Piano rebuilding and restoration workshop

Families with inherited pianos, churches, schools, community halls, teachers and musicians who want a good instrument without buying new.

Quoted price per restoration job, from partial work such as new hammers up to full rebuilds, plus extra income from reselling restored pianos.

• Fine woodworking and finishing
• Patience and attention to detail
• Understanding piano mechanics and tuning
• Quoting jobs and talking with customers

• Commercial general liability insurance, plus cover for customers' pianos while they are in your care
• Check zoning and your municipal business licence rules for a workshop, and rules on finishes, solvents and dust
• Pianos can be damaged by humidity swings, so plan heating and humidity control through winter
• Moving pianos is heavy and risky, so check how you will transport them safely and what insurance applies
• Some old pianos have ivory keys, so check federal and provincial rules before selling or moving them
• Restoration costs can exceed a piano's value, so quote clearly and tell customers early

Estimates suggest startup costs are typically around $15,000 to $60,000, depending on the workshop space, tools, materials and insurance. Heating and humidity control through winter is worth planning for, since humidity swings can damage pianos.

Check zoning and your municipal business licence rules for a workshop, plus rules on finishes, solvents and dust. Check commercial general liability and cover for customers' pianos in your care, safe transport, and federal and provincial rules on ivory keys.

Estimates suggest monthly revenue is typically around $3,000 to $15,000, depending on how many pianos you restore and the work involved. The estimate assumes at least 25 hours a week. Restoration can cost more than a piano's value, so quote clearly.