How Much It Costs To Start A Floor Refinishing Business: $132K CAPEX
A floor refinishing business in this plan needs $132,000 in upfront CAPEX plus enough pre-opening and working-capital cash to carry payroll, rent, insurance, marketing, and supplies The strongest funding marker is a $798,000 Month 2 cash need, with breakeven modeled by Month 3 If you plan CAPEX on top of that cushion, total funding capacity is roughly $930,000 The biggest drivers are two dustless sanding systems at $40,000, two work vans at $70,000, monthly fixed overhead of $4,750, and Year 1 payroll of $150,000 These are researched US planning assumptions, not exact quotes
Calculate Fuding Needs
Startup cost summary
Startup cost summary for Floor Refinishing, split into five CAPEX buys and one excluded cash reserve scenario.
Highlighted CAPEX$122,500Base planning example
Excluded cash needs$798,000Outside CAPEX total
Funding need$920,500CAPEX + excluded cash needs
Cost Category
Base Estimate
Main Cost Driver
CAPEX Calculator
Work Vans
$70,000
Vehicle count and upfit level
Yes
Dustless Sanding Systems
$40,000
Sanding and dust-control package size
Yes
Floor Buffers/Polishers
$6,000
Unit count and equipment grade
Yes
Commercial Grade Vacuums
$4,000
Unit count and commercial duty cycle
Yes
Specialized Hand Tools & Safety Gear
$2,500
Tool kit, PPE, and safety gear scope
Yes
Working Capital Reserve
$798,000
Payroll ramp, rent, insurance, and Month 3 breakeven timing
No
Estimate Startup Costs with Calculator
Startup CAPEX
Estimates the upfront capitalized startup assets for a floor refinishing business, before any non-CAPEX funding needs.
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Exclusions This calculator covers capitalized startup assets only. It excludes consumables, insurance, payroll runway, marketing, working capital, debt service, financing fees, deposits, and inventory.
What should you check in this screenshot?
This Floor Refinishing Financial Model Template shows $132,000 in Month 1-3 CAPEX, startup costs, timing, depreciation, and a $798,000 Month 2 cash need—review assumptions.
Key screenshot highlights
Pricing, CAC, hours
Payment timing, runway
Insurance to supplies
Compare 3 Startup Cost Scenarios
Startup cost scenarios
Floor refinishing costs move fast once you add vans, sanding gear, and payroll. Lean, Base, and Full show the shift from a solo setup to a two-crew launch.
Lean, Base, and Full launch cost comparison for floor refinishing
Scenario
Lean LaunchSolo operator
Base LaunchProfessional two-crew
Full LaunchGrowth-ready launch
Launch model
Owner-led jobs use an existing vehicle and mostly used gear to keep cash needs low.
This follows the source plan with new core equipment, a small team, and a month 3 breakeven target.
This adds upgraded dust control, branded vehicles, and more cash reserve so the crew can ramp faster.
Typical setup
Small supply stock, basic dust control, and minimal admin support.
Two work vans, standard refinishing gear, and the owner plus one technician.
Upgraded gear, broader finish inventory, and a deeper bench for quicker job starts.
Cost drivers
Used equipment
existing vehicle
smaller supply inventory
owner-led selling
lower working capital
New equipment
two work vans
$12k marketing
$4,750 monthly overhead
owner plus 1 technician
Upgraded dust control
branded vehicles
broader finish inventory
extra cash reserve
faster crew readiness
Planning rangeCAPEX only
$85,000 - $125,000Low cash band
$150,000 - $225,000Core launch band
$225,000 - $325,000Higher cash band
Best fit
Best for a solo operator testing demand before adding payroll.
Best for a professional two-crew launch with a clear path to breakeven.
Best for a growth-ready launch that wants faster crew readiness and a stronger brand.
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Planning note: These scenario ranges are researched planning assumptions, not exact vendor quotes.
How do I fund a floor refinishing business?
Fund Floor Refinishing from the launch budget, not as separate loan proceeds. If Month 2 cash need peaks at $798,000, build the stack around owner cash, equipment financing, vehicle financing, a working-capital line, and retained cash, then match that against $132,000 in CAPEX, $4,750 monthly fixed overhead, $150,000 Year 1 payroll, and $12,000 marketing.
