Whether it's a side hustle or a full-time venture, it's always a good idea to start a driveway sealcoating business. Residential sealcoating is easy to learn, and you don't need to invest in large and pricey equipment right away. The stakes are relatively low compared to commercial sealcoating, and you'll never run out of driveways to repair and seal. This is a business that sells itself year after year — as long as you do great work.
But we're not going to lie to you by saying that you can just drop by the neighborhood, distribute flyers, and sealcoat driveways without knowing a thing about it.
Like any other business, sealcoating and other asphalt maintenance services are a science — and a precise one at that. You don't need a college degree to run a sealcoating business, but you need to master asphalt maintenance first before you commit. Residential sealcoating services are easy to learn, but running a business — whether sealcoating or anything else — can be challenging.
So don't take the plunge without getting the right information. Check out our complete guide to starting a residential driveway sealcoating business below.
1. Do your homework.
The fastest way to make sure that your business fizzles out is by not doing your homework. Before you jump into asphalt maintenance, learn everything you can about residential sealcoating and other related services.
The good news is you don't need to search far and wide just to get resources on asphalt maintenance and running a sealcoating business.
Starting this venture is easier with our Driveway Sealcoating Kickstart Course that you can access right here.
Make $1,000 a day with driveway sealcoating
CHECK OUT THE DRIVEWAY SEALCOATING KICKSTART COURSE
This is a comprehensive course we made with Sealcoating is Life's Greg Francis for up-and-coming sealcoaters like you. We've covered everything about asphalt maintenance here, including how to conduct sealcoating properly, how much you can earn, and the equipment you need to get started.
It contains helpful tips and strategies to boost your company's marketing and sales. The course also has a roleplay demonstration of different scenarios you'll likely encounter as you try to generate leads and pitch your services to customers.
Once you're done with the course, you can come back to it again and again to refresh your knowledge. You can also visit the Asphalt Kingdom blogs and check out our YouTube channel if you can't get enough.
Related: The Four Best Ways to Sell Asphalt Maintenance Services
2. Make it legal.
Start your sealcoating business on the right foot by following these steps.
A. Choose the right structure for your business.
Your options include:
- Sole proprietorship
- Partnership
- Limited liability company (LLC)
B. Choose a business name.
Here are some tips on choosing the perfect name for your residential sealcoating business.
C. Obtain a business license.
Business licenses can be obtained from the state, county, or municipality where your business is located. Read this Asphalt Kingdom blog for more information on obtaining a business license.
D. Don't forget your business insurance!
Read this Asphalt Kingdom blog to learn more about business insurance and the pitfalls of being over or underinsured.
E. Set up your business bank accounts.
Take note: it's always wise to keep your personal savings and checking account separate from your business accounts. This allows you to keep personal expenses separate from business ones, makes accounting easier, and reduces liability in case things go south.
Read this Asphalt Kingdom blog to learn why you need business bank accounts and the different types you will need to keep your sealcoating business running smoothly.
3. Buy sealcoating and crack repair equipment.
There's nothing more exciting than shopping for sealcoating materials and equipment. With the abundance of equipment and materials available on the Asphalt Kingdom store, you'll feel like a kid in a candy store.
But it can also get overwhelming quite fast. So take note of the equipment and materials we mentioned in the Driveway Sealcoating Kickstart Course or use our cheat sheet included in the course for your reference.
We also have a Driveway Sealcoating Package that provides everything you need to start sealcoating residential driveways:
The smallest package can make $1,086 in revenue, while the largest package can make $1,486 — which means $851 in profit! Contact us if you'd like help figuring out which package would be best for you.
4. Put the Asphalt Kingdom marketing and sales tips into practice.
Done with all the other requirements? Then it's time to market your business and boost its sales.
Follow all relevant strategies and tips we dished out, and you'll never go wrong. You can also use our free marketing package to help you get started. It contains an asphalt maintenance flyer template, an example of before and after pictures, and a sealcoating demo video. It also includes customizable "sorry we missed you" door hangers, a sales invoice template, and more! Download Asphalt Kingdom's free marketing package here.
Related: Keys to Success 2022: Online Marketing Strategy
6. Ask for referrals.
You've racked your brain coming up with the best business name, and you've jumped hurdles in obtaining a business license. You've watched the whole Driveway Sealcoating Kickstart Course, distributed hundreds of flyers, got your first few clients, and started sealcoating driveways.
Now what? It's time to ask customers for referrals. Read this Asphalt Kingdom blog to learn about the different types of referrals and some best practices for asking customers for them.
Conclusion:
We know that you have questions about the various topics we discussed on the Driveway Sealcoating Kickstart Course and this blog, so we have our lines open for you. Reach out to us at 1-866-399-5562 for a quick chat, or send us a message at sales@asphaltkingdom.com if you want a more in-depth discussion.
