Antiques dealers are almost exclusively self-employed and therefore the rate of pay is highly variable, depending largely upon knowledge and expertise, the individual area of specialization and its market performance, and the number of hours committed to finding and subsequently selling stock. In addition, access to a good customer base, through whatever means necessary, is crucial for maximizing returns. Many people hear stories of big finds in the antique world, and these do happen, but by and large the process is one of buying items and selling them on for a modest profit. As with any self-employed position, those with no skills or knowledge should not expect to earn good, or even reasonable money. However, an experienced dealer might hope to make in the region of £20,000 to £50,000 a year, and an expert considerably more, especially in the more lucrative areas of the market, such as Chinese porcelain.