Home workshop clock repairer
Repair and service mantel, wall and longcase clocks from a bench at home, taking jobs from owners and dealers.
- £800-4k
- Side hustle
- From home
Estimates for a small start in the UK, not guarantees.
Official data
1,144 UK companies in this field, 32% registered in the last 2 years
SIC 95250 “Repair of watches, clocks and jewellery”. Source: Companies House, November 2026.
What it is
A small workshop, often in a spare room or garage, where you service, repair and restore mechanical clocks and some watches. Jobs include cleaning movements, replacing worn parts and getting old clocks running again.
Your first three steps
- Take a short course in clock repair or find a retired repairer willing to mentor you
- Set up a clean, well-lit bench and buy a basic set of hand tools and cleaning supplies
- Introduce yourself to local antique dealers and auction houses and offer a few low-cost jobs to build a reputation
Who pays
Private owners with family clocks, antique dealers, auction houses and collectors who pay per job.
How it makes money
A quote per job based on time and parts, with regular servicing work and trade work from dealers building repeat income.
Skills that help
- Patience and fine hand skills
- Mechanical understanding
- Careful record keeping and honest quoting
Watch out for
- Insurance that covers customers' items while in your care, as well as public liability
- Check whether you need permission from your landlord, mortgage lender or council to work from home
- Valuable antique clocks can be damaged by mistakes, so be honest about what you can and cannot repair
- Parts for older clocks can be hard to find, so allow for lead times in quotes
Deep research report · UK
Everything you need to start: home workshop clock repairer
Researched with live web search for United Kingdom: 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 clock repair business at home?
Startup costs are typically around £800 to £4,000, depending on the tools, bench setup and parts stock you buy, plus insurance. These are estimates, so price up your own equipment before you begin.
How much can a clock repairer earn?
Monthly revenue is typically around £300 to £2,000, depending on how many repair jobs you take, the type of clocks and how much work comes from dealers and auction houses. This is revenue, not profit.
What should I check before repairing clocks from home?
Check you have insurance covering customers' items in your care as well as public liability. Also check whether your landlord, mortgage lender or council needs to give permission, and be honest about what you can repair, as parts can be hard to find.
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