Shoe repair shop for shoes, boots and bags
Fix heels, soles, zippers and stitching for shoes, boots and bags from a small shopfront.
- C$15k-60k
- Full-time
- Own premises
- Licence or permit needed
Estimates for a small start in Canada, not guarantees.
What it is
A small shop that repairs footwear and leather goods: resoling, heel replacement, stitching, zipper changes, stretching and polishing. Many shops also fix bags and belts, and cut keys or sharpen skates if they have the equipment.
Your first three steps
- Learn the trade through an apprenticeship or by working in an existing repair shop, and practise on your own shoes
- Price a basic kit of stitching machine, finishing machine, glues and materials, including used equipment from retiring repairers
- Look at a few locations near transit, offices or malls, and check the rent against how many repairs you would need per week to cover it
Who pays
Commuters, office workers, people with good boots or dress shoes, hikers, and shoppers who want a favourite pair to last longer.
How it makes money
Fixed prices per repair job, such as heels, half soles or zipper replacement, plus add-ons like waterproofing, polishing and shoe care products.
Skills that help
- Hands-on repair and stitching
- Knowledge of leather and footwear construction
- Customer service and fair quoting
Watch out for
- Commercial general liability insurance, and cover for customers' items left in your care
- Municipal business licence and zoning for retail premises, check with your city
- Ventilation and safe storage of glues and solvents, check fire and workplace safety rules in your province
- Slow trade in some months and a need to build a local reputation before steady repeat custom
Deep research report · Canada
Everything you need to start: shoe repair shop
Researched with live web search for Canada: real startup prices, the licences and rules, what others charge, a break-even example, how to find your first customers and a 30-day launch plan. With sources.
- Startup costs with real prices
- Licences, registration and rules
- Pricing: what others charge
- Break-even example
- Finding your first customers
- 30-day launch plan
- Risks and how to reduce them
Questions people ask
How much does it cost to start a shoe repair shop?
Startup costs are typically estimated at around $15,000 to $60,000 CAD, depending on your premises, the repair machinery you buy and the supplies you stock. Adding services such as key cutting or skate sharpening needs extra equipment.
How much can a shoe repair shop earn?
Monthly revenue is typically estimated at around $4,000 to $16,000 CAD, depending on repair volume, your pricing and any extra services. Trade can be slow in some months, and a local reputation takes time to build.
What rules should I check before opening a shoe repair shop in Canada?
Check your municipal business licence and zoning for retail premises. Also check commercial general liability insurance with cover for customers' items, plus ventilation, safe storage of glues and solvents, and fire and workplace safety rules in your province.
Other ways to run this business
Similar retail ideas
Second-hand CD shop
Open a small shop selling used CDs, buying collections over the counter and building a local music community.
- C$15k-60k
- Full-time
- Own premises
Linen shop on your local high street
Open a small shop selling bed linen, towels and table textiles to shoppers in your neighbourhood.
- C$15k-60k
- Full-time
- Own premises
Massage supplies shop
Open a small local shop where therapists and clients can see and try tables, oils and equipment before buying.
- C$15k-60k
- Full-time
- Own premises
Neighbourhood flower shop
Open a small street-front shop selling fresh flowers, gifts and arrangements, with local delivery.
- C$15k-60k
- Full-time
- Own premises
Used computer shop with repairs
Open a small shop selling refurbished computers and parts, with repairs to bring customers back.
- C$15k-60k
- Full-time
- Own premises
Electronic parts counter for repairers and makers
Run a small shop or unit stocking components for local repair businesses, students and hobbyists, plus an online store.
- C$15k-60k
- Full-time
- Own premises
Photo: GermansLat on Pixabay