Small Custom Cabinet Workshop
Build and sell custom kitchen, bath and storage cabinets from a rented workshop to homeowners and local contractors.
- $15k-60k
- Full-time
- Own premises
- Licence or permit needed
Estimates for a small start in the US, not guarantees.
What it is
A small shop that builds made-to-measure cabinets, vanities and built-in storage, and either delivers them for installers or installs them itself. Most of the work is in the workshop, with site visits to measure and fit.
Your first three steps
- Price out a workshop space in a nearby light industrial area and a basic setup of table saw, dust collection and clamps, including used equipment
- Build two or three sample cabinets or a vanity and photograph them for a simple website and local social pages
- Set up accounts with a sheet goods and hardware supplier and ask local remodelers to send you a small first job to quote
Who pays
Homeowners wanting custom or hard-to-fit units, remodelers, builders, interior designers and property managers.
How it makes money
Quoted price per project or per linear foot, covering materials, labor and a margin, with deposits taken up front and the balance on delivery or install.
Skills that help
- Woodworking and cabinet construction
- Reading plans and measuring accurately
- Estimating materials and labor
- Customer communication
Watch out for
- Check whether your state or county requires a contractor license for installing cabinets, even if building them does not
- General liability and commercial property insurance, plus workers' compensation as soon as you hire
- Local zoning, fire code and air quality rules for finishing and sawdust, so check with your city or county
- Sales tax and resale certificate rules for materials
- Dust and machinery safety, so look into OSHA guidance and proper dust extraction
- Cash flow: take deposits so you are not paying for materials out of pocket
🔒 Full research report for US
Real cost breakdown with current prices, licences and registration checklist, local competition, pricing, break-even and a 30-day launch plan, with sources.
Coming soonQuestions people ask
How much does it cost to start a custom cabinet workshop?
Startup costs are estimated at typically around $15,000 to $60,000, depending on the machinery and tools you buy, your workshop rent and your first materials. Taking deposits helps you avoid paying for materials out of pocket.
How much can a custom cabinet maker earn?
Monthly revenue is estimated at typically around $6,000 to $30,000, depending on how many jobs you complete, their size and whether you also install. These are estimates only, and materials and labor costs come out of this revenue.
What licenses and rules apply to a cabinet workshop?
Check whether your state or county requires a contractor license for installing cabinets, even if building them does not. Also check local zoning, fire code and air quality rules for finishing and sawdust, sales tax and resale certificates, insurance, and OSHA guidance.
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