I have a friend that bought a sale barn 20 years ago and has done very well with it, but it is his full time job plus his wife and kids helping.  When he's not at the sale barn managing things he's out in the country calling on producers to generate business and get an idea on when and how many cattle are coming in.  Sale barns are doing very good right now, but when cattle prices fall back (who knows how far?) that 2% commission isn't going to go as far.