Leather jacket and bag cleaning from home

Individuals with jackets, handbags and boots they want to keep, plus consignment shops, vintage sellers and resellers who need items refreshed.

Fixed price per item based on size and condition, with add-ons for stain treatment, colour touch-ups and waterproofing. Reseller and consignment partners can bring regular batches.

• Detailed, careful hand work
• Knowing leather finishes and dyes
• Photography for before-and-after listings

• Check whether your municipality allows customer drop-offs and requires a home-based business licence
• Check your home insurance: it may not cover business activity or customers' items, so ask about commercial general liability and care, custody and control cover
• Ventilation and safe storage and disposal of cleaning products and solvents
• Item damage or loss while in your care, so photograph items on arrival and agree liability in writing
• Register for GST/HST once revenue passes the small supplier threshold

Startup costs are estimated at typically around $300 to $1,500, depending on the cleaning products, tools and workspace setup you need. Ventilation and safe storage for solvents may also affect what you spend.

Estimates suggest monthly revenue of typically around $300 to $1,500, depending on how many garments and bags you take in, the work each needs and your prices. The estimate assumes at least about 5 hours a week. Revenue is before costs and tax.

Check whether your municipality allows customer drop-offs and requires a home-based business licence, and whether your home insurance covers business activity and customers' items. Also check ventilation and safe disposal of solvents, how to agree liability for damage or loss in writing, and GST/HST registration.