Small-Batch knife maker with a workshop

Online buyers, kitchen and outdoor shops, restaurants and chefs, and customers who buy at shows and markets.

You sell finished knives directly online and at events, and wholesale batches to shops at a lower price. You can add sharpening, engraving and custom orders.

• Metalworking and heat treating
• Consistent finishing and quality control
• Pricing and costing
• Marketing and customer service

• Check zoning, a local business license and fire department requirements for the unit
• General liability and product liability insurance, plus property cover for equipment
• Workers' compensation insurance once you hire help
• Knife sale and shipping laws differ by state and city, so check what you can sell and ship
• Steel and equipment costs and slow sales early on, so keep a cash buffer
• Register with your state for sales tax and get an EIN if you set up an LLC or hire

Startup costs are typically around $10,000 to $40,000, depending on the unit you rent, your grinders and heat treat equipment, and your steel stock. These are estimates, and it helps to keep a cash buffer for slow early sales.

Monthly revenue is typically around $2,000 to $10,000, depending on batch size, pricing and your mix of online sales, retailers and shows. These are estimates, and the business assumes at least about 30 hours of work a week.

Check zoning, a local business license and fire department requirements for your unit. Knife sale and shipping laws differ by state and city, so confirm what you can sell and ship. Also look into general and product liability insurance.