Home Forge for Custom and Craft Pieces

Homeowners, gift buyers, craft fair and farmers market shoppers, and people who want a custom piece made.

Fixed prices for finished items sold online, at markets and through local shops, plus quoted prices for custom orders. Teaching a few beginner classes can add income later.

• Hot metalworking and hammer control
• Basic design and drawing
• Photographing and describing your work for sale

• Check zoning, home occupation rules, HOA or lease limits on noise, smoke and open flame
• Check with your local fire department about forge setup and fuel storage
• General liability and product liability insurance, and whether your homeowner's policy covers business activity
• Burns, eye and hearing damage and fumes, so plan ventilation and proper protective gear
• Sales tax registration with your state if you sell items directly

Startup costs are typically around $1,500 to $6,000, depending on your forge, anvil and tools, protective gear, ventilation and materials. Your existing space and equipment will change the total.

Monthly revenue is typically around $200 to $1,500, depending on what you make, your prices, how many markets you attend and the hours you put in. These are revenue estimates, not profit, and materials and fuel come out of them.

Check zoning, home occupation rules, and HOA or lease limits on noise, smoke and open flame. Also check forge setup and fuel storage with your local fire department, insurance coverage, and sales tax registration with your state.