Small CNC job shop for custom parts
Machine metal and plastic parts to drawings for local engineering and manufacturing clients from a small rented unit.
- $30k-150k
- Full-time
- Own premises
Estimates for a small start in the US, not guarantees.
Official data
17,156 US businesses with employees in this field, -1.6% in a year
NAICS 332710 “Machine shops”. Source: U.S. Census Bureau, County Business Patterns 2023.
What it is
A small workshop with a CNC mill, a lathe or both, making one-off prototypes and short production runs of metal and plastic parts from customer drawings.
Your first three steps
- Visit local manufacturers and engineering firms to learn what parts they outsource and what lead times and prices they expect
- Price a good used CNC mill or lathe, plus tooling and measuring gear, and look at industrial units for rent in your county
- Make sample parts and line up one or two first customers before you commit to a lease
Who pays
Local manufacturers, engineering firms, product start-ups, repair shops and equipment makers that need parts but have no machines in-house.
How it makes money
Quoted price per job or per part, based on machine time, material and setup. Repeat orders and short production runs make income steadier than one-off jobs.
Skills that help
- Machining and CNC operation
- Reading engineering drawings
- Quoting and pricing jobs
- Measuring and quality checks
Watch out for
- Zoning rules for industrial use and any permits for your building, check with your city or county
- General liability and property insurance, plus product liability if parts go into other products
- Customers may require quality certifications or inspection reports, so ask what they expect
- Workers' compensation insurance once you hire, and machine safety training
- Equipment is costly and sitting idle hurts, so don't buy until you have some demand
Deep research report · US
Everything you need to start: small CNC job shop for custom parts
Researched with live web search for United States: real startup prices, the licences and rules, what others charge, a break-even example, how to find your first customers and a 30-day launch plan. With sources.
- Startup costs with real prices
- Licences, registration and rules
- Pricing: what others charge
- Break-even example
- Finding your first customers
- 30-day launch plan
- Risks and how to reduce them
Questions people ask
How much does it cost to start a CNC job shop?
Startup costs are typically around $30,000 to $150,000, depending on the machines you buy, your rented unit and tooling. These are estimates, and equipment is costly, so avoid buying until you have some demand.
How much can a small CNC job shop earn?
Monthly revenue is typically around $4,000 to $20,000, depending on your machines, the jobs you win and how many hours you run. These are estimates, and idle machines hurt, so build demand first.
What rules should I check before opening a machine shop?
Check zoning for industrial use and any building permits with your city or county. Also look into general liability, property and product liability insurance, customer quality or inspection requirements, machine safety training, and workers' compensation once you hire.
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