Mobile windshield chip repair

Drivers, small businesses with vehicles, fleet managers, used car dealers and body shops.

Fixed price per chip repair, with a lower price for each extra chip on the same windshield. Fleet and dealer contracts bring repeat work, and some insurers cover repairs.

• Steady hands and attention to detail
• Basic customer service
• Explaining what can and cannot be repaired

• Commercial general liability insurance, and check whether your cover includes work on customers' vehicles
• Business registration and any municipal business licence, and check your province's rules
• Resin does not cure well in cold or wet weather, so plan for winter with a covered space or a heated vehicle
• Know the limits of repair: damage in the driver's line of sight or long cracks may need replacement, so be honest with customers
• Check whether you need to register for GST/HST once revenue passes the small supplier threshold

Estimates suggest startup costs are typically around $1,500 to $6,000, depending on the repair kit, UV lamp, vehicle setup, insurance and marketing. It is repair only, so you don't need glass replacement equipment.

Monthly revenue is typically estimated at around $1,000 to $5,000, depending on how many jobs you book and the area you cover. Revenue is not profit, so allow for resin, fuel and insurance.

Check that your commercial general liability insurance covers work on customers' vehicles, and look up business registration and municipal licence rules for your province. Also check GST/HST registration once revenue passes the small supplier threshold, and plan for cold or wet weather.