Home VCR repair bench

Households with home videos to play back, retro collectors, community groups, and small businesses or schools with old equipment.

A fixed quote or flat fee per repair plus parts, with a call-out-free diagnostic fee. Some people also pay for a service and clean on machines they want to keep running.

• Basic electronics and soldering
• Patience with fiddly mechanical work
• Clear communication with non-technical customers

• Public liability insurance, and cover for customers' items while they are with you
• Mains-powered equipment can be dangerous, so check your state's rules on electrical repair and appliance safety testing
• Check with your local council whether you need approval to run a business from home
• Spare parts are getting harder to find, so don't promise repairs you can't complete
• Dispose of old electronics through proper e-waste channels

Startup costs are typically estimated at around $500 to $3,000, depending on your test equipment, tools and how many spare parts you buy. Treat this as an estimate and start with the tools for the most common faults.

Monthly revenue is typically estimated at around $300 to $2,000, depending on how many machines you repair, your pricing and the hours you put in. That is revenue before parts, postage and other costs.

Check your state's rules on electrical repair and appliance safety testing for mains-powered equipment, whether your local council requires approval for a home business, public liability cover including customers' items, and proper e-waste disposal.