Custom sheet metal fabrication shop
Make ductwork, flashings and metal trim to order in a small shop for local contractors and builders.
- $15k-70k
- Full-time
- Own premises
Estimates for a small start in the US, not guarantees.
What it is
A small workshop that cuts, bends and welds sheet metal into custom parts such as duct fittings, roof flashings, trim, hoods and enclosures, made to measure from drawings or site dimensions.
Your first three steps
- Visit local HVAC companies and roofers to ask what custom parts they struggle to get quickly
- Price out a small rented unit and a starter kit: brake, shear, roller and hand tools
- Make samples of common items like flashings and duct fittings and take them to contractors for a trial order
Who pays
HVAC companies, roofers, general contractors, restaurants, and small manufacturers who need custom parts quickly.
How it makes money
Priced per job or per piece based on materials and shop hours, with repeat orders from a handful of contractors forming the steady core of the work.
Skills that help
- Reading drawings and taking measurements
- Operating a brake, shear and welding equipment
- Quoting jobs accurately
- Meeting deadlines for contractors
Watch out for
- Check zoning rules for running a fabrication shop in your area and any city or county business license
- General liability and property insurance, plus workers' compensation once you hire
- Welding and metal cutting carry fire and injury risks, so check fire code and safety requirements
- Material prices can change, so check how to build that into quotes
- Relying on one or two big customers is risky
Deep research report · US
Everything you need to start: custom sheet metal fabrication shop
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 sheet metal fabrication shop?
Startup costs are typically around $15,000 to $70,000, depending on your workshop space and how much equipment you buy, such as a brake, shear, and welding gear. Treat this as an estimate.
How much can a sheet metal shop earn?
Monthly revenue is typically around $4,000 to $20,000, depending on the jobs you take, your customers, and your pricing. Time needed starts at around 35 hours a week. Relying on one or two big customers is risky.
What rules should I check before opening a fabrication shop?
Check zoning rules for a fabrication shop and any city or county business license. Also check general liability and property insurance, workers' compensation once you hire, and fire code and safety requirements for welding and metal cutting.
Other ways to run this business
Similar trades ideas
Custom glass and mirror workshop
Run a small shop that cuts, edges and fits custom mirrors, glass shelves and tabletops for local customers and builders.
- $15k-70k
- Full-time
- Own premises
Cabinet shop in a small rented unit
Rent a small workshop and take on kitchen, bath and built-in jobs for remodelers, builders and homeowners.
- $15k-70k
- Full-time
- Own premises
Trade bench: repairs for local jewelry stores
Do resizing, repairs and custom casting work for local jewelers and pawn shops that have no bench jeweler on site.
- $20k-70k
- Part-time
- Own premises
Small steel erection crew for light commercial jobs
Lead a small crew that erects structural steel frames for builders and developers on small commercial and multi-family projects.
- $15k-70k
- Full-time
- Out and about
Custom staircase maker with a small workshop
Design and build custom wood or steel staircases in your own shop, then install them for homeowners and builders.
- $15k-70k
- Full-time
- Own premises
Machine repair workshop
Rent a small shop where local businesses and farms bring machines and parts to be repaired.
- $15k-70k
- Full-time
- Own premises