How to Start a Welding Business

A welding business repairs, restores, and assists building metal-based items. Welding and fabrication services include flux core welding, aluminum welding, plasma cutting, metal fabrication, dump truck box repair, and more. A high-quality welding business can fix most things made out of metal, assisting numerous projects in the span of a year.

Ready to turn your business idea into a reality? We recommend forming an LLC as it is the most affordable way to protect your personal assets. You can do this yourself or with our trusted partner for a small fee.

Northwest ($29 + State Fees)

DIY: How to Start an LLC

Start a welding business by following these 10 steps:

  1. Plan your Welding Business
  2. Form your Welding Business into a Legal Entity
  3. Register your Welding Business for Taxes
  4. Open a Business Bank Account & Credit Card
  5. Set up Accounting for your Welding Business
  6. Get the Necessary Permits & Licenses for your Welding Business
  7. Get Welding Business Insurance
  8. Define your Welding Business Brand
  9. Create your Welding Business Website
  10. Set up your Business Phone System

We have put together this simple guide to starting your welding 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:

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 Welding 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 welding business?

Startup costs sit around $10,000 to $50,000. These costs include a metal fabrication shop, which has a rent of about $3,000 per month. These costs also account for insurance, tools, electronics, mobile service options, and personal protection equipment. Minor equipment can be purchased for as little as $1,000, but you’ll need to expand your inventory as more projects are approached.

Read our welding business purchasing guide to learn about the materials and equipment you’ll need to start a welding business, how much to budget, and where to make purchases.

What are the ongoing expenses for a welding business?

Employees will be paid between $45 and $65 per hour. Additionally, raw material will need to be purchased. Typically, this raw material will be marked up by about 50 percent when it’s used.

Who is the target market?

The best clients and customers are those with ongoing welding needs. While you can conduct single projects, you’re better off engaging clients who manage commercial machinery. Among your many clients, several will be incredibly profitable. The best jobs a welding business scan undertake are mega yacht repair, marine equipment fabrication, architectural iron modification, aircraft repair and remanufacturing, cruise ship service, and restaurant equipment repair.

Because commercial providers need to meet certain industry standards, they’re incredibly profitable. Welding clients can extend to farm equipment owners, other welding shops, silo tank providers, and even steel dairy equipment providers.

How does a welding business make money?

Most welding businesses make money by performing small projects. They can, however, make a lot of money by engaging long-term projects. Because a welding company’s best providers are normally marine equipment providers, a lot of service is needed to prevent rusting and water damage.

A welding company also makes money by making metal modifications and repairs. If a company’s machinery breaks, a welding business will be called to examine the surrounding problems. It may also contact a separate repair team—taking charge with metal repairs and needed fabrications, itself.

How much can you charge customers?

Welding services can be charged in two ways. First, they can be charged on a per-job basis. They can also be charged at an hourly rate. Typically, per-hour rates are between $30 and $70 per hour. A well-established welding company may offer higher prices for special jobs and work needs.

How much profit can a welding business make?

A well-established welding service provider can gain yearly profits of about $70,000. A highly successful welding business, meanwhile, can make six figures easily.

How can you make your business more profitable?

Every period of work time should be budgeted. A poorly drawn business plan is believed to be the number-one cause of welding business failure. Know what you can afford, and prioritize your customers. Don’t buy personal toys—welding equipment—before you need it. Focus on getting the business in the door, and find the best customers who need your services. From start-up independent jobs to multi billion-dollar contracts, you’ll need to be a good face-to-face negotiator.

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 welding 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 welding 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.

More than 84% of our readers opt to collaborate with a professional LLC formation service to kickstart their venture. We’ve negotiated a tailored discount for our readers, bringing the total down to just $29.

FORM YOUR LLC

Note: If you’re interested in more information before getting started, we recommend having a look at our state-specific How to Start an LLC guide (DIY) or our in-depth Best LLC 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:

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.

Federal Business Licensing Requirements

Certain state permits and licenses may be needed to operate a welding business. Learn more about licensing requirements in your state by visiting SBA’s reference to state licenses and permits.

State & Local Business Licensing Requirements

Certain state permits and licenses may be needed to operate a welding business business. Learn more about licensing requirements in your state by visiting SBA’s reference to state licenses and permits.

Services Contract

In business where services are provided on an extended basis, a services contract is often put in place outlining terms and conditions of service.

