny house business hiring guide to learn about the different roles a tiny house business typically fills, how much to budget for employee salaries, and how to build your team exactly how you want it.
Useful Links
TRUiC Resources
Industry Opportunities
- Franchise Opportunity
- Discover more Unique Business Ideas
- American Tiny House Association
- United Tiny House Association