Steel frame making.

And there's a difference between 'able to build x per week' and 'build x per week'. Knocking out a 22" 73 degree parallel frame for stock takes less time than a custom job for an exacting customer.
 
£208,000 turnover. Now add rent, rates, materials, energy, time for design, tooling setup, marketing, finance/admin. Suddenly it doesn't seem that much.

Turnover is different to profit.
I get that which is why I used the term turnover not profit. Not going to be on the bread line was my only point.
 
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I think part of the problem is that steel is now seen as either very basic, or very high end exclusive, so there's nothing in the middle. I can't see anyone making something "middle range", the equivalent of the 531 or even 653 frame and fork that most of us rode in the 90's. Look at what a good quality steel frame can cost now, and the price of building to a decent spec bike, and then compare what you can get in carbon for the same money. I don't mean at the stupid expensive top end, I mean a "reasonable" cost, say maybe 3000? It probably doesn't make sense for a lot of people. The cost of steel is high partly because there is less demand, but there is less demand because costs are high....
 
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