How to Start a Welding Business

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:

• 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 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.

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.

STEP 2: Form a legal entity

The most common business structure types are the sole proprietorship, partnership, limited liability company (LLC), and corporation.

Establishing a legal business entity such as an LLC or corporation protects you from being held personally liable if your welding business is sued.

You can form an LLC yourself and pay only the minimal state LLC costs or hire one of the Best LLC Services for a small, additional fee.

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!

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.