Custom Machine Building Workshop

Manufacturers, food and beverage producers, packaging companies, warehouses and other businesses that need equipment made to order.

Project pricing based on design, materials and labor, paid in stages. Ongoing income from service contracts, upgrades, spare parts and repeat builds.

• Mechanical and electrical design knowledge
• Fabrication, machining and assembly
• Project management and quoting
• Managing helpers and suppliers

• General liability, product liability and commercial property insurance, plus workers' compensation once you hire
• Zoning, certificate of occupancy and fire code for workshops, check with your city or county
• Machine safety standards, CE or UL-type requirements that some customers ask for, and electrical panel certification, check what your customers need
• Cash flow: use deposits and stage payments so you aren't funding materials yourself
• A few large customers can make income uneven, so keep a pipeline of smaller jobs

Startup costs are typically around $25,000 to $100,000, depending on your workshop rent, fabrication and assembly equipment, and whether you hire helpers. These are estimates, so use customer deposits to avoid funding materials yourself.

Monthly revenue is typically around $8,000 to $40,000, depending on the size and number of projects you complete. A few large customers can make income uneven, so this is revenue before materials, rent and wages.

Check zoning, certificate of occupancy and fire code with your city or county. Also check machine safety standards, CE or UL-type requirements and electrical panel certification that customers may ask for, plus liability, product liability and property insurance.