Mail-in doll restoration and repair

Collectors, online sellers, regional and rural owners without a local restorer, and people inheriting dolls.

Fixed or quoted prices per repair type, plus paid condition reports and return postage with insurance charged to the customer.

• Doll repair and finishing techniques
• Photography and simple website or social media use
• Packing fragile items safely
• Clear written quotes and customer updates

• Damage or loss in the post: use proper packing and ask about insured, tracked shipping
• Insurance for customers' property while in your care, check with an insurer
• Australian Consumer Law applies to services, so make quotes and terms clear
• Council approval if working from home, check with your local council
• An ABN is needed, and GST registration once turnover reaches the threshold

Startup costs are typically estimated at around $800 to $4,000, depending on your restoration tools, website or social media set-up, photography and packing materials. Proper packing matters, as dolls are fragile in the post.

Monthly revenue is typically estimated at around $500 to $3,500, depending on demand, the types of repairs and your pricing. Plan for at least about 8 hours a week, including quotes, photo updates and packing.

Damage or loss in the post is a risk, so check proper packing and insured, tracked shipping. Australian Consumer Law applies to services, so make quotes and terms clear. Also check insurance for customers' property, council rules for home work, and ABN and GST.