Small-scale machining from a garage workshop

Classic car and motorbike owners, model engineers, makers, local tradespeople and small firms needing odd parts quickly.

Fixed price per job or hourly rate for machine time plus materials. Work is limited by your hours and the size of your machines.

• Basic to good lathe and mill skills
• Measuring accurately
• Problem solving with worn or broken parts

• Permission from your landlord, mortgage lender or council, and possible noise complaints
• Home insurance often excludes business use, so check and get suitable business cover including public liability
• Fire, swarf and machine safety in a domestic building
• Avoid safety-critical parts such as brakes or lifting equipment unless you are properly qualified and insured
• Keep records for Self Assessment and check whether you need to register as a sole trader with HMRC

Estimates suggest startup costs are typically around £3,000 to £12,000, depending on the lathe and mill you buy, tooling, and business insurance. Home insurance often excludes business use, so check cover including public liability.

As an estimate, monthly revenue is typically around £300 to £1,500, depending on the hours you can spare and the hobbyists, restorers and trades you supply. It is designed to run alongside another job.

Check permission from your landlord, mortgage lender or council, and the risk of noise complaints. Consider fire, swarf and machine safety, avoid safety-critical parts unless properly qualified and insured, and check whether you need to register as a sole trader with HMRC.