Most new frame shops underestimate their launch expenses, which can derail the business before it even begins. Understanding the actual frame shop startup costs helps you plan confidently and avoid costly surprises.
This blog outlines every expense to budget for and explores how a data-driven frame shop system supports a stronger launch and healthier margins.
Your equipment budget sets the tone for your entire workshop. The right tools help you work faster, cleaner, and with the kind of finish customers notice.
Here’s what to include in your setup:
Invest in a mat cutter ($350–$1,500): Produce clean, accurate openings without wasted materials.
Purchase a joining machine ($18,500–$25,000): Create strong, square corners that reduce remakes and support larger projects.
Stock essential hand tools ($50–$200): Use pliers, drivers, and cutters to handle daily adjustments, hardware installation, and finishing work.
You also need a glass cutter to produce consistent glazing cuts and handle glass safely. A model like the Fletcher 3000 Cutter runs about $2,300, adding to your overall equipment investment.
Your initial inventory budget covers the display pieces and consumable supplies you use in nearly every project. These frame shop startup costs vary based on the types of orders you accept and your expected volume.
Before you open, stock up on the essentials:
Order moulding samples ($1,300+): Give customers a clear way to compare styles, finishes, and price points for projects like sports memorabilia framing or family photographs.
Stock a range of mat boards (~$6 each): Offer core colors in standard sizes, such as 5x7 and 8x10, so you can quickly turn around orders.
Add glass and acrylic ($6–$19 per sheet): Carry clear, UV-protective, and reflection-control options, allowing customers to choose the option that best fits their preservation needs and budget.
Hardware rounds out the list at $300–$600. This covers the cost of points, clips, D-rings, wire, bumpers, and hangers — every small component needed to complete and safely deliver each frame.
Once you have the tools and materials, the next step is to secure the space and meet the legal requirements necessary to operate legally.
Budget for the following operational frame shop startup costs:
Rent deposits and lease costs ($40,000+ per year): Secure your location and cover the upfront payments required to move in. In markets like Los Angeles, commercial space averages about $36 per square foot, which comes to roughly $43,200 per year for 1,200 square feet.
Permits and licenses ($300+): Register your business and obtain sales tax, zoning, or local operating approvals.
Business insurance ($720–$1,020 per year): Protect your shop with a general liability policy, as well as artwork liability coverage if you handle high-value or vintage pieces.
Depending on the space, you may also have to cover buildout and retail improvements. Plan around $23 per square foot for shelving and lighting, and between $260 and $500 for supply storage and organizers.
Frame shop technology organizes your workflow and eliminates manual bottlenecks that consume time and resources. Investing in the right tools upfront helps you work faster and with greater accuracy from the start.
Put funds aside to:
Install a point of sale (POS) system ($69–$149): Use automated POS software to track orders, pricing, payments, and customer details in one centralized location.
Set up computers or tablets ($600–$1,200): Power your POS with up-to-date hardware, allowing your team to access pricing tools, digital samples, and vendor catalogs without delay.
Implement a security system ($500–$5,000): Protect customer artwork, materials, and finished frames with a security setup that includes motion sensors and cameras.
Reliable technology enhances workflow, eliminates costly manual errors, and ensures every project remains on track from intake to delivery.
Unexpected expenses can creep into your budget even when you plan carefully. These frame shop startup costs don’t appear in most checklists, but they’re often the reason budgets run over in the first 12 months.
Here’s what to account for:
Plan for workers’ compensation insurance ($80–$125): Meet state requirements once you hire staff so that you can open without regulatory delays.
Secure a sales-tax bond (1–5% of the total bond amount): Satisfy states like Texas and Missouri, which require a bond before issuing your sales tax permit.
Budget for professional services ($1,000+): Set aside funds for professional services ($1,000+) to manage bookkeeping, tax prep, and compliance. Most small businesses spend between $1,000 and $1,500 per year on accounting services.
Arrange waste-disposal service ($20–$500 per ton): Ensure regular pickup for glass offcuts, cardboard, backing scraps, and packing waste.
Plan for climate-control spikes ($2.10+/sq ft): Manage higher HVAC usage during extreme heat or cold, especially in storefront spaces.
Set aside funds for equipment repairs ($200+): Prepare for the occasional breakdown of cutters, compressors, or saws that require fast servicing.
Maintain a three to six-month operating buffer to help you weather slow seasons or early-stage revenue fluctuations. Planning for these commonly overlooked expenses gives you a more accurate view of your actual startup and first-year costs.
Knowing your startup costs helps you open with confidence, but a financially-focused POS system is what keeps those costs under control once you’re operating.
The right solution helps you:
Reduce IT setup costs: Operate entirely in the cloud, so you can skip servers, maintenance contracts, and extra hardware.
Automate vendor communication: Pull data from integrated vendor catalogs to avoid manual ordering and prevent errors associated with discontinued products.
Speed up employee training: Guide new staff through pricing, materials, and order steps with built-in workflows.
Track financial performance: Monitor material usage, profit margins, and cost trends in real time from the first week.
An integrated POS provides tighter cost control and scales with your shop as your workload increases.
Planning out your frame shop startup costs gives you a realistic roadmap for everything your new business needs to operate confidently. However, to stay on budget and manage those expenses on a day-to-day basis, you need a POS system that keeps your operations efficient and your costs under control.
LifeSaver supports that goal with integrated vendor catalogs, real-time inventory tracking, automated pick lists, and reporting tools that keep every project organized and on track. Our cloud-based system lets you get up and running quickly, manage work from any device, and grow without technical complications.
Start your free trial today to see how LifeSaver supports a smoother launch, stronger cost control, and a more organized approach to running your shop.