Custom Lighting Fixtures Workshop

Interior designers, architects, restaurants, hotels, retailers and office fit-out contractors.

Quoted prices per project or per fixture, often with a deposit upfront. Repeat trade clients and wholesale orders give steadier income than one-off sales.

• Metalworking, woodworking or glass skills
• Electrical assembly knowledge
• Quoting, project management and client communication

• Commercial fixtures often must be listed by a testing lab (UL or ETL) and meet local electrical and building codes, check with your city or county and your clients' inspectors
• General liability and product liability insurance, and workers' compensation once you hire
• Zoning for a workshop and any fire or air-quality rules for painting, welding or finishing
• Late payments and scope changes on custom jobs, use written quotes and deposits
• Check whether you need a state or local business license and sales tax or resale certificate setup

Estimates suggest startup costs typically around $8,000 to $40,000, depending on workshop rent, tools and materials. Monthly revenue is typically estimated at around $3,000 to $15,000, depending on how many commercial projects you win and their size.

Check whether commercial fixtures must be listed by a testing lab such as UL or ETL and meet local electrical and building codes. Ask your city or county and your clients' inspectors. Also check zoning, fire or air-quality rules for painting or welding, and insurance.

You'll want metalworking, woodworking or glass skills, electrical assembly knowledge, and confidence with quoting, project management and client communication. Estimates suggest at least around 25 hours a week. Use written quotes and deposits to manage late payments and scope changes.