How Much Does It Cost to Start a Concrete Business?
Last updated: May 2026
National Average
Low
$25,000
Medium
$65,000
High
$150,000
Start a concrete contracting business providing foundations, driveways, flatwork, decorative concrete, and concrete repair services.
Time to Launch
2-4 months
Profit Margins
15-30%
Break-Even Timeline
6-18 months
Interactive Cost Calculator
Select a state below to see state-adjusted costs.
Startup Cost Calculator
Concrete Business in Nationally
Budget:
$1,500
$6,000
$15,000
$4,000
$6,000
$3,000
$5,000
$15,000
Options
Employees:
Startup Costs
$55,500
Monthly Costs
$12,000
First Year Total
$199,500
Startup Costs by State
| State | Low | Medium | High | LLC Fee | Sales Tax |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mississippi | $19,250 | $50,050 | $115,500 | $50 | 7.0% |
| West Virginia | $19,250 | $50,050 | $115,500 | $100 | 6.0% |
| Oklahoma | $20,000 | $52,000 | $120,000 | $100 | 4.5% |
| Alabama | $20,250 | $52,650 | $121,500 | $200 | 4.0% |
| Arkansas | $20,250 | $52,650 | $121,500 | $45 | 6.5% |
| North Dakota | $20,500 | $53,300 | $123,000 | $135 | 5.0% |
| Iowa | $20,750 | $53,950 | $124,500 | $50 | 6.0% |
| Kansas | $20,750 | $53,950 | $124,500 | $160 | 6.5% |
| Missouri | $20,750 | $53,950 | $124,500 | $50 | 4.2% |
| South Dakota | $20,750 | $53,950 | $124,500 | $150 | 4.2% |
| Kentucky | $21,000 | $54,600 | $126,000 | $40 | 6.0% |
| Louisiana | $21,000 | $54,600 | $126,000 | $100 | 5.0% |
| Wyoming | $21,000 | $54,600 | $126,000 | $100 | 4.0% |
| Nebraska | $21,250 | $55,250 | $127,500 | $105 | 5.5% |
| Indiana | $21,500 | $55,900 | $129,000 | $95 | 7.0% |
| Michigan | $22,000 | $57,200 | $132,000 | $50 | 6.0% |
| Ohio | $22,000 | $57,200 | $132,000 | $99 | 5.8% |
| New Mexico | $22,500 | $58,500 | $135,000 | $50 | 4.9% |
| South Carolina | $22,500 | $58,500 | $135,000 | $110 | 6.0% |
| Wisconsin | $22,750 | $59,150 | $136,500 | $130 | 5.0% |
| Tennessee | $23,000 | $59,800 | $138,000 | $300 | 7.0% |
| Texas | $23,000 | $59,800 | $138,000 | $300 | 6.3% |
| Georgia | $23,500 | $61,100 | $141,000 | $100 | 4.0% |
| Minnesota | $23,500 | $61,100 | $141,000 | $155 | 6.9% |
| Illinois | $23,750 | $61,750 | $142,500 | $150 | 6.3% |
| Idaho | $24,000 | $62,400 | $144,000 | $100 | 6.0% |
| North Carolina | $24,000 | $62,400 | $144,000 | $125 | 4.8% |
| Pennsylvania | $24,000 | $62,400 | $144,000 | $125 | 6.0% |
| Montana | $24,250 | $63,050 | $145,500 | $35 | 0.0% |
| Utah | $25,000 | $65,000 | $150,000 | $54 | 6.1% |
| Delaware | $26,000 | $67,600 | $156,000 | $110 | 0.0% |
| Nevada | $26,250 | $68,250 | $157,500 | $425 | 6.8% |
| Virginia | $26,750 | $69,550 | $160,500 | $100 | 5.3% |
| Vermont | $27,250 | $70,850 | $163,500 | $125 | 6.0% |
| Arizona | $27,500 | $71,500 | $165,000 | $50 | 5.6% |
| Colorado | $27,500 | $71,500 | $165,000 | $50 | 2.9% |
| Florida | $28,000 | $72,800 | $168,000 | $125 | 6.0% |
| Oregon | $28,000 | $72,800 | $168,000 | $100 | 0.0% |
| Rhode Island | $28,000 | $72,800 | $168,000 | $150 | 7.0% |
| Maine | $28,500 | $74,100 | $171,000 | $175 | 5.5% |
| New Hampshire | $29,250 | $76,050 | $175,500 | $102 | 0.0% |
| Washington | $29,500 | $76,700 | $177,000 | $200 | 6.5% |
| Connecticut | $29,750 | $77,350 | $178,500 | $120 | 6.3% |
| Maryland | $30,250 | $78,650 | $181,500 | $100 | 6.0% |
| New Jersey | $31,250 | $81,250 | $187,500 | $125 | 6.6% |
| Alaska | $31,750 | $82,550 | $190,500 | $250 | 0.0% |
| New York | $34,750 | $90,350 | $208,500 | $200 | 4.0% |
| California | $38,000 | $98,800 | $228,000 | $70 | 7.3% |
| Massachusetts | $38,500 | $100,100 | $231,000 | $500 | 6.3% |
| Hawaii | $48,250 | $125,450 | $289,500 | $50 | 4.0% |
Cheapest & Most Expensive States
5 Cheapest States
- Mississippi$50,050
- West Virginia$50,050
- Oklahoma$52,000
- Alabama$52,650
- Arkansas$52,650
5 Most Expensive States
- Hawaii$125,450
- Massachusetts$100,100
- California$98,800
- New York$90,350
- Alaska$82,550
Frequently Asked Questions
Starting a concrete contracting business typically requires a mid-five-figure investment, covering licensing, liability insurance, workers comp, a heavy-duty truck and trailer, concrete tools and equipment, forms, and working capital for material purchases.
Decorative concrete (stamped, stained, polished) commands a substantially higher per-square-foot rate than standard flatwork, with materially higher margins. Foundations and structural work have lower margins but higher volume. Driveways and patios provide steady residential demand. Decorative finishes are the highest-margin segment.
Requirements vary by state and project type. Residential driveways and flatwork often require only a general contractor license. Foundations and structural concrete may require specialty licensing. Some states require ACI (American Concrete Institute) certification for inspectors and technical work.
Concrete finishers earn a healthy two-figure hourly wage as employees. Concrete contractors bill at meaningfully higher hourly labor rates, with total project pricing based on square footage (varying widely by complexity, from low single-digit dollars per square foot for plain flatwork up to substantially higher for premium decorative finishes). A crew of 3 can place 500–800 sq ft of flatwork per day, generating a healthy four-figure billable day.