Start a garage workshop making one-off replacement parts

Farms, small manufacturers, equipment repair shops, sawmills and hobby or vintage machinery owners who need a part made quickly.

You charge an hourly shop rate plus material, or a fixed price per part. Reliable turnaround and word of mouth with local repair shops bring repeat work.

• Manual machining on a lathe and mill
• Measuring and copying worn parts
• Choosing the right metals
• Clear quoting and communication

• Check with your municipality whether a home-based business licence or zoning approval is needed, including noise and customer visits
• Home insurance may not cover business equipment or liability, so check with your insurer and get commercial general liability cover
• Safety risks from machinery and metal dust, so plan guarding, eye protection and fire safety
• Parts that fail can damage other equipment, so be clear about what you guarantee
• Cold winters in an unheated garage can affect work hours and equipment

Startup costs are typically estimated at around $8,000 to $35,000 CAD, depending on whether you buy used or new machines, tooling, measuring gear and safety equipment. Price your own setup before you commit.

Monthly revenue is typically estimated at around $1,500 to $7,500, depending on the jobs you win, your rates and the hours you can work. This is before materials, tooling and other costs.

Check with your municipality whether a home-based business licence or zoning approval is needed, including noise and customer visits. Also check that your insurer covers business equipment, get commercial general liability cover, and plan for safety.