The business in one offer
Who it serves
Homeowners and renters who just bought a 55- to 75-inch TV, often after a move or a holiday sale, and do not own a stud finder, a long level or a second pair of hands. They pay because a crooked or falling TV costs far more than the install, and because a visible tangle of cords bothers them every day.
What to sell first
One standard mount: a customer-supplied or recommended bracket installed into two or more wood studs on drywall, the TV hung and leveled, power and HDMI cords bundled in a paintable surface raceway, and a photo of the lag bolts before the TV goes on. Excluded: masonry, tile, fireplaces, metal studs, new outlets or any electrical work, and soundbar wiring.
Restricting the first offer to drywall over wood studs makes the job time predictable, so a flat price holds up. You carry one anchor system, one raceway style and one bracket you know well. Customers can book from a short checklist of TV size and wall type without a site visit, which keeps quoting nearly free.
What could it cost to start?
This is an original example budget for the limited pilot described above. It is not a researched market average or a complete quote for every location.
| Item to price | Example allowance |
|---|---|
| Stud finder, 48-inch level, laser line and drill bits | $260.00 |
| Cordless drill and impact driver kit | $280.00 |
| Starter stock of lag bolts, raceways and cable ties | $180.00 |
| Drop cloths, shop vacuum and wall patch kit | $140.00 |
| General liability insurance deposit | $450.00 |
| Booking page and printed leave-behind cards | $120.00 |
| Example total | $1,430.00 |
What this assumes—and excludes
Assumes you already own a reliable vehicle, basic hand tools and a phone that can take clear photos. Excludes a business license or permit fee, which varies by city, owner pay, paid ads and any electrician you subcontract. Get your own insurance and tool quotes before you rely on these figures.
Collect actual supplier, insurance and local-authority information. Add a reserve for delays and unexpected costs; the example total is not a funding recommendation.
How the unit economics work
At an assumed $149.00 per mount and $14.00 in direct costs, contribution is $135.00 before monthly fixed costs, owner pay and taxes. With 1.75 all-in working hours per unit, that is $77.14 per delivery hour before those deductions. These inputs illustrate the arithmetic; they do not establish a market price or expected earnings.
The example also allows $110.00 in monthly fixed costs. Include unpaid acquisition and administrative time when deciding whether the offer is worthwhile.
Try your own numbers
These are editable planning assumptions, not prices we have verified. Calculations stay in your browser.
Operating result = (price − direct cost) × units − monthly fixed costs. Before owner pay, taxes, financing and startup recovery. At these inputs, delivery requires 17.5 hours per month, plus any work not included in your per-unit estimate. Sales volume is a scenario, not a forecast.
How to find the first customers
Test a small offer before scaling traffic. Record the source of each enquiry, whether it fits the offer, and whether the buyer pays.
- Visit independent appliance and electronics stores that do not offer installs and ask whether they will keep your cards at the register. Bring a one-page sheet listing the exact wall types you accept and your flat price.
- Offer property managers of small apartment buildings a move-in mounting rate for new tenants, using raceways only so no walls are opened. Ask the manager what their lease allows before you quote.
- Post a short before-and-after photo set of your own living room mount on neighborhood groups that allow business posts, and state the price plainly. Track which group each booking came from.
- Set up a Google Business Profile as a service-area business without a public address, list the towns you cover, and ask each satisfied customer for an honest review without offering anything in exchange.
What to validate before spending more
- Mount TVs for two friends on their own walls and time every step from parking to driving away. If you regularly run past two hours, adjust the price or the scope before you advertise.
- Ask an insurance agent whether general liability covers damage to the TV itself and to the wall, and what exclusions apply to items in your care. Get the answer in writing.
- Call your city to ask whether low-voltage cable work or handyman services need a license or registration, and note any dollar limit on jobs before a contractor license applies.
- Test two price points on your booking page for a month, such as one with cable concealment bundled and one with it as an add-on, and record which one gets more confirmed bookings.
The operational catch
Customers frequently buy articulating brackets online that extend far from the wall and multiply the load on the top lag bolts. A bracket rated for the TV weight can still pull out of a single stud or a stud that was notched for wiring. Decline mounts where you cannot hit two solid studs, and keep a dated photo of every set of bolts before the TV covers them.
A practical way to fund the first step
Start with the tools you already own plus a stud finder and level, and require a small booking deposit that covers hardware. Buy the impact driver and better laser only after the first ten paid mounts show steady demand.
Separate cash already available from money still to earn. Count only proceeds after direct expenses, and do not spend customer funds needed to fulfill their existing orders.
Questions before you start
Should I run cables inside the wall?
In-wall kits that use a recessed power inlet are designed for this, but running a standard extension cord or power cable inside a wall is generally not allowed by electrical codes. Start with surface raceways and refer in-wall power to a licensed electrician until you know your local rules.
What about mounting over a fireplace?
These installs often involve masonry, heat from below, and a viewing height that strains necks. They take longer and carry more risk. Quote them separately after a photo review, or skip them until your standard mounts run smoothly.
Do I need to supply brackets?
Either works, but supplying one tested bracket model lets you control quality and add a markup. If the customer supplies a bracket, check its weight and VESA ratings against the TV before you drill anything.
Source-backed checks
These references support the specific checks below. They do not endorse this business idea or substantiate the example prices, costs or demand.
SBA explains that general liability insurance can protect a business from claims involving bodily injury and property damage. U.S. Small Business Administration: Get business insurance.
Google's Business Profile guidelines say a business must make in-person contact with customers during its stated hours to be eligible for a profile. Google Business Profile: Business eligibility and ownership guidelines.
The FTC's advertising FAQ explains that small businesses must make truthful ad claims and have evidence to back up objective claims. Federal Trade Commission: Advertising FAQ's: A Guide for Small Business.
- Get business insuranceU.S. Small Business Administration · Reference checked September 8, 2026
- Business eligibility and ownership guidelinesGoogle Business Profile · Reference checked September 8, 2026
- Advertising FAQ's: A Guide for Small BusinessFederal Trade Commission · Reference checked September 8, 2026
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