How Much Does It Cost To Start A Small Machine Shop? (In 2024)

Pat Walls

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Updated: January 18th, 2023

Looking to start a small machine shop?

But curious about:

how much it costs to start a small machine shop?
what are the typical small machine shop startup costs?
or the actual cost of starting small machine shops?

Well, we have the data to prove it, supported by real small machine shops and how much they actually cost to start.

Let's go over it.

Learn more about starting a small machine shop:

Where to start?

-> Pros and cons of a small machine shop

Need inspiration?

-> Marketing ideas for a small machine shop

Other resources

Equipment & Supply Expenses

Starting a small machine shop may require purchasing some equipment, whether that's for producing the product or packaging the goods, or equipment needed in the back office.

Cost	Required?	Min Cost	Max Cost
Cleaning Supplies ➜	Optional	$63	$200
First-aid Equipment ➜	Optional	$3	$500
Uniforms	Optional	$0	$500

Retail Business Expenses

If you plan to have a brick & mortar location for your small machine shop, you must weigh the costs of your rent, as it may be the most expensive part of running your business.

Rent costs for your small machine shop very much depends on your location. This cost will vary by both region and specific areas of town: a lease in the heart of Manhattan could cost over $80,000/month in rent. Meanwhile, a storefront lease in Florida or Tennessee could cost less than $1,000/month.

Cost	Required?	Min Cost	Max Cost
Shop Decor	Optional	$0	$5,000
Utilities (storefront business)	Optional	$0	$1,000
Building improvements and remodeling	Optional	$0	$950
Storefront Property Rent ➜	Optional	$1,250	$3,500
POS System	Optional	$0	$1,200

Software Expenses

Your small machine shop needs software to run efficiently!

Why spend money on software? Because it can help you save time and automate certain parts of the business, so you can focus on the most important matters. Software and technology can help you grow your business, and save you from expensive personnel costs.

Cost	Required?	Min Cost	Max Cost
Email marketing tool	Recommended	$0	$100
Accounting & Invoicing Software	Recommended	$0	$50
Project Management Software	Recommended	$0	$25
Social Media Management Tools	Optional	$0	$50
Payroll Software	Optional	$0	$200

Inventory Expenses

If you sell a physical good, you'll likely have to start with some inventory.

Cost	Required?	Min Cost	Max Cost
Upfront Costs For Inventory	Optional	$300	$5,000
Inventory Storage	Optional	$0	$5,000
Package Design ➜	Optional	$50	$3,000
Shrinkage	Optional	$0	$1,000
Distribution costs	Optional	$0	$750

Advertising & Marketing Costs

Cost	Required?	Min Cost	Max Cost
Business Cards ➜	Optional	$0	$50
Tradeshow costs	Optional	$0	$5,000
Networking Membership Fees	Optional	$0	$250
Business Signage ➜	Optional	$75	$2,486
Direct Campaigns, Printing and Mailing	Optional	$0	$300
Influencer Marketing	Optional	$0	$750
Press	Optional	$0	$500
Google Ads	Optional	$0	$300

Website Costs

Every business should have a website, and it's worth spending a bit of money to set it up right.

Cost	Required?	Min Cost	Max Cost
Domain Name ➜	Required	$12	$200
Business Email Hosting Service ➜	Recommended	$1	$15

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