Mobile food machinery repair and servicing
Service and repair slicers, mixers and packing machines at food businesses, and sell spare parts.
- £3k-15k
- Part-time
- Out and about
Estimates for a small start in the UK, not guarantees.
What it is
A mobile service in which you visit kitchens and food producers to maintain, repair and install machines, and supply parts or the occasional replacement machine.
Your first three steps
- Choose the machine types you can service well and get manufacturer training or relevant qualifications where available
- Set up a van with tools and common spare parts, and open trade accounts with parts suppliers
- Offer service contracts to local food businesses and ask for introductions through catering equipment dealers
Who pays
Butchers, bakeries, cafes, restaurants, caterers and small food manufacturers that cannot afford downtime.
How it makes money
Call-out fees and hourly labour, annual service contracts, and a margin on parts and replacement machines.
Skills that help
- Mechanical or electrical repair
- Fault finding
- Safe working with machinery
- Reliable customer service
Watch out for
- Public liability and professional indemnity insurance, and employer's liability once you hire
- Electrical work and testing may need specific competence and records, so check what applies
- Gas catering equipment must only be worked on by Gas Safe registered engineers
- Hygiene rules in food premises, so check what customers expect
- Some manufacturers limit who can service their machines or keep warranties valid
Deep research report · UK
Everything you need to start: mobile food machinery repair and servicing
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 food machinery repair business?
Startup costs are typically around £3,000 to £15,000, depending on tools, vehicle, parts stock and insurance. Treat this as an estimate and price your own setup before committing.
How much can a mobile food machinery engineer earn?
Monthly revenue is typically estimated at around £2,000 to £8,000, depending on how many food businesses you serve, the mix of repairs and parts sales, and the hours you work. This is revenue before your costs.
What rules and insurance should I check before starting?
Check public liability and professional indemnity insurance, plus employer's liability once you hire. Electrical work may need specific competence and records. Gas catering equipment must only be worked on by Gas Safe registered engineers. Also check hygiene expectations and manufacturer limits on servicing.
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