Mobile piano repair technician

Families with a piano at home, music teachers, schools, churches, community halls and small venues.

A call-out fee or hourly rate plus parts, with quoted prices for bigger jobs. Regular tuning and service customers bring repeat work.

• Patient, precise hand work
• Good ear and mechanical sense
• Clear communication and honest quotes

• Public liability insurance, and cover for working on other people's valuable instruments
• ABN registration, and GST once your turnover reaches the threshold
• Check what training and standards customers and schools expect, as quality varies widely
• Some jobs are not worth doing: be ready to tell owners when a piano is beyond economic repair
• Heavy lifting and awkward positions, so plan for your back and use proper movers for relocations

Startup costs are typically estimated at around $3,000 to $12,000, depending on your tools, your vehicle setup and insurance. Check what training and standards customers and schools expect, as quality varies widely.

Monthly revenue is typically estimated at around $1,500 to $7,000, depending on how many jobs you take, the type of repairs and whether you add tuning. Travel time and parts are costs to factor in.

Things to check: public liability insurance, including cover for working on other people's valuable instruments, and ABN registration, with GST once turnover reaches the threshold. Also be ready to tell owners when a piano is beyond economic repair.