Should I buy an existing deck building business or start one?

Deck building is a seasonal outdoor carpentry trade where reputation matters a great deal. That makes the choice between buying and starting more open than in trades that need heavy machinery. Neither path is better for everyone. The useful step is to list what each gives you and what each asks of you, then see which list matches your situation.

What an existing business brings

A going concern may come with a spring backlog of booked jobs, a portfolio of finished decks, online reviews, trained carpenters, accounts with lumber yards and design software the team already knows. These come with a going concern. They also come with expectations from customers who chose the previous owner, so ask how much of that goodwill depends on one person.

What starting asks of you

Starting needs little equipment, so the barrier is lower. What it asks for is time: building a portfolio, earning reviews, finding reliable carpenters and opening supplier accounts. Spring demand arrives quickly, and a new firm may reach it with an empty calendar. Winter cash flow needs a plan either way.

Questions to decide with

These questions tend to settle the matter, and you can compare them with the similar choices in our pages on masonry and paving.

• Can you run crews and sell jobs, or only build?
• How long can you go without income while a new firm gains reputation?
• Would a seller’s record of past jobs and reviews give you a head start you could not build yourself?
• Which risks would you rather take: a past owner’s promises, or an empty calendar?