Custom Wheel Building Service
Build custom bicycle wheels for performance and specific needs
Overview
Wheel builders charge $150-$600 per custom wheelset.
Building 200-600 wheelsets annually generates $60,000-$250,000 with 60-75% margins.
In 2025, cyclists recognize that wheels significantly impact performance.
Services include custom road wheelsets ($200-$600), mountain bike wheels ($150-$500), gravel and adventure wheels ($180-$500), wheel truing and repair ($30-$80), hub service and rebuilds ($50-$150), and high-end race wheels ($400-$1,200).
Successful wheel builders understand wheel physics and component selection, build wheels precisely tensioned and true, offer wheels for specific purposes and riders, use quality hubs and rims, and provide education on wheel benefits.
Can work from home initially.
Marketing through cyclists, bike shops, racers, and cycling clubs.
Required Skills
- Wheel Building
- Wheel Truing
- Component Knowledge
- Tension and Spoke Calculation
- Quality Control
- Customer Consultation
Pros and Cons
Pros
- Specialized craft skill
- Lower startup than frame building
- Can work from home workshop
- Cyclists recognize wheel importance
- Recurring repair work
Cons
- Time-intensive wheel building
- Price competition from factory wheels
- Need to build reputation for quality
- Component inventory required
- Physically demanding work
How to Get Started
- Learn wheel building and truing
- Invest in wheel building tools and stand
- Build practice wheels to develop skills
- Establish component supplier relationships
- Set pricing for custom wheels
- Market to cyclists and bike shops
- Build reputation through quality and precision
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