Ah, the life of the ramblin' man, bachelor genius!
A veritable Renaissance Man
How lucky you are, I am so envious!
And generous enough too! "Sharing" on a public forum his impressive profit margins and sales figures! Only 15-40% in materials, transportation AND labor? THAT IS IMPRESSIVE! With such low overhead I imagine the tax man loves to see you every year though
.
Why thank you, I think I shall!
It was a simple question, your machinery or facility or someone else's?
If I am understanding you correctly, you have no manufacturing business, you have no manufacturing capability, rather you are part of the new "services and information" economy and that's cool too.
So when your friends with the lathes go under then you can sub out your bits to someone else or better yet to someone in china. Correct?
The new ways help keep things exciting, huh?!
Do you by chance have actual machinist's skills (hands on)? Or are you simply the visionary?
Hope you are able to find another as equitable arraignment as whatever it is you are reluctant to share with me here, if that time ever comes.
Maybe something like this?:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rWHniL8MyMM
All kidding aside:
Your grand business acumen doesn't apply to "sonofagun"s" wants, needs or woes, whether you agree with his attitude or methodology or not, apples to oranges.
You subcontract, with little to zero capital expenditures in fixed assets, that's all you had to say.
Not patronizing to make things clear: what "sonofagun" wants is an entirely different animal from your sublet new world hustle. Much more visible too.
Not interested in your motorcycle parts business, but I will say this since you regaled us with your business prowess; it is much easier to sell custom fabrication problem solvers for bikes than foam speaker grilles, I guarantee you that.
(I have more than 40 years in the carriage trade)
Probably 1000x the market or more, maybe 10,000x.
You may wish to consider licensing or selling your brilliant ideas as well and walk away a bazillionaire, ridding yourself of any and all legal liabilities to boot.
ESPECIALLY if you are selling auto and motorcycle parts into the U.S.A. for the purposes of modification or deviating from the manufacturer's original design. Our DOT, EPA and IRS can be rabid at times, not to mention the personal injury attorneys! And California? Forget about it; deep pockets here too, all the way!
Then you could ride your bike 7 days a week, without a care in the world except how to carry all that money on that bike or where to put it! (don't know what you make for autos, but I am sure you know those disclaimers for off road use don't mean shit in court)
As for the 1% comment and how surprised I'd be at what you know about running a business? I'm not certain I follow you there; why do you think I would be interested?
I'm not and I wasn't.
When you made a decided argument against EVERY suggestion made in your turntable isolation thread, by more than a few posters, it became crystal clear to me that you are a know it all and are just not going to change any position on anything if you think you are right.
And THAT'S cool too.
Some people find that quality attractive, the "rugged individual" as it were.
But it is also why your Technics SL-1200 isolation system will never go any further than this forum and the handful of guinea pigs you have comped.
You might sell 100 of them if you're incredibly lucky.
But as you've brought it up and criticized "sonofagun"'s efforts so readily, what IS your "brick and mortar" enterprise?
And how aggravating/arduous a task is it dealing with/paying your tax liability here in the U.S.A.? What's the rate?
Lastly, what is your line of bike and auto parts? (company or parts name?) Are you on anyone's line-card here in Northern California?
Might have some feedback for ya!