Machine Repair Workshop

Local farms, machine shops, small manufacturers, and trades businesses with their own equipment.

Hourly shop rate plus parts markup, with quotes for bigger rebuilds. Repeat business from a few regular accounts helps cover the rent.

• Machine diagnosis and repair
• Basic fabrication or welding
• Quoting jobs accurately
• Managing parts and suppliers

• Zoning and permits for a workshop, so check with your municipality before signing a lease
• Trade certification requirements that vary by province, so check with your provincial regulator
• Commercial general liability and property insurance, and cover for customers' machines in your care (check with a broker)
• Fire safety, ventilation and disposal of oils and solvents
• Fixed rent and slow weeks, especially in winter, so keep some cash in reserve
• WCB/WSIB registration once you hire, with rules by province

Startup costs are estimated at typically around $10,000 to $50,000, depending on the premises, equipment and insurance you need. Check lease terms and rent carefully, and keep some cash in reserve for slow weeks.

Estimated monthly revenue is typically around $4,000 to $20,000, depending on the work you win and the hours you put in. Rent is fixed while work can be uneven, especially in winter, so plan for slow weeks.

Check zoning and permits with your municipality before signing a lease, and trade certification requirements with your provincial regulator. Also check insurance for customers' machines in your care, fire safety, ventilation, oil and solvent disposal, and WCB/WSIB registration once you hire.