Small steel yard for offcuts and cut-to-size
Stock common steel sections and plate and sell to local welders, fabricators and builders.
- $25k-120k
- Full-time
- Own premises
Estimates for a small start in the US, not guarantees.
Official data
8,608 US businesses with employees in this field, -0.2% in a year
NAICS 423510 “Metal service centers and other metal merchant wholesalers”. Source: U.S. Census Bureau, County Business Patterns 2023.
What it is
A small rented yard or unit holding popular steel sizes such as angle, tube, flat bar, beams and plate. You buy in bulk from mills or larger service centers, then cut to length and sell in smaller quantities. Remnants and offcuts are also sold at a discount.
Your first three steps
- Visit local fabricators and ask what sizes they run out of or struggle to source nearby
- Open accounts with one or two regional steel suppliers and compare bulk prices and delivery terms
- Find a small industrial unit or yard to rent, checking zoning and lease terms first
Who pays
Local welding and fabrication shops, contractors, farms, repair shops, makers and serious hobbyists.
How it makes money
You sell at a markup over your buying price, charge for cutting and delivery, and earn repeat orders from regular trade accounts.
Skills that help
- Knowing steel grades and sizes
- Sales and building trade accounts
- Safe handling of heavy materials
- Inventory and pricing
Watch out for
- Steel prices can swing, so large stock purchases carry real risk
- Check zoning and your city or county rules for an industrial yard
- General liability and property insurance, plus workers' compensation once you hire
- Forklift and crane safety training, and OSHA requirements for your setup
- Sales tax registration and resale certificates, check your state's rules
- Customers may ask for mill test reports, so keep material traceable
- Extending credit to trade customers can leave you chasing late payments
Deep research report · US
Everything you need to start: small steel yard for offcuts and cut-to-size
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 small steel yard?
Startup costs are typically around $25,000 to $120,000, depending on your yard or unit, the stock you buy and your cutting and handling equipment. Steel prices can swing, so large stock purchases carry real risk.
How much can a small steel yard earn?
Monthly revenue is typically around $15,000 to $60,000, depending on your stock range, trade accounts and local demand. The estimates assume at least about 35 hours a week. Late-paying trade customers can strain cash flow.
What rules should I check before opening a steel yard?
Check zoning and your city or county rules for an industrial yard, insurance needs, and forklift and crane safety training with OSHA requirements. Also check your state's sales tax registration and resale certificate rules, and keep material traceable for mill test reports.
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