Local aluminum supply yard with cut-to-size service
Stock sheet, bar and shapes in a small unit and cut to order for local fabricators and tradespeople.
- $30k-120k
- Full-time
- Own premises
Estimates for a small start in the US, not guarantees.
Official data
8,608 US businesses with employees in this field, -0.2% in a year
NAICS 423510 “Metal service centers and other metal merchant wholesalers”. Source: U.S. Census Bureau, County Business Patterns 2023.
What it is
A small warehouse or industrial unit with racking, a saw and a shear or cutting service, holding common aluminum stock. Customers can walk in or order by phone and pick up the same day.
Your first three steps
- Talk to local fab shops about what they struggle to get quickly, and sign up with one or two regional mill or distributor suppliers for trade pricing
- Price out a small industrial unit, a saw, racking and a starting stock, then write a simple cash flow plan
- Form an LLC, get an EIN, and check your city or county for zoning, business license and sales tax or resale certificate requirements
Who pays
Local fabricators, welders, machine shops, sign makers, boat and trailer builders, contractors and repair businesses.
How it makes money
Markup on the metal sold by the piece, foot or pound, plus charges for cutting and delivery. Account customers with regular orders provide steady income.
Skills that help
- Knowing aluminum alloys, tempers and sizes
- Safe use of saws and lifting equipment
- Sales, pricing and inventory control
Watch out for
- Zoning and business license rules for your unit, check with your city or county
- Sales tax registration and resale certificates, check with your state's revenue department
- General liability, property and inventory insurance, plus workers' compensation once you hire
- Forklift and lifting safety training, check OSHA requirements
- Money tied up in stock, and aluminum prices can change quickly
- Customers may ask for mill test reports, keep supplier paperwork organized
Deep research report · US
Everything you need to start: local aluminum supply yard with cut-to-size
Researched with live web search for United States: 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 an aluminum supply yard?
Startup costs are typically estimated around $30,000 to $120,000, depending on your unit, racking, saw or shear, and how much aluminum stock you buy. Stock ties up money, so the size of your starting inventory is a major factor.
How much revenue can a cut-to-size aluminum yard make?
Monthly revenue is typically estimated around $10,000 to $50,000, depending on your customer base, the range of stock you carry, and your pricing. Aluminum prices can change quickly, so review your margins often. Expect at least about 35 hours a week.
What rules should I check before opening an aluminum yard?
Check zoning and business license rules with your city or county, and sales tax registration and resale certificates with your state revenue department. Also check insurance needs, including workers' compensation once you hire, and OSHA requirements for forklift and lifting safety training.
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