Funding stack
Owner cash covers first losses
Equipment financing spreads CAPEX
Vehicle financing preserves cash
Working capital funds Month 2 peak
Model checks
Test job volume and billable hours
Test pricing, CAC, and payment timing
Watch cash runway to Month 3 breakeven
Use 8-month payback, 1,761% ROE, 0.21 IRR as checks
How much does floor refinishing equipment cost?
For Floor Refinishing, the equipment-only budget is about $54,000 for 2 units before vans. If you add 2 work vans, the launch jumps to $124,000. That’s the clean split: tools and machines are one bucket, and vans are a separate $70,000 line item.
Lean equipment setup
$40,000 dustless sanding systems
$4,000 commercial vacuums
$6,000 buffers and polishers
$4,000 meters, hand tools, safety gear
Two-crew launch cost
Add $70,000 for 2 work vans
Total becomes $124,000
Keep insurance separate from equipment
Keep payroll and working capital separate
What are the hidden costs of starting a floor refinishing business?
If you’re starting Floor Refinishing, the hidden costs are the ones that hit cash before the first job pays, like insurance, registration, licensing, bonding, and setup. For a quick check, the recurring base is about $1,300/month for $500 business insurance, $400 vehicle insurance and registration, $300 software, and $100 website hosting and maintenance; add $12,000 in Year 1 marketing and you’re at roughly $2,300/month before materials and job costs. See How Much Does The Owner Of Floor Refinishing Business Typically Make? for the income side.
Startup cash drains
$500 monthly business insurance
$400 vehicle insurance and registration
$300 software, plus $100 hosting
$12,000 Year 1 marketing
Job-level cost leaks
12% of revenue for materials
4% for direct project supplies
3% for fuel and 2% for minor maintenance
Budget for callbacks, delays, and reserve cash
Key Takeaways
Equipment is CAPEX; keep consumables out of it.
Two vans add $70,000 before jobs start.
Supplies scale with revenue, not as durable assets.
Insurance, licensing, and marketing need upfront cash.
Floor Refinishing Core Five Startup Costs
Floor Refinishing Equipment Startup Expense
Core equipment CAPEX
$54,000 covers 2 dustless sanding systems at $40,000, 2 commercial vacuums at $4,000, 2 buffers at $6,000, plus $1,500 for moisture meters and inspection tools and $2,500 for hand tools and safety gear. Keep this as CAPEX only; exclude abrasives, stains, finishes, insurance, marketing, payroll, and working capital.
Estimate by asset
Use units × quoted price for each durable item, then add freight or tax only if the vendor quote includes them. This line sits inside the startup budget as fixed equipment, not project spend. The model’s biggest ticket items are the sanding systems, so get firm quotes before you lock the launch cash need.
Price each durable item separately.
Keep consumables out of CAPEX.
Match quotes to the final tool list.
Keep the line clean
The main mistake is folding project materials into equipment. Abrasives, stains, finishes, and jobsite protection belong in supplies, while vacuums, buffers, meters, cords, and hand tools stay in equipment. That keeps the fixed asset budget honest and stops the launch plan from drifting above the true $54,000 equipment base.
Budget guardrails
For startup cash, keep this category narrow: 2 sanding systems, 2 vacuums, 2 buffers, inspection tools, and the small-tool package. Do not load in insurance, marketing, payroll, or consumables. Those are separate startup or operating lines, and mixing them here will overstate equipment needs fast.
Vehicle And Jobsite Mobility Startup Expense
Budget Driver
This line can swing hard based on whether you buy, lease, or use an existing vehicle. The source model sets $70,000 for 2 work vans in Month 1 to Month 3, and that budget also has to fit ramps, racks, secure storage, decals, and room for sanders, vacuums, buffers, finish inventory, and dust-control gear.
What To Include
Build the estimate from vehicle count × vehicle cost, then test a pickup-and-trailer alternative before you lock the budget. Use written quotes for purchase or lease terms, and check that the load space fits the full job kit. The key input is not just price; it’s whether the vehicle can move tools fast and safely.
Quote purchase and lease terms
Price trailer, ramps, and racks
Check secure storage space
Ongoing Costs
Ongoing cash burn is clearer than the startup buy. Plan for $400 a month for vehicle insurance and registration, plus fuel and project travel at 3% of Year 1 revenue. The quick check is simple: if jobs are spread out, travel cost climbs, so cluster routes and cut deadhead miles.
