Mobile fibreglass repairer for baths, boats and panels
Repair cracked baths, shower trays, boat hulls and panels at the customer's home, marina or yard.
- £1.5k-6k
- Part-time
- Out and about
Estimates for a small start in the UK, not guarantees.
Official data
6,795 UK companies in this field, 14% registered in the last 2 years
SIC 33190 “Repair of other equipment”. Source: Companies House, November 2026.
What it is
A van-based service that repairs chips, cracks and holes in fibreglass items on site, then fills, sands and refinishes them with gelcoat or paint.
Your first three steps
- Take a fibreglass repair or gelcoat course and practise on scrap pieces
- Put together a van kit with resin, matting, gelcoat, sanders, dust extraction and protective gear
- Show before and after photos to local marinas, letting agents and caravan sites and ask for small trial jobs
Who pays
Homeowners and landlords with damaged baths or shower trays, boat owners, marinas, caravan and motorhome owners, and small trade businesses.
How it makes money
Fixed price per repair or an hourly rate, plus materials. Many small jobs add up, and marinas or landlords can bring repeat work.
Skills that help
- Hands-on repair and finishing skills
- Patience with sanding and colour matching
- Quoting jobs fairly
- Customer service
Watch out for
- Public liability insurance, and check whether your cover includes work on boats
- Resin fumes and fibreglass dust, so check what protective equipment and ventilation you need
- Storing and disposing of resins and solvents, check the rules with your local council
- Colour matching can be hard, so be clear with customers about the likely finish
Deep research report · UK
Everything you need to start: mobile fibreglass 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 mobile fibreglass repair business?
Startup costs are typically around £1,500 to £6,000, depending on your van, tools, materials and the range of repairs you offer. Treat this as an estimate and check what each type of job needs before buying equipment.
How much can a mobile fibreglass repairer earn?
Monthly revenue is typically around £1,000 to £4,500, depending on how many jobs you take, your area and how you price. These are estimates, and you can start at around 12 hours a week.
What rules should I check before starting fibreglass repairs?
Check public liability insurance, including whether it covers work on boats. Look into protective equipment and ventilation for resin fumes and fibreglass dust, and ask your local council about storing and disposing of resins and solvents.
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