Mobile air compressor sales and service
Service and supply compressors at workshops and job sites from a van, selling units and parts as a dealer or reseller.
- C$5k-25k
- Part-time
- Out and about
Estimates for a small start in Canada, not guarantees.
What it is
A van-based service that maintains and repairs air compressors on site (oil and filter changes, belts, valves, leak checks). You also sell replacement units, parts and accessories sourced from a wholesaler or brand dealer program.
Your first three steps
- Contact two or three compressor manufacturers or distributors about reseller or dealer terms and technician training
- Visit local shops and ask who services their compressors now, what they pay and what frustrates them
- Price out a van setup, core tools and a starter parts stock, then get quotes for commercial liability insurance
Who pays
Auto and body shops, small manufacturers, woodworking shops, farms and contractors who rely on compressed air.
How it makes money
Service call and hourly labour charges, markup on parts, and margin on compressors sold. Annual service contracts bring in steady repeat work.
Skills that help
- Mechanical repair and troubleshooting
- Reading manuals and parts diagrams
- Talking with shop owners and quoting clearly
Watch out for
- Compressed air tanks are pressure equipment, so check your provincial safety regulator's rules on registration, repairs and who may do them
- Check that units you sell meet your province's pressure vessel registration requirements
- Commercial general liability and product liability insurance, and cover for your tools and van
- Hardwiring a compressor usually needs a licensed electrician, so check your provincial rules
- Winter driving and cold job sites can slow your schedule
🔒 Full research report for Canada
Real cost breakdown with current prices, licences and registration checklist, local competition, pricing, break-even and a 30-day launch plan, with sources.
Coming soonQuestions people ask
How much does it cost to start a mobile air compressor business?
Startup costs are typically estimated at around $5,000 to $25,000, depending on your van, tools, insurance and the starting stock of units and parts you carry.
How much can a mobile compressor service earn?
Monthly revenue is typically estimated at around $3,000 to $15,000, depending on how many service calls you book and how many units and parts you sell. Winter driving and cold job sites can slow your schedule.
Do I need a licence to service air compressors in Canada?
Compressed air tanks are pressure equipment, so check your provincial safety regulator's rules on registration, repairs and who may do them. Also check that units you sell meet pressure vessel registration requirements, and whether hardwiring needs a licensed electrician.
Other ways to run this business
Similar trades ideas
Air compressor repair workshop
Run a small unit where customers bring or send compressors for repair, rebuilds and servicing.
- C$6k-25k
- Full-time
- Own premises
Light steel framing subcontractor
Frame walls, partitions and small building structures in light gauge steel for builders and developers.
- C$5k-25k
- Full-time
- Out and about
Mobile welder for gates, railings and frames
Build small metal pieces in a rented bay or shared shop, then install them on site for homeowners and builders.
- C$5k-25k
- Part-time
- Out and about
Plastering subcontractor for builders
Work for builders and renovators, plastering new walls and ceilings on renovations and new builds.
- C$5k-25k
- Full-time
- Out and about
Hardwood floor sanding and refinishing
Bring your own sanders to homes and small businesses and restore worn hardwood floors.
- C$8k-25k
- Part-time
- Out and about
Septic inspection and maintenance visits
Inspect and maintain septic systems, and fix small problems, with little equipment.
- C$5k-25k
- Side hustle
- Out and about