Mobile iron repairs and small installs

Repair and fit gates, railings and brackets at customers' homes with a truck-mounted welding setup.

Metalworker shaping hot iron on an anvil in a forge.
Startup costC$4k to C$20k
Monthly revenueC$1.5k to C$7.5k
Time needed10+ h/week
First incomeWeeks
  • C$4k-20k
  • Side hustle
  • Out and about

Estimates for a small start in Canada, not guarantees.

What it is

A mobile service that repairs, adjusts and installs iron gates, railings, fence sections and brackets on site, often making small parts in a borrowed or shared workshop.

Your first three steps

  1. Price a used truck or van, a portable welder, a generator and basic safety gear
  2. Arrange access to a shared workshop, makerspace or friendly fabricator for jobs that need shop work
  3. List your services online and tell property managers and local contractors you are available for repairs
Who pays

Homeowners, landlords, property managers, farms and small contractors who need quick fixes or small custom pieces.

How it makes money

Call-out fee plus hourly rate, or a fixed price per job, with materials added. Small custom items can be priced per piece.

Skills that help
  • Welding and metal repair
  • Problem solving on site
  • Driving and handling tools safely
Watch out for
  • Commercial general liability insurance, and cover for your tools and vehicle
  • Hot work on customers' properties brings fire risk, so carry extinguishers and check what clients' insurers expect
  • Welding certification may be needed for some work, check with your province and your clients
  • Winter weather can slow outdoor jobs, so plan for seasonal gaps
  • Check whether your municipality requires a business licence for mobile trades

Deep research report · Canada

Everything you need to start: mobile iron repairs and small installs

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
Ready in about 2 minutes · one-off payment, tax included

See a full sample report

Questions people ask

How much does it cost to start a mobile welding and iron repair business?

Startup costs are typically estimated at around $4,000 to $20,000, depending on your welding equipment, vehicle setup and tools. Treat this as an estimate, and check what insurance cover for your tools and vehicle will add.

What safety and licensing points should I check for mobile welding?

Hot work on customers' properties brings fire risk, so carry extinguishers and check what clients' insurers expect. Also check whether welding certification is needed for some work, and whether your municipality requires a business licence for mobile trades.

How much can a mobile iron repair business earn?

Monthly revenue is typically estimated at around $1,500 to $7,500, depending on how many jobs you take and what you charge. Winter weather can slow outdoor jobs, so plan for seasonal gaps in work.

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Photo: LubosHouska on Pixabay

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