Mobile piano tuner

Homeowners, music teachers, schools, churches, community halls, cafes and venues with pianos.

A fixed fee per tuning, often with extra charges for pitch raising or minor repairs. Most pianos need tuning once or twice a year, so regular clients return.

• Very good hearing and patience
• Fine hand skills and mechanical sense
• Friendly, trustworthy manner in people's homes

• Tuning takes a long time to learn well, so expect months or years of practice before you can charge full rates
• Public liability insurance, and check whether cover is needed for damage to valuable instruments
• Schools may require a Working with Children Check, so check your state's rules
• Carrying tools and travelling between jobs, so plan your costs for fuel and vehicle use
• GST registration once your turnover reaches the threshold

Estimates suggest startup costs are typically around $1,000 to $5,000, depending on the tools you buy, training, insurance and how you get between jobs. Plan for fuel and vehicle costs as well.

Tuning takes a long time to learn well, so expect months or years of practice before charging full rates. You need very good hearing, patience, fine hand skills and a trustworthy manner in people's homes.

Check public liability insurance, including whether you need cover for damage to valuable instruments. Schools may require a Working with Children Check, so check your state's rules. Also check when GST registration applies to your turnover.