Sheet metal workshop: ductwork and fabrication
Run a small unit making ductwork, flashings and custom metal parts for builders, installers and local firms.
- £8k-40k
- Full-time
- Own premises
Estimates for a small start in the UK, not guarantees.
Official data
37,269 UK companies in this field, 29% registered in the last 2 years
SIC 43290 “Other construction installation”. Source: Companies House, November 2026.
What it is
A small workshop that cuts, folds and joins sheet metal to order, such as ventilation ductwork, canopies, trims and cladding panels. You may also fit the work on site, or hand it to the customer to fit.
Your first three steps
- Price up a small unit and the key machines (guillotine, folder, rollers), including second-hand options
- Contact local ventilation firms, roofers and builders to ask what they struggle to get made quickly
- Put together a simple quote template and a price list for common items, then take your first small order
Who pays
Building contractors, heating and ventilation installers, roofers, shopfitters and small factories needing bespoke or repeat parts.
How it makes money
Quoted price per job or per item, based on materials and your time. Repeat trade customers and regular supply contracts give steadier income than one-off jobs.
Skills that help
- Sheet metal fabrication and welding or seaming
- Reading drawings and measuring accurately
- Quoting jobs and keeping to deadlines
Watch out for
- Public liability insurance, plus employer's liability once you take someone on
- Check the unit's permitted use, noise and opening hours with the landlord and council
- Machine safety and guarding, and sharp-edge injuries; check what training you need
- Ductwork and cladding for buildings may need to meet fire and building standards, so check what customers require
- Metal prices can change between quote and delivery, so build in a margin and confirm quotes in writing
- Check how to dispose of scrap metal and waste oils correctly
Deep research report · UK
Everything you need to start: sheet metal workshop: ductwork and fabrication
Researched with live web search for United Kingdom: real startup prices, the licences and rules, what others charge, a break-even example, how to find your first customers and a 30-day launch plan. With sources.
- Startup costs with real prices
- Licences, registration and rules
- Pricing: what others charge
- Break-even example
- Finding your first customers
- 30-day launch plan
- Risks and how to reduce them
Questions people ask
How much does it cost to start a sheet metal workshop?
Startup costs are typically around £8,000 to £40,000, depending on the unit, machines, tooling and materials stock. These are estimates, so get quotes for equipment, guarding and insurance before signing a lease.
How much can a sheet metal workshop earn?
Monthly revenue is typically around £3,000 to £15,000, depending on the mix of bespoke and repeat work and your customers. Metal prices can change between quote and delivery, so build in a margin and confirm quotes in writing.
What rules should I check before opening a fabrication workshop?
Things to check: the unit's permitted use, noise and opening hours with the landlord and council, machine safety and training, whether ductwork or cladding must meet fire and building standards, scrap disposal, and public liability insurance.
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