Grinder: rent or buy?
Find the break-even point for the grinder and extractor at your number of jobs.
Free tool
Epoxy flooring business startup cost calculator
Answer three quick questions and see what it takes to start an epoxy flooring business: grinder, dust extractor, tools, insurance, training and first materials.
What the estimate includes
The typical prices behind your estimate
| Line | Default | Typical range |
|---|---|---|
| Grinder rental | $120 a day | 22-inch dual-disc grinders rent for about $90–142 a day |
| Dual-disc grinder | $8,488 | A new 22-inch dual-disc grinder (230V) |
| Dual-disc tooling | $400 | About $195–530 a set |
| Planetary grinder | $16,700 | About $15,700–17,800 new (20-inch) |
| Planetary diamonds | $280 | Varies by bond and grit; ask your dealer |
| Dust extractor | $3,400 | About $3,400–3,900 for a mid-size HEPA extractor (about 240 cfm), enough for a 7-inch edge grinder; small units (about 125 cfm, $1,900–2,400) are not |
| Edge grinder kit | $660 | About $640–716 for a 7-inch grinder, shroud and cup wheels |
| Application tools | $300 | About $150–320 a kit |
| Safety gear | $200 | For two people; respirators run about $23–52 each |
| Moisture testing | $40 | Three calcium chloride tests at $12–36 each |
| Trailer | $4,000 | About $3,450–5,000 for a 6×12 enclosed trailer |
| Hands-on class | $700 | US classes run $99–1,899; compare them |
| LLC filing fee | $150 | $35–500 depending on the state |
| Insurance | $919 a year | Typical yearly costs for flooring installers: general liability $919, tools and equipment $495, commercial auto $2,490, workers' comp $1,726 |
| Cost per lead | $55 | About $45–62 for a flooring lead from Google Local Services Ads |
| Materials | $2.50 a sq ft | About $1–5 a sq ft, depending on the system |
Typical prices for a new coating business. They change over time; confirm before you buy.
Questions
Startup costs: frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to start an epoxy flooring business?
It depends mostly on whether you rent or buy the grinder. If you rent, most of the startup cost is training, small tools, a dust extractor, insurance and setup. Buying a new dual-disc or planetary grinder plus a mid-size dust extractor adds roughly $12,000–22,000.
Is it cheaper to rent or buy a floor grinder?
Renting a 22-inch dual-disc grinder runs about $90–142 a day, and a new one is $8,488. At those rates buying pays off after roughly 60–95 rental days, before you count tooling, maintenance and resale value.
What insurance does an epoxy flooring business need?
General liability before the first job; for flooring installers it typically runs about $77 a month. Add workers' compensation when you hire, commercial auto if you use a vehicle for the business, and tools and equipment cover once you own the grinder.
What does the calculator leave out?
Your vehicle, fuel, phone and software, your own pay while you get started, and state-specific costs such as contractor license fees, which you can add in the setup section.
The equipment list
Every tool you need, what it costs, and what to skip at first.
Write the business plan
Put these numbers into a one-year plan, with a template.
Watch every step before you do it
The Epoxy Playbook: full installations recorded start to finish, which you can replay as often as you need, plus pricing, quoting and selling the job.