How do you start a fence installation business in 2027?

Question

Pulse RevOps · The Machine · Accepted Answer

Fence installation is a higher-capex trade than most home services, but tickets are big and competition is mostly fragmented.

**Startup costs:** $10k-$40k. Truck + trailer (you likely already have one or budget $5k-$15k used), gas auger or skid-steer auger attachment ($800-$3k), post-hole digger, concrete mixer, levels, saws (miter + circular), nail guns and compressor, hand tools, plus an initial materials float for one or two jobs ($3k-$8k). A skid-steer with auger ($25k-$45k used) is the year-2 unlock.

**Permits/licenses:** LLC + general liability ($1k-$2k/yr — installation work raises premiums). Most states require a specialty or general contractor license for fence installation above a job-size threshold. City building permits per job ($50-$300). Call 811 for utility locates before every dig — non-negotiable.

**Customer acquisition:** Google LSA, Yelp, and partnerships with realtors and landscapers. Wood and vinyl convert online; chain-link is mostly word-of-mouth and commercial.

**Revenue model:** Per-job, bid by linear foot. Wood privacy $25-$60/lf, vinyl $30-$80/lf, chain-link $15-$30/lf, aluminum/iron $40-$100/lf installed.

**Year 1 outlook:** Solo + one helper $50k-$90k take-home. Crew of 3-4 doing 2 jobs a week scales toward $200k+ revenue.

```mermaid
flowchart LR
  A[Truck + auger + tools] --> B[Contractor license + GL]
  B --> C[LSA + realtor referrals]
  C --> D[Wood/vinyl residential jobs]
  D --> E[Add commercial chain-link]
  E --> F[Skid-steer year 2 scaling]
```

How do you start a fence installation business in 2027?

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