Running a picture framing business requires a perfect blend of craftsmanship and creativity, offering a fulfilling and profitable venture for woodworkers, artists, and entrepreneurs. To turn that passion into financial success, a thriving business also requires the right business plan, organizational tools, marketing strategy, and pricing.
Without a solid foundation, it’s easy to underprice your work, struggle with inventory, or miss out on potential customers — challenges that can quickly strain your new business.
Even if profit isn’t the primary motivator, your business needs to be financially stable. Learn how to start a picturing framing business with our helpful guide — it covers everything from choosing a niche to managing inventory to setting profitable prices, so you can build a successful picture framing business.
Before diving into pricing, tools, and marketing strategies, the first step is to cover the basics of setting up your business, which includes the following.
Decide how you want to register your new venture for legal and tax purposes. Options include:
Sole proprietorship: This option is best for low-risk, single-owner businesses. It’s simple to set up with minimal paperwork, but you’re personally responsible for debts and liabilities.
Limited liability company (LLC): This type of company protects against personal liability while offering tax flexibility. It’s a good middle ground for small business owners who want legal protection without the complexity of a corporation.
Corporation (S corp or C corp): This is best for larger businesses planning to scale or those seeking investors. It requires more paperwork, but offers separate legal identity and tax benefits.
Most small framing businesses start as a sole proprietorship or LLC, but you should consult an accountant to determine the best option for you.
Check local regulations for business licenses, zoning laws, or sales tax requirements. These vary by location, but a framing business commonly needs:
Contact your Secretary of State office or local business authority to determine which permits and licenses are required.
Based on your budget and business model, choose a home studio, storefront, or commercial space. A home studio keeps costs low, but requires space for storage and equipment. Storefronts and commercial spaces provide space and visibility, but come with higher costs and may require additional permits.
Once the groundwork is laid, you can move on to the practical steps of starting your picture framing business.
Trying to serve everyone at once stretches your business too thin. Specializing in a niche makes it easier to develop a strong brand, set competitive prices, and attract the right customers. Popular framing niches include:
Custom framing: High-end, tailored designs for artwork, memorabilia, or specialty items
Archival and museum-quality framing: Uses acid-free materials and UV-protective glass to preserve valuable artwork and photography
Budget-friendly framing: Provides ready-made frames, standard-size matting, and cost-effective materials like MDF or polystyrene, which are affordable options for home décor and casual buyers
Shadow boxers and 3D displays: Ideal for preserving collectibles, jerseys, or keepsakes
Eco-friendly framing: Uses sustainably-sourced wood to reduce environmental impact while appealing to eco-conscious customers
For example, custom or premium framing tends to have higher profit margins, but requires specialized tools and training — on the other hand, budget-friendly framing has lower costs, but may attract more volume-based business.
Rather than trying to be a frame-for-all, settle on a niche that matches your skills, market demand, and long-term goals for your framing shop.
The quality of your frames depends on the tools you use. Cheap equipment leads to uneven cuts, weak joints, and more wasted materials. This costs you more in the long run.
Splurging on expensive tools can be intimidating for a small business, but try to view it as an investment in your future. Using professional-grade equipment can reduce long-term replacement and repair expenses and contribute to a higher-quality final product and more sales.
Essential tools for picture framing include:
Mat cutter: Clean and precise matting improves artwork presentation and prevents uneven edges on the frame.
Miter saw: This tool provides accurate 45-degree cuts for frame corners.
V-nail joiner: A joiner creates strong, gap-free joints that hold up over time.
Glass cutter and polishing tools: These are necessary if you plan to cut and smooth glass in-house.
Point driver: This tool secures artwork, backing, and matting inside the frame with professional fasteners.
Cutting corners on equipment might save money upfront, but in framing, precision matters. Prioritize investing in quality equipment from the moment you open your doors.
Once you’ve invested in the right tools, the next step is showcasing your work to attract customers. Build a sample wall to serve as your showroom, helping buyers compare frame styles, materials, and finishes in person. Create a sample display with these steps:
Find a suitable space: Dedicate a wall or section of your workspace for sample displays. If space is limited, use portable frame boards that you can put up quickly when needed.
Use frame visualizer software: Tools like FrameVue allow customers to upload images and see how different frames will look on their artwork or photo before making a final decision.
Create a professional presentation: Organize samples neatly with labels, pricing details, and brief descriptions. As a new business, you don’t want to give potential buyers any reason to walk away.
Turn your wall into a social media tool: Take photos of your sample wall and regularly share them on social media. Encourage customers to do the same and engage with your audience by commenting, liking, and resharing their content. Consider creating a brand hashtag or a small discount for tagged posts to increase visibility.
A sample wall sets your new business apart from big-box competitors. Even if you start small, investing in a strong visual display gives customers a clear way to compare frames. This makes it easier for them to choose and buy on the spot.
When learning how to start a picture framing business, your pricing strategy means the difference between making a profit and barely breaking even. Many framers make the mistake of underpricing their work, forgetting that framing is a professional service that involves time, skill, and craftsmanship.
So, how do you price your work to stay profitable? A structured formula prevents guesswork and leaves room to cover costs and bring in revenue. It’s a simple equation:
(material cost + labor cost) x markup = your price
Material cost: Includes frames, glass, matting, backing, and hanging hardware
Labor cost: Accounts for the time spent cutting, assembling, and finishing each frame
Markup: Covers overhead expenses like rent, utilities, and marketing to guarantee profitability
Here’s an example using real numbers to illustrate the pricing formula:
Let’s say you’re framing a 16” x 20” print with a wood frame, matting, glass, and hanging hardware. Materials cost total $57, and labor for cutting, assembling, and mounting totals $45. With a 2.5x markup, the final price comes to $255.
Final price calculation: ($57 + $45) x 2.5 = $255
This pricing structure covers costs and builds in profit, eliminating guesswork that could reduce earnings. Most professional framers apply a 3x to 5x markup on materials to account for labor, overhead, and profitability. Setting prices this way keeps your business sustainable and reflects the true value of custom framing.
To manage a new picture framing business, you need to keep track of frames, mat boards, glass, and hardware. Without a system in place for managing inventory, it’s easy to run out of key materials or overstock on slow-moving items. Over time, this leads to delays and wasted money.
Start strong with a point of sale (POS) system that simplifies organization and tracking so you always have the right materials for every customer order. Look for a platform that allows you to:
Track stock levels in real time: Get real-time updates on inventory so you always know what’s available. For example, if mat boards run low before a large custom order, an inventory alert reminds you to restock in time.
Identify bestsellers and slow movers: Use built-in reporting to highlight which materials sell quickly and what’s underperforming so you can adjust material purchases.
Sync with vendor catalogs: Tap into integrated catalogs that let you pull in new products with accurate pricing and descriptions, so your website is always up to date.
Accept multiple payment methods: Make checkout easy with credit, debit, or digital wallets like Apple Pay and Google Pay. No stress, no holdups — just a finished frame ready to hang and enjoy.
With a purpose-built POS system like LifeSaver, you can reduce shortages, minimize waste, and keep your framing business running — without unnecessary headaches.
Learning how to start a picture framing business involves choosing a niche, investing in quality tools, pricing correctly, and continuously managing inventory. Each step plays a key role in sustained success.
LifeSaver provides industry-specific tools tailored for framers, helping you stay organized and profitable with features like real-time stock tracking and visualization tools. With over 30 years of experience, LifeSaver continues to innovate, incorporating new technology and enhancements to meet the evolving needs of the framing industry.
Start your free trial today to discover how LifeSaver’s industry-specific tools can help you manage inventory, track sales, and grow a successful business.