Arcade machine refurbishing and servicing

Pubs, arcades, bowling alleys and function venues. Home buyers such as game room and collector customers also buy restored machines.

Profit on each restored machine sold or leased, plus callout fees, service contracts and parts for venue repairs.

• Fixing electronics and mechanical parts
• Sourcing machines and parts
• Selling online and dealing with customers

• Public liability and product liability insurance, as you are selling and servicing equipment
• Electrical safety: test and tag machines, and check what electrical work you can do without a licence in your state
• Council approval may be needed to run a workshop from home, so check with your local council
• Gambling machines are heavily regulated, so stay with non-gambling amusement machines
• Storage space and heavy lifting

Startup costs are typically around $3,000 to $15,000, depending on how many used machines you buy, your parts and your workspace. These are estimates, and storage space is worth planning for.

Monthly revenue is typically around $1,500 to $7,500, depending on how many machines you sell or lease and how much servicing work venues send you. Estimates start from about 10 hours a week.

Check public liability and product liability insurance, what electrical work you can do without a licence in your state, and whether your local council must approve a home workshop. Stay with non-gambling amusement machines, as gambling machines are heavily regulated.