How to make money selling Concrete Statuary
Starting a concrete statuary business can be a rewarding and profitable venture. With relatively low startup costs, creative freedom, and strong market demand, many grafters have turned their passion for concrete casting into a thriving income stream. Here's everything you need to know to get started.
Why Concrete Statuary is a Great Business
The appeal of concrete statuary lies in its versatility and accessibility. Unlike many craft businesses, you don't need expensive equipment or a large workspace to get started. Concrete is affordable, durable, and allows for endless creative possibilities. Customers love concrete garden art because it's weather-resistant, long-lasting, and adds character to outdoor spaces.
The market is fairly strong year-round, with peak seasons in spring and summer when people are focused on landscaping and garden decor. But even in fall and winter, you can sell seasonal pieces like holiday decorations and indoor accent pieces. We sell the best type of concrete molds for someone wanting to get started as our molds are low cost but still provide quality products and will hold up to every day casting and have the quickest return on you investment time and money wise. Though you are going to need all different types of concrete molds, latex fiberglass, aluminum, plastic, urethane. Ours will let you try it out and see if casting concrete statues agrees with you before you spend a lot of money. I hope this information helps someone. You can make money casting concrete but like anything it takes some hard work to get it started and build up your customer base, anyone can make concrete statues, that the easy part, building up your customers is what takes the effort, you can not sell it if no one can see it to buy it from you, so advertising is at the top of your list. A good website is helpful as an online catalog and people can pay you online before they pick up a statue or place a custom order. Have any questions just email me or call, I can also help you or give you info about a website, its cost and how I use mine. Make sure to make yourself a set of rules for how to deal with any problems that may come up and stick to those rules to make your life easier. Like what will you do if an item breaks, will you replace it, refund the customer or tell them tough luck, these are thing you need to have ahead of time, have a list of your polices so your customers know what to expect from you. There will always be problems, but having a planned response will always help put a quick end to them.
Getting Started: Initial Investment
One of the biggest advantages of this business is the low barrier to entry. You can start small and scale up as you grow.
Basic Startup Costs:
Quality concrete molds: $50-$1,500 (depending on variety)
Concrete mix: Price varies by type and mix
Basic finishing supplies (stains, sealers, brushes): $100-$200
Safety equipment (gloves, masks, eye protection): $30-$50
Workspace: garage, shed, or covered outdoor area
Optional Equipment (Highly Recommended): You can get these later, not needed for a start up.
Cement mixer: $400-$4,000 (saves significant time and effort, ensures consistent mixing)
Vibrating table: $150-$2,500 (removes air bubbles for professional-quality castings with fewer voids)
Vinyl cutter: $200-$500 (creates custom stencils for personalized stones—opens up a lucrative custom market for names, dates, quotes, and designs) foam letter for imprints
While you can start by hand-mixing small batches, a cement mixer becomes essential as you scale up production. A vibrating table dramatically improves the quality of your finished pieces, resulting in smoother surfaces and stronger castings that command higher prices. A vinyl cutter allows you to offer personalized stepping stones and memorial pieces, which typically sell for 25-50% more than standard designs.
Many successful sellers start with just a few popular molds and reinvest their profits into expanding their inventory. You can be producing sell able pieces within your first week.
What Sells Best
Understanding your market is crucial. Here are the top sellers in the concrete statuary world:
Garden Staples:
Stepping stones (always in demand)
Birdbaths and bird feeders
Garden gnomes and animals
Decorative planters
Garden Benches
Seasonal Items:
Holiday-themed pieces (Christmas, Halloween, Easter)
Seasonal flowers and butterflies
Memorial stones and markers
Custom Work:
Personalized stepping stones with names or dates
Pet memorials
Address markers
Custom garden signs
Pro tip: Stepping stones are excellent starter pieces—they're quick to make, use less material, and consistently sell well at various price points.
Pricing Your Work
Pricing can make or break your business. You need to cover materials, time, overhead, and profit while remaining competitive.
Pricing Formula:
Calculate material costs (concrete, stain, sealer)
Factor in your time (be realistic about hourly rate)
Add overhead (mold wear, equipment, utilities)
Include profit margin (typically 30-50%)
Example Pricing:
Small stepping stones: $15-$30
Medium garden statues: $35-$75
Large elaborate pieces: $100-$300+
Custom personalized work: Add 25-50% premium
Don't under price your work. Quality handmade items command fair prices, and customers shopping for garden art understand they're paying for craftsmanship and durability.
The average person works about 2000 hours per year at their hourly rate, you have to convert this into concrete statue sales so your going to need to move 3,000 to 10,000 statues per year at an average sales price to make the income you want to make. Your no longer tied to the hour, you will soon need to hire some help as one person can only work a given amount of hours. So keep planing for the growth of your new company.
