Machine Tool & Metalworking Equipment Dealer
Sell CNC machines, lathes, mills, and metalworking equipment
Overview
Machine tool dealers generate $800,000-$6,000,000 annually with 15-30% margins.
In 2025, manufacturing reshoring drives machine tool demand.
Revenue from CNC machines and mills ($30,000-$500,000+ per unit), manual lathes and mills ($5,000-$80,000), tooling and accessories (40-60% margins), financing commissions, service contracts, and training services.
Services include CNC machining centers, lathes and turning centers, vertical and horizontal mills, grinding and EDM machines, cutting tools and workholding, and machine programming training.
Successful dealers represent quality brands (Haas, Mazak, DMG Mori), provide applications expertise, offer financing options, support with training and programming, and service equipment sold.
Machine shops and manufacturers as clients.
Marketing through manufacturing trade shows, industry associations, direct sales team, demonstrations, and manufacturer programs.
Required Skills
- Machining & Manufacturing
- CNC Technology
- Technical Sales
- Applications Engineering
- Financing
- Machine Programming
Pros and Cons
Pros
- Very high equipment sale values
- Manufacturing reshoring trend
- Tooling sales recurring revenue
- Service and training income
- Manufacturer support and leads
Cons
- Extremely high capital requirements
- Long sales cycles (6-18 months)
- Need technical applications expertise
- Large showroom and demo space needed
- Economic sensitivity on capital equipment
How to Get Started
- Secure machine tool brand dealership
- Invest in showroom and demonstration equipment
- Hire applications engineers and sales team
- Develop financing partnerships
- Market to machine shops and manufacturers
- Demonstrate equipment and provide applications support
- Sell machines, tooling, and service contracts
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