Home Workshop Machining for Repairs and One-Offs

Local manufacturers, farms, repair shops, hobby builders, inventors and engineers who need a few parts and can't get a big shop's attention.

Hourly shop rate plus material, or a fixed quote per part. Repeat customers who send small jobs regularly are the core of the income.

• Machining and reading engineering drawings
• Precise measuring and inspection
• Quoting jobs accurately
• Reliable communication with customers

• Zoning, noise and home-based business licence rules differ by municipality, so check before buying equipment
• Home insurance usually won't cover a machining business, so check commercial general liability and property cover
• Safe machine guarding, eye and hearing protection, and handling of cutting oils and metal chips
• Fire safety and proper disposal of coolant and waste oil, so check local rules
• Quoting too low: track your real hours and tooling wear on early jobs
• If you hire help, check workers' compensation requirements in your province

Startup costs are estimated at typically around $15,000 to $60,000, depending on the machines and tooling you buy. Home insurance usually won't cover a machining business, so check commercial general liability and property cover.

Check zoning, noise and home-based business licence rules with your municipality before buying equipment. Also check insurance, machine guarding, eye and hearing protection, handling of cutting oils and chips, coolant and waste oil disposal, and workers' compensation if you hire.

Monthly revenue is estimated at typically around $1,500 to $7,500, depending on the jobs you win and how you price them. The estimate assumes at least about 10 hours a week. Track real hours and tooling wear early to avoid quoting too low.