I started back in 2018 as cheaply as possible. I think I spent under $100 between the cinder blocks, taps, lines, buckets(free). I've made 5 gallons total on that equipment which is a lot cheaper than store bought for that amount... I made just shy of a gallon this year on that wood fired brick style arch. With 2 hotel pans.
2018: 10 red maple, 1.5 gallons
2019: 10 red maple, 2.5 gallons
2020: Didn't tap because we had a bunch of syrup on the shelf already
2021: Didn't tap because I threw my back out the day before I wanted to tap
2022: 10 reds, ~1 gallon, got the taps in late and missed two weekends because of a spring break vacation with the kids
We do this as as family. The kids go with and help tap, carry sap, they help split firewood and hang out with me while the sap is boiling. They run the woods and have a great time.
I upped the game a bit this year with stainless steel bulkhead ball valve sap tricklers. Allowing sap to slowly trickle into the boil allowed me to keep the boil constantly all day. Before I was dumping sap into the pans from the buckets, and obviously that killed the boil every time. With the tricklers I was able to achieve 4.5 gallons per hour evaporation rate out of two full size hotel pans. Before that I was at 3.5-4ish. Doesn't seem like much, but it helps me keep up with my 10 taps. I can only boil on the weekends, so until I get a bigger evaporator, I'm sticking with 10.
I don't do it to sell, so 1-3 gallons a year is plenty for my family and it's a LOT of fun and family time. Not to mention at the end, you get some of the most delicious maple syprup. Tastes even better knowing the work you put into it.