Home watch and clock repair bench

Private owners with watches or family clocks, collectors, antique dealers, and jewellers who send out repairs they do not do in-house.

Fixed price per service or repair, quoted after inspection. Extra income from battery and strap changes and trade work for jewellers.

• Fine hand skills and patience
• Training in watchmaking or years of hands-on practice
• Careful record keeping and honest quoting

• Check whether your municipality requires a home-based business licence or has zoning limits on customers visiting
• Insurance that covers customers' items in your care, since valuable watches are a theft and damage risk
• Parts for older or luxury brands can be hard to source, so be clear about what you can and cannot repair
• Brand warranties and some luxury makers restrict parts access, so check before promising work
• Check with the CRA on registering for GST/HST once revenue passes the small supplier threshold

Estimates suggest startup typically costs around $2,500 to $12,000, depending on the tools and equipment you buy and the workshop setup you need at home.

Monthly revenue is typically estimated at around $800 to $4,000, depending on how many repairs you take on and the type of work. Expect to spend at least around 10 hours a week.

Check whether your municipality needs a home-based business licence or limits customer visits. Check insurance that covers customers' items in your care. Brand warranties and some luxury makers restrict parts access, so check before promising work.