Track monthly insurance early
Budget fuel by route density
Reduce empty driving miles
Keep It Lean
The cheapest setup is often the one you already own, but only if it can safely carry the crew and equipment. Don’t cut secure storage, racks, or tie-downs; lost time and damaged gear cost more later. Ask for total monthly cost, not just the sticker price, and match the vehicle plan to the launch schedule.
Supplies And Opening Inventory Startup Expense
What It Covers
Classify these as startup supplies or opening inventory, not CAPEX. This bucket covers abrasives, sandpaper, stains, sealers, water-based and oil-based finishes, applicator pads, tape, plastic sheeting, cleaning materials, respirators, gloves, and jobsite protection. Budget them as short-life consumables tied to jobs, not durable assets.
How To Estimate It
Here’s the quick math: use 12% of Year 1 revenue for materials, 4% for direct project supplies, and 2% for equipment consumables and minor maintenance. Build the opening order around first coating inventory, expected job count, square footage, and quote-based unit prices. Track each SKU by grit, color, and finish type.
Price by unit and coverage
Order for first jobs only
Separate fast-use from durable items
Control Waste
Overbuying finish and sandpaper ties up cash fast, and it raises waste, callbacks, and color-mismatch risk. Keep supplier terms tight, buy only the coating and grits needed for the first jobs, and match inventory to actual crew throughput. One clean rule: if it wears out on the job, it’s inventory; if it lasts many jobs, it’s equipment.
Limit stain and finish SKUs
Use job-level usage logs
Reorder before stockouts
Cash Timing
Opening inventory should be timed to the first booked projects, not the launch date. Ask suppliers for net terms where possible, but keep enough cash for the initial coating buy, since finishes, abrasives, and protection materials hit before customer cash comes in. That keeps working capital from getting trapped on the shelf.
Licensing, Insurance, And Compliance Startup Expense
License and coverage
Requirements vary by state, city, job type, bonding rules, and employee status. For a floor refinishing business, budget for business registration, local contractor licensing, bonding where required, general liability, property insurance, commercial auto, workers compensation if hiring, and safety compliance. In this model, insurance alone runs $500 monthly plus $400 for vehicle insurance and registration.
What it covers
Use quotes by jurisdiction and headcount to price this cost. The source assumption includes $600 monthly for professional services, plus the owner and 1 skilled technician in Year 1, which can trigger workers compensation rules. Add first-month premiums and any deposits to pre-opening cash, because those hit before the first job closes.
Check state and city rules first
Price bonding only if required
Plan for pre-opening deposits
How to keep it lean
Get licensed before buying extra coverage, and ask for annual quotes so you can compare apples to apples. Don’t skip workers comp if you hire. The clean baseline here is $1,500 per month for insurance and vehicle admin, or $18,000 a year, before any job-site or payroll changes.
Bundle policies when possible
Avoid duplicate coverage
Confirm employee status early
Cash needed up front
Budget this as startup cash, not just monthly overhead. The first premiums, deposits, and filing fees can leave before revenue starts, so keep a reserve equal to at least the opening policy payments plus licensing and professional service fees. With Year 1 staffing at owner plus 1 technician, compliance costs can change fast if a state requires bonding or workers comp.
Marketing And Operating Readiness Startup Expense
Launch setup
Keep this as pre-opening and early launch spend, not a full marketing plan. It covers the website, hosting, search profile setup, local SEO basics, before-and-after photos, yard signs, decals, review tools, phone, estimating software, accounting software, scheduling, and booking. The source model uses $12,000 Year 1 marketing, $100 monthly hosting, and $300 monthly software.
Budget math
Here’s the quick math: $12,000 at a $200 Year 1 CAC supports about 60 customers if spend maps cleanly to closed jobs. Add $400 per month for hosting plus software, or $4,800 a year. That makes early launch cash more about lead flow, estimates, and booked jobs than brand building.
Use it well
Spend first on items that help close work fast: a clean website, visible reviews, strong photos, and one booking path. Don’t stack extra tools before the first jobs land. The main waste is paying for software that doesn’t shorten response time or improve quote-to-book conversion. Every delayed estimate slows cash.
Cash timing
These costs hit before revenue, so they need to sit in opening cash. With $100 monthly hosting and $300 monthly software, the fixed run rate is $400 a month before ad spend. If leads take longer to convert, estimates build first and cash comes later, so the launch budget should cover that gap.
