Hobby vs business

[Juicyfnj]

Hello everyone I'm new to these forums. I thought this question would have been answered a million times but I couldnt find anything.

I have been thinking of making and selling mame cabinets. Along with buying old broken cabs and restoring them. Both as a side job for extra cash then after it catches on turn it into my only income. Now I know this will be tough but is there anyone who has and succeeded at it? I think if done right you can. Does anyone have an opinion on it? Am I crazy for thinking this? Tips? Anything helps guys thank you.

[ChadTower]

This has definitely come up a million times.  The general result is that it takes so much labor to build a MAME cab that you have to charge way more than most people would ever pay for it.  And you have to sell it without the software so the buyer is not getting a completed project.

[yotsuya]

Hello everyone I'm new to these forums. I thought this question would have been answered a million times but I couldnt find anything.

I have been thinking of making and selling mame cabinets. Along with buying old broken cabs and restoring them. Both as a side job for extra cash then after it catches on turn it into my only income. Now I know this will be tough but is there anyone who has and succeeded at it? I think if done right you can. Does anyone have an opinion on it? Am I crazy for thinking this? Tips? Anything helps guys thank you.

I doubt you make enough to turn it into a regular job.

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[vwalbridge]

turn it into my only income.

See Yot's reply above.

Now I know this will be tough

Yes it will be. More than you can imagine.

but is there anyone who has and succeeded at it?

Yes. However, most succeed selling specific parts of the cab only. Like only selling the CNC'd frame, or only artwork, or only encoders, buttons, etc.

Does anyone have an opinion on it?

Yes I do.

Am I crazy for thinking this?

Yes.

Tips?

Try and build and sell just one cab for at least 40% margin first. Selling one to your frieds doesn't count. In fact, that's probably a long-term bad idea.

Anything helps guys thank you.

You are welcome.