Where to Sell
Multiple sales channels can maximize your income:
Local Markets:
Farmers markets and craft fairs (great for testing products and getting immediate feedback)
Garden centers and nurseries (consignment or wholesale)
Landscaping companies (bulk orders)
Word of mouth and local referrals
Online Platforms:
Facebook Marketplace (excellent for local pickup sales)
Etsy (reaches craft enthusiasts nationwide)
Your own website or social media shop
Local community buy/sell groups
Seasonal Opportunities:
Spring garden shows and home expos
Holiday craft bazaars
Outdoor festivals and art walks
Many sellers find success combining local in-person sales with online listings. This diversification protects you from slow periods in any single channel.
Marketing Your Business
Great products need great marketing. Here's how to attract customers:
Photography is Everything: High-quality photos sell concrete statuary. Show your pieces in beautiful garden settings, not just on a table. Natural lighting, attractive backgrounds, and lifestyle shots help customers envision your work in their own spaces.
Social Media Strategy:
Post regularly on Facebook and Instagram
Share progress photos and behind-the-scenes content
Engage with local community groups
Run seasonal promotions and giveaways
Encourage customer photos and testimonials
Build Your Brand:
Create a memorable business name
Design simple branded tags or stickers for your pieces
Develop a consistent style or specialty
Provide excellent customer service to generate referrals
Low-Cost Local Advertising:
Post business cards on bulletin boards throughout your city—grocery stores, libraries, community centers, coffee shops, feed stores, and garden supply stores are ideal locations
Ask permission before posting and check back regularly to refresh your cards
Include a photo of your work on your card if possible—visual appeal is crucial
Target locations where your ideal customers shop
Production Tips for Profitability
Efficiency directly impacts your bottom line.
Batch Production: Make multiple pieces at once to maximize your time. Set up an assembly line approach—mix concrete for several molds, pour them all, then finish them together. This reduces setup time and material waste.
Inventory Management: Keep popular items in stock, especially fast sellers like stepping stones. Having ready-to-sell inventory means you can capitalize on impulse buyers at markets and fulfill online orders quickly.
Time-Saving Techniques:
Prepare molds in advance. Make frames for your molds so you can stack them after they are poured. Saves space and time.
Keep a well-organized workspace
Invest in quality tools that last
Growing Your Business
Once you've established consistent sales, consider these growth strategies:
Expand Your Product Line: Add complementary items or seasonal specialties. Listen to customer requests—they'll tell you what they want to buy.
Wholesale Opportunities: Approach garden centers, gift shops, and landscaping businesses about carrying your work. Wholesale means lower per-piece profit but higher volume and steady income.
Teaching Workshops: Host concrete casting classes or sell DIY kits. This creates an additional revenue stream while marketing your finished products.
Custom Orders: Personalized work commands premium prices and often leads to repeat customers and referrals.
Challenges to Consider
Every business has obstacles. Being prepared helps you overcome them:
Weather dependency: You need warm, dry conditions for curing. Plan indoor workspace or seasonal schedules accordingly.
Physical demands: Concrete is heavy. Use proper lifting techniques and invest in carts or dollies.
Curing time: Unlike some crafts, you can't rush the process. Plan production schedules around curing requirements.
Competition: Stand out through quality, unique designs, excellent finishing, and outstanding customer service.
Real Income Potential
Income varies widely based on effort, market, and business model, but here's what's realistic:
Part-Time (weekends/evenings): $500-$2,000 per month with market sales and online orders
Active Part-Time (20-30 hours/week): $2,000-$5,000 per month with multiple sales channels
Full-Time Commitment: $3,000-$8,000+ per month with established customer base, wholesale accounts, and efficient production
Peak seasons (spring/summer) typically generate significantly more income than winter months in most regions.
Final Thoughts
Making money with concrete statuary is absolutely achievable for motivated crafters willing to learn the skills and build a customer base. Start small, focus on quality, listen to your customers, and reinvest in your business.
The combination of low startup costs, creative satisfaction, and strong market demand makes this an excellent business opportunity for anyone interested in hands-on work and outdoor decor. With dedication and smart business practices, you can turn concrete casting into a reliable and rewarding income source.
Ready to get started? Begin with a few quality molds, perfect your technique, and test your market. Success in this business comes from producing beautiful, durable pieces that customers love—and that starts with your very first cast.
A little about me
I have not covered everything here but you can always email me for more info I am been casting and making concrete molds since 1986 its my full time job. I was pouring iron casting , doing core and insert setting for iron molds, mainly truck parts when I got the ideal to start pouring concrete and making molds my Dad worked in a mold factory as an Engineer. I learned a lot from him about mold making draft angels, venting and how to design a good mold. I like to carve but carving takes a long time and it hard to get your money back out of a carving and that where casting and making concrete molds came in and I started my journey of making statuary and concrete molds.