My husband is a custom woodwork finisher. Do you think there would be enough work to start a business?

He has worked in custom cabinet shops for the past 8 years, as supervisor for the last 5. He is considering starting a business that offers a finishing service. He doesn't want to do re-finishing. Do you think there would be enough work? Upside and downside of business? Please tell me any information you can think of. He would do onsite work or finish and bring to the home. We live about an hour north of Atlanta.

I knew I should have said more. He isn't a finish carpenter...he's a finisher.

wendy , listen this , is hard to do ,
but well worth it , if you get all the buiness you need,
i would keep the reg job,till it picks up. you need cash flow
it hard to start , but easyer, once you get started.
hope you understand me here, kinda like selling icecream
in the summer, great , tons a day, but nov,dec, no trade!!
so keep that in mind. iwould suggest you test the market
try for week end work first , and see how it goes.
it will take off like a plane ,after you get the name out
but will need a good cash flow to pay the bills,staff, training
and placeing ads, every where .
cost it out , taxes, people you need to hire ,and work for them , i really wish you luck

i would love to know , how it goes,
hey one day, maybe we mite work together .
all the best
john Report It

my brother is a finishing carpenter. he moved to florida 20 years ago, built his own house, lives a very nice lifestyle and never runs out of work.

During these troubling times . A good Job he should keep while stashing away cash for when he will need to go independent. Unless the need to depend on a weekly check is not needed. Then go for it but watch the pennies on the start up costs.

One downside might be that most of the work will be for contractors. Subcontracting is risky- contractors are notorious for not paying their subs. These guys are constantly using customer A's deposit to finish customer B's project, and thus are often behind in paying their bills.

When I was in the locksmith business, I was only stiffed once, but on many subcontracted jobs, I waited a long, long time to get paid. Sometimes over a year. Certainly not all contractors are crooks, and some have the best of intentions, but fail. But you have to realize that sometimes the toughest part of the construction business is getting paid.

Lest you think the law is on your side, it ain't. One kitchen re-modeler I know contacted a lawyer to sue for a $9K debt. The lawyer laughed and said, "When you get one for $100K, give me a call. Small claims judgments really can't be enforced, at least not here in NY. The crooks know that it isn't worth the state's time to chase them.

kudo's to harly....that was very good advice.

If he is a good carpenter the work will always be there.I have been a finish carpenter for 30 years.He will have to know how to install high end cabinets and do stair railings.That's where the money is.Anybody can do casing and base molding.You have to be fast at hanging doors.You get paid by the square foot and you get paid when they feel like paying you.I started a second company -snow removal to get me through the slow winter season.Would I do it again?I think it's the best job in the world.