How do I start my own switchboard manufacturing/engineering company?

[Tainted]

First step is talk to UL sales to find out the process to achieve UL891 (this is the standard for custom switchboards that lets you build pretty much whatever). They're going to tell you to buy the standard first ($900).

Would you do your sheetmetal in house, or outsource that? Same question for paint. You need to figure out busbars, insulators, bracing, and seismic.

My off the top of my head figures are: I wouldn't attempt this without 2 million dollars if I was fabless, 5 million dollars if I was going to do everything in house. Probably take a year to get it going.

Overall would like to do most things in house... maybe outsource some insulators or other small items...

Either way it looks like this is not happening unless I win millions of dollars or win over an investor lol