Start a Flooring Business in 2025: 3 Steps You Can’t Skip

Opening a flooring store sounds simple: find a space, stock some samples, get a crew, and start selling. But in reality, it’s a whole different beast — especially in today’s ultra-competitive, post-digital world. Whether you’re coming from construction, design, or (like me) digital marketing, there are core moves you absolutely can’t skip.

I’m Sean Hakes, a 20+ year SEO veteran who decided to open a physical flooring showroom in Castle Rock, Colorado. This is the guide I wish existed before I started — no fluff, no hype, just the key pieces that made our business work.

Step 1: Know Your Edge Before You Sign a Lease

Don’t start with product — start with purpose. There are flooring stores on every corner. Why should someone walk into yours? Is it your pricing? Design center? VIP contractor network? For us, the difference was built in from day one: digital marketing was the backbone, not the afterthought.

We tied our showroom to an incentive-driven marketing ecosystem. Contractors who bring clients in earn co-op dollars that go straight back to their marketing — powered by Sympler and 72 Hour Web Design. That’s a huge draw for serious pros, and it made our store a marketing tool, not just a storefront.

Whatever your edge is, get crystal clear on it. Build your branding, your outreach, and even your floorplan around that strength — before you start racking up overhead.

Step 2: Build Relationships Before You Build Displays

Your product is only as good as the people who install it — and the vendors who stand behind it. Before you worry about color boards or showroom lighting, make sure you have reliable crews and solid manufacturer relationships.

I got lucky. My business partner, Brian Hassell, has decades of experience in the flooring industry. He brought the know-how, the contacts, and the confidence to work with vendors I wouldn’t have even known existed. He also built the trust with installation teams who show up, do clean work, and treat our customers like their own.

If you’re not bringing that to the table yourself, find someone who is — fast. A great website won’t save you from a bad install crew, and a killer showroom won’t help if your orders get delayed or mishandled. Relationships are the infrastructure of this business.

Step 3: Systemize the Experience (So You Can Scale It)

A beautiful showroom and great crews are essential — but if your customer experience isn’t predictable and repeatable, you’ll burn out fast. From day one, we started building systems: quote templates, intake forms, CRM tracking, install scheduling, photo uploads, review requests — every piece of the process needed a home.

These systems don’t just help us stay organized — they create a seamless experience for every client and contractor who works with us. And that’s what drives referrals, online reviews, and long-term loyalty.

Think of it like this: if you want to run a business and not just a job site, you need automation and structure behind the scenes. That’s what turns chaos into clarity — and eventually, into growth.

Final Thoughts

Starting a flooring business in 2025 isn’t easy — but it’s far from impossible. If you come in with a clear differentiator, the right relationships, and a commitment to systems that scale, you’re already ahead of 90% of the market.

Whether you’re a contractor, marketer, or entrepreneur looking to pivot into the trades, there’s real opportunity here. Just be ready to grind, adapt, and think differently.

Because the future of flooring? It’s not just about hardwood and vinyl — it’s about building smarter, service-first businesses that truly stand out. That’s exactly what we’re doing at
Dream Home Innovations.

Sean Hakes
CEO & Co-Founder, Dream Home Innovations
SEO turned flooring store owner, building modern businesses where digital meets design.