Piano restoration workshop

Families with heirloom pianos, schools, churches, community halls, teachers and music shops.

Quoted fee per restoration job, from smaller repairs to full rebuilds, plus charges for parts and materials. Referrals from tuners are a steady source of work.

• Fine woodworking and fitting
• Patience and attention to detail
• Basic knowledge of piano mechanics and tuning
• Quoting and talking to customers

• Public liability insurance, plus cover for customers' pianos while in your care
• Moving pianos is heavy and risky, so use professional piano movers or check safe manual handling
• Old keys may be ivory, and rules on handling or selling ivory are strict, so check with the federal environment department
• Dust, lacquers and old finishes need good ventilation and protective gear, so check workplace safety rules in your state
• Check council zoning and approval for a workshop, and whether you need an ABN and GST registration

Estimates suggest startup costs are typically around $8,000 to $30,000, depending on your tools, workshop space and the materials you carry. Get your own quotes for premises, insurance and equipment before committing.

Monthly revenue is typically estimated at around $3,000 to $12,000, depending on how many restorations you take on, the type of work and your pricing. Estimates start at about 25 hours a week.

Check public liability insurance and cover for customers' pianos in your care, council zoning for a workshop, and ABN and GST registration. Also check state workplace safety rules for dust and lacquers, and federal rules on ivory keys.