Start a small data recovery lab

Run a small lab that handles physically damaged drives as well as logical faults, for people and businesses who need their data back.

Technician repairing a damaged hard drive on a workbench in a data recovery lab.

Startup cost£8k to £40k

Monthly revenue£2k to £10k

Time needed25+ h/week

First incomeMonths

£8k-40k
Full-time
Own premises

Estimates for a small start in the UK, not guarantees.

Official data

91,318 UK companies in this field, 34% registered in the last 2 years

SIC 62090 “Other information technology service activities”. Source: Companies House, November 2026.

What it is

A small workshop with specialist hardware and a clean-air workstation to deal with drives that have failed mechanically or electronically, as well as software-level problems. It suits someone with real technical experience, or a small team.

Your first three steps

Train and get hands-on experience, for example by working with an established lab or taking specialist courses
Price up the equipment you need (recovery hardware, clean workstation, donor drives) and write a budget and a simple business plan
Find a small unit or shared workshop, check use and business rates with the council, and approach IT firms and repair shops for referrals

Who pays

Individuals, small businesses, IT support firms and repair shops that pass on jobs they cannot do themselves.

How it makes money

Fees per recovery, usually higher for physical repairs, plus urgent-turnaround surcharges. Regular referral work from IT firms can smooth out income.

Skills that help

Strong electronics and storage hardware knowledge
Careful hands-on repair skills
Honest, calm handling of worried customers

Watch out for

Equipment is a major cost, so check what you can realistically buy new or second-hand
Professional indemnity, public liability and contents insurance, plus employer's liability if you hire
UK GDPR duties and the ICO data protection fee, plus secure storage for customers' devices
Check planning use, business rates and lease terms before taking a unit
Results are never guaranteed, so use clear terms, written quotes and a no data, no fee policy where you can afford it
Dispose of old drives and electronic waste properly, and check your waste duties

Deep research report · UK

Everything you need to start: small data recovery lab

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

Ready in about 2 minutes · one-off payment, tax included

See a full sample report

Questions people ask

How much does it cost to set up a data recovery lab in the UK?

Startup costs are typically around £8,000 to £40,000, depending mainly on equipment and premises. Equipment is a major cost, so check what you can realistically buy new or second-hand before you commit.

How much can a small data recovery lab earn?

Monthly revenue is typically around £2,000 to £10,000, depending on your job volume, pricing and whether you win referrals from IT firms and repair shops. The estimates assume at least about 25 hours a week.

What rules and insurance should I check before opening a lab?

Check UK GDPR duties, the ICO data protection fee, secure storage for customers' devices, planning use, business rates and lease terms. Also check insurance cover and your waste duties for disposing of old drives and electronic waste.