Mobile food machinery service and parts
Repair and maintain mixers, slicers and packing machines at food businesses, and sell the spare parts.
- C$5k-25k
- Part-time
- Out and about
- Licence or permit needed
Estimates for a small start in Canada, not guarantees.
What it is
A van-based service that visits bakeries, restaurants and small processors to service, repair and install food machines. You also supply parts and sometimes refurbished machines.
Your first three steps
- Choose the machine types you can service well, such as mixers, slicers or vacuum sealers, and get manufacturer training where it is offered
- Set up accounts with parts suppliers and put together a starter tool and parts kit for your vehicle
- Offer service checks to local food businesses and ask for annual maintenance contracts
Who pays
Bakeries, restaurants, butchers, caterers and small food manufacturers that cannot afford downtime.
How it makes money
Call-out fees and hourly labour, annual service contracts, and a mark-up on parts and refurbished machines.
Skills that help
- Mechanical and electrical fault-finding
- Reading manuals and wiring diagrams
- Reliable, prompt customer service
Watch out for
- Electrical, gas or refrigeration work often needs provincial trade certification, so check what applies to the machines you will touch
- Commercial general liability insurance, and cover for work on customers' premises
- Food-safe practices, such as cleaning and isolating machines properly after repair
- Vehicle and tool costs, and winter driving in many regions
- WCB/WSIB coverage rules by province once you hire a helper
Deep research report · Canada
Everything you need to start: mobile food machinery service and parts
Researched with live web search for Canada: real startup prices, the licences and rules, what others charge, a break-even example, how to find your first customers and a 30-day launch plan. With sources.
- Startup costs with real prices
- Licences, registration and rules
- Pricing: what others charge
- Break-even example
- Finding your first customers
- 30-day launch plan
- Risks and how to reduce them
Questions people ask
How much does it cost to start a food machinery repair business?
Estimates put startup costs at typically around $5,000 to $25,000, depending on your vehicle, tools, parts stock and insurance. A van-based service means vehicle and tool costs are a big part of the total.
How much can a mobile food machinery service earn?
Estimates suggest monthly revenue of typically around $3,000 to $12,000, depending on how many call-outs you take, parts sales and the area you cover. Winter driving in many regions may affect how many visits you can make.
What should I check before repairing food machines in Canada?
Electrical, gas or refrigeration work often needs provincial trade certification, so check what applies to machines you will touch. Also check commercial general liability cover for work on customers' premises, food-safe practices after repairs, and WCB/WSIB rules if you hire.
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