Small-batch jigs, fixtures and tooling shop
Make and repair custom jigs, fixtures and simple dies for local manufacturers from a garage or outbuilding workshop.
- $15k-60k
- Side hustle
- From home
Estimates for a small start in the US, not guarantees.
Official data
1,976 US businesses with employees in this field, -1.5% in a year
NAICS 333514 “Special die and tool, die set, jig, and fixture manufacturing”. Source: U.S. Census Bureau, County Business Patterns 2023.
What it is
A one-person machine shop making custom jigs, fixtures, gauges and simple dies, and repairing worn tooling, using a manual mill, lathe, small CNC and hand tools.
Your first three steps
- Visit local manufacturers and machine shops to find out what tooling they struggle to get made quickly
- Price used machines and measuring tools, and check your workspace has enough power and floor strength
- Quote two or three small jobs at a fair shop rate and ask for repeat work if they go well
Who pays
Local manufacturers, fabrication shops, product designers and inventors who need one-off or short-run tooling fast.
How it makes money
Quoted price per job or an hourly shop rate, plus material. Repeat repair and rework jobs from a few regular shops keep work steady.
Skills that help
- Machining and metalworking
- Reading engineering drawings
- Precise measuring and inspection
- Quoting jobs accurately
Watch out for
- Zoning, home occupation permits and HOA or lease rules for noise and industrial equipment, check with your city or county
- General liability insurance and whether your homeowner's policy covers business equipment
- Safe machine use and guarding, check OSHA guidance if you hire anyone
- Disposal rules for used coolant, oils and metal chips, check with your county or state environmental agency
- Mistakes can scrap expensive material, so confirm drawings and tolerances before cutting
Deep research report · US
Everything you need to start: small-batch jigs, fixtures and tooling 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 home tooling shop?
Startup costs are estimates, typically around $15,000 to $60,000, depending on whether you buy manual or CNC machines, new or used, plus tooling, measuring gear and insurance.
How much revenue can a home jig and fixture shop make?
Monthly revenue is an estimate, typically around $2,000 to $10,000, depending on the jobs you win, how many hours you work and the complexity of the tooling. These figures are revenue, not profit.
What rules should I check before running a machine shop at home?
Check zoning, home occupation permits and HOA or lease rules on noise and equipment, whether your homeowner's policy covers business equipment, and disposal rules for used coolant, oils and metal chips.
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