A glass business can do residential glass (fogged panes, broken windows, shower doors, mirrors), storefront and commercial glazing, or both. Residential work starts from a van with a good supplier. Commercial glazing needs more equipment and often a contractor license. Many start with home glass and add storefront repairs.
- Check whether your state licenses glazing or covers it under contractor licensing.
- Doors, showers and glass near floors often need safety glass. Know your local code.
- Price two trips into every custom job: measure and install.
- Take a deposit before ordering. Cut glass cannot be returned.
1. Decide what you will offer
| Work | Who asks | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Fogged and broken window glass | Homeowners | Steady small jobs |
| Shower doors and enclosures | Homeowners, remodelers | Bigger tickets |
| Mirrors and tabletops | Homeowners, designers | Simple installs |
| Storefront glass | Shop owners, property managers | After-hours calls |
| Board-ups | Businesses, property managers | Emergency work |
Window and door installers and remodelers need a glazier they can call. Introduce yourself.
2. Check the license and permits
Some states license glazing contractors or cover glass work under contractor licensing, especially for commercial work. Ask your state board and city before you bid storefronts.
3. Register the business and set up taxes
The SBA lists the launch steps in this order: pick a location, choose a structure, choose a name, register, get federal and state tax ID numbers, apply for licenses and permits, open a business bank account, and get insurance. For a glass business working out of a truck, the location is usually your home address and the area you will serve.
- Structure. A sole proprietorship is the simplest. An LLC keeps the business separate on paper. Ask an accountant which fits your state and your plans.
- Tax ID. The IRS gives out an employer identification number (EIN) online, and says you never have to pay a fee for one. Websites that charge for an EIN are not the IRS.
- Self-employment tax. The IRS lists the self-employment tax rate as 15.3%: 12.4% for Social Security and 2.9% for Medicare. Income tax comes on top, so set money aside from every job.
- Bank account. Open it before the first payment lands, so every dollar in and out is easy to find at tax time.
4. Pick a name customers can say and find
Your name goes on the truck, the invoices, the Google profile and the yard signs, so pick it once. The free glass name generator gives 36 ideas for your town and style, each with a domain idea, and lists the checks to run before you commit: your state's business name search, a federal trademark search and the domain itself.
5. Get insured before the first job
The SBA describes general liability insurance as cover for financial loss from bodily injury, property damage, medical expenses and defending lawsuits. It says businesses with employees are required to carry workers' compensation, unemployment and disability insurance, and some states ask for more.
Glass claims are cuts, breakage during install and leaks around new units. Ask your agent about general liability with completed work, commercial auto with cover for glass racks, and workers' compensation once you hire.
6. Gear up and add up your startup costs
No total here on purpose. What you spend depends on what you already own, new or used, and how much work you plan to take on. Price your own list with a local supplier, then put the numbers in the startup cost table of the free business plan generator, which adds them up for you.
- A van or truck with a glass rack
- Suction cups, setting blocks and glazing tools
- Glass cutting tools and a work table
- Sealants, glazing tape and a caulk gun
- Board-up material for emergency calls
A rack truck and supplier credit are the main startup needs. A cutting table lets you cut simple glass yourself instead of waiting on the supplier.
7. Set your prices
Price the glass at your supplier's cut size with markup, two trips, setting materials and your hours. Our guide to pricing glass jobs has a worked example, and the free window glass replacement cost calculator checks the number.
8. Find your first customers
- Photos by text. Koira drafts the estimate from the photos and your price list.
- Remodelers and window installers. They need shower doors and glass.
- Shop owners. Commercial outreach writes to them on Front Office.
- Every call answered. Koira answers when you are on a ladder.
9. Get paid and keep the customer
Take a deposit before you order and collect the balance at install with pay at the door.
10. Grow past one truck
A second person makes heavy panes and shower enclosures safe. Read how glass companies run on Koira.
Sources
- SBA: Launch your business (the launch steps), checked October 8, 2026
- SBA: Get business insurance, checked October 8, 2026
- IRS: Get an employer identification number, checked October 8, 2026
- IRS: Self-employment tax (Social Security and Medicare taxes), checked October 8, 2026
Last checked October 8, 2026. This page is general information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change and differ by state and city, so confirm with the agency named before you act.