Welding 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, and service level expectations. An example of a service contract can be found here.

Labor safety requirements

It is important to comply with all Occupational Safety and Health Administration requirements.

Relevant requirements include:

  • Employee injury report
  • Safety signage
  • Etc.

Certificate of Occupancy

Businesses operating out of a physical location typically require a Certificate of Occupancy (CO).  A CO confirms that all building codes, zoning laws and government regulations have been met.

  • If you plan to lease a location:
    • It is generally the landlord’s responsibility to obtain a CO.
    • Before leasing, confirm that your landlord has or can obtain a valid CO that is applicable to a welding business
    • After a major renovation, a new CO often needs to be issued. If your place of business will be renovated before opening, it is recommended to include language in your lease agreement stating that lease payments will not commence until a valid CO is issued.
  • If you plan to purchase or build a location:
    • You will be responsible for obtaining a valid CO from a local government authority.
    • Review all building codes and zoning requirements for your business’ location to ensure your welding business will be in compliance and able to obtain a CO.

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 Welding Business needs and how much it will cost you by reading our guide Business Insurance for Welding 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 welding business

Market directly to businesses. While cold-calling tactics are difficult to pull off, you’ll need to become good at them to find high-quality clients. Market to any business related to marine services, and try to get hired by big companies. If they’re part of a business network, fish for opportunities there.

How to keep customers coming back

Hiring an ongoing welding service provider is a long-term commitment. For this reason, customer retention can be difficult to obtain but easy to maintain. Your best retention tool is to ensure high-quality, quick services. As with any contracting job, companies will stick to providers which ensure reliable services.

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: WordPressWIXWeeblySquarespace, 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?

A welding business should be run by individuals who’re experienced in metalworking, welding, and fabrication. It’s a solid business plan for workers who love excavating projects, fixing mechanical items, and performing general maintenance. A lot of welding projects are custom, giving project managers a lot of control over the services performed. A high degree of investment takes place, too, making it a good business for individuals who enjoy completing ongoing repairs, installations, and upgrades.

Want to know if you are cut out to be an entrepreneur?

Take our Entrepreneurship Quiz to find out!

Entrepreneurship Quiz

What happens during a typical day at a welding business?

A welding business owner must perform a number of activities. Among the many responsibilities a welding business owner has, understanding local laws, sales needs, and self-starting requirements is important. Welders assist with dump truck box repair, aluminum tank restoration, blade welding, lift welding, silver brazing, and fabrication projects. Other activities include ongoing research, metal repair, plasma cutting, and machine maintenance.

As an owner, you’ll need to conduct research on local market needs, effective sales strategies, management, and finance. You’ll similarly need to protect your team’s tools from damage, maintaining a healthy supply of metal-cutting tools to ensure high-quality services.

What are some skills and experiences that will help you build a successful welding business?

The skills a welding business provider must have are numerous. First, you’ll need to be able to read blueprints quickly and easily. You’ll also need an awareness of safety standards. Concentration, customer service skills, a detail-oriented work ethic, good eyesight, knowledge of metallurgy, tool knowledge, dexterity, and in-depth knowledge of different welding techniques are also important.

A successful welding business can service a wide array of projects. They handle jobs quickly, and they’re capable of meeting a high variety of client needs. Lasting welding businesses are committed to their work, ensure all aspects are completed correctly and have a sharp eye for new potential.

What is the growth potential for a welding business?

Welding businesses have a lot of potential. They can either be a niche welding business or a general welding shop. Understandably, niche welding businesses have a tight market area. They’re able to grow quicker, as there is less competition.

General welding shops, meanwhile, face a lot of competition. However, they do have a lot of services available. If a general welding shop advertises correctly, it can offer fabrication services for most jobs, though it  will need to advertise across multiple industries and have a wide range of services and equipment.

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 welding business?

Develop a business plan quickly. A lot of welders think business plans are a time-sink, but a solid business plan can help you map out your business’s needs and expenses.

How and when to build a team

Once you’re spending over 40 hours a week fabricating and welding, you’ll need to hire more employees. Working this much is a good sign, as it proves you’re becoming a successful business. As a business owner, however, you’ll need to manage between three and five additional workers with care. They depend on you for their financial survival, and they’re typically paid more than average employees.

Read our welding business hiring guide to learn about the different roles a welding 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

Real World Examples

Further Reading