Shed construction: a guide for pros

What customers ask, how to win the job, and what to put on your profile.

Offering shed construction

You build and assemble backyard sheds on level bases, from kit installs to custom framing with siding, roofing and doors. Customers hire you for a level base, a shed that stays dry and a door that closes properly.

What customers ask

  • What base do you recommend for this site, and how do you handle a slope?
  • Is this a kit or a custom build, and what is included in the kit?
  • Does the shed need a permit at this size, and who pulls it?
  • Can you run electricity to the shed, and who does the wiring?
  • How will the shed be anchored against wind?
  • What is covered under the warranty on the floor, the roof and the hardware?

How to win the job

  • On the first call, ask for the shed size, the site, the slope, the drainage and what the shed will hold, then say which base you recommend
  • Walk the site, check the level and the drainage, and note the setback before you quote the base
  • Put the base type, the floor framing spacing and the pressure-treated material in the quote, so the customer sees the foundation
  • Show the door and window hardware you use, with the lock type and the hinge spacing
  • Explain in the quote how the shed will be anchored and which wind rating you are building to
  • Offer to coordinate a licensed electrician for any power, and put that line on the quote with its own note

What to put on your profile

  • Post photos of bases and floor framing before the walls go on, with the base type labeled
  • List the kit brands you assemble and the custom sizes you build
  • Show finished sheds with the door, the trim and the roof detail in close-up
  • State the sites you can reach and whether you handle the setback check

Follow-up that helps the customer

  • Offer a yearly check of the door, the hinges, the roof and the base, especially after heavy snow or wind
  • Suggest adding shelving or a workbench at the time of the build, sized to the tools the owner keeps
  • Mention a drainage check at the base after the first wet season

Licenses and permits

Shed builders usually need a general contractor or handyman registration in many places, and electrical work must be done by a licensed electrician. Permits depend on the size and location of the shed. Check with your state and local licensing agencies and your local building department before you take the work.

Questions

How do I handle a site with a slope?

Recommend a base that suits the slope, such as a level gravel bed on compacted fill or a set of raised skids. Explain the change in the quote, because the base is what keeps the floor square and dry.

What is the difference between a kit and a custom shed?

A kit comes with pre-cut parts and instructions, so assembly is faster. A custom shed is framed from lumber to the owner's size and design. Explain which one is being built and what the customer receives.

How do requests reach me on infinibell?

Customers describe the job and pick the pros they want by name, and only the pros they picked see the request. Joining is free. You pay only for the leads you accept, and you can decline a request for free. Every pro is reviewed before going live.

About this guide

This national guide is written and checked by infinibell. Rules and conditions differ by place, so local pros are credited on guides for the cities they serve, not on national ones.

Edit history

More construction and design guides for pros

Start here

About this guide

Get shed construction requests

Customers pick you by name. Signup is free, and you pay only for leads you accept.

Join as a pro
Sign up free