Small toolroom for injection moulds and tooling

Plastic and rubber product manufacturers, moulding companies and engineering firms that prefer a local, responsive toolmaker.

Quoted price per tool, plus hourly or fixed-price repair and modification work. Regular maintenance for the same moulders helps keep the workshop busy between larger jobs.

• Toolmaking or precision machining experience
• CAD/CAM programming
• Reading engineering drawings
• Accurate quoting and project planning

• Public liability, employer's liability once you hire, and cover for customers' tools while they are in your care
• Machinery safety, risk assessments and fumes or coolant handling, so check the Health and Safety Executive guidance
• Business rates, unit lease terms and any planning use class requirements, so check with your council
• Large customers can pay late, so agree payment terms and consider deposits on new tools
• Equipment costs are high, so compare buying second-hand, leasing and sharing space in an existing workshop

Startup costs are estimates, typically around £40,000 to £150,000, depending on machinery, whether you buy second-hand, lease or share space in an existing workshop, and your unit. Equipment costs are high, so compare options.

Monthly revenue is estimated at typically around £4,000 to £20,000, depending on the mix of new tools, repairs and modifications, and your customers. Large customers can pay late, so agree payment terms and consider deposits.

Check machinery safety, risk assessments and fume or coolant handling against Health and Safety Executive guidance. Also check business rates, lease terms and planning use class requirements with your council, and insurance covering customers' tools in your care.