Home workshop clock and watch repair

Private owners with family heirlooms, antique dealers, collectors and estate sellers who need pieces working again.

A quoted price per job, such as a service, a new part or a full restoration. Parts and any specialist work are added to the quote.

• Patience and steady hands
• Mechanical aptitude and fine detail work
• Clear quoting and customer communication

• Check whether your municipality requires a home-based business licence or has zoning limits
• Check your home insurance covers business use and customers' valuable items, and consider commercial general liability insurance
• Valuable antiques can be damaged or lost, so photograph pieces on arrival and agree written quotes
• Sourcing parts for older movements can take time, so be clear about turnaround
• Register with your province and check GST/HST registration once revenue passes the small supplier threshold

Startup costs are estimated at typically around $1,500 to $7,000, depending on the tools, bench setup and parts you need. Sourcing parts for older movements can take time, so be clear with customers about turnaround.

Monthly revenue is estimated at typically around $500 to $3,500, depending on how many jobs you take and what you quote per job. The idea needs at least around 8 hours a week, and these figures are before costs.

Check whether your municipality requires a home-based business licence or has zoning limits. Check that your home insurance covers business use and customers' valuables, and check GST/HST registration once revenue passes the small supplier threshold.