Start a home luggage and bag repair business
Fix zips, wheels, handles and linings on suitcases and bags from a workbench at home, taking work by post or drop-off.
- £500-2.5k
- Side hustle
- From home
Estimates for a small start in the UK, not guarantees.
Official data
1,521 UK companies in this field, 39% registered in the last 2 years
SIC 95290 “Repair of personal and household goods n.e.c.”. Source: Companies House, November 2026.
What it is
A small repair workshop at home that mends suitcases, holdalls, rucksacks and handbags. Typical jobs are replacing zips, wheels and telescopic handles, and re-stitching linings and straps.
Your first three steps
- Set up a bench with a heavy-duty sewing machine, basic tools and a small stock of zips, wheels and handles
- Practise on second-hand cases from charity shops or friends, and photograph before and after results
- Create a simple web page and local social posts with a price list, and ask local travel agents and dry cleaners to pass on work
Who pays
Travellers with damaged cases, people with good bags they would rather mend than replace, and sometimes airlines' baggage agents, travel shops and local dry cleaners who pass work on.
How it makes money
A quote per repair based on parts and your time, such as a set price for a zip or wheel replacement. Spare parts are bought in bulk, so you can add a small margin on them.
Skills that help
- Hand and machine sewing
- Patience and fine manual work
- Fault-finding and quoting accurately
- Clear customer communication
Watch out for
- Check whether your landlord, mortgage lender or council needs to agree to a business at home
- Consider public liability insurance and cover for customers' items while in your care
- Agree in writing what you will and won't repair, since some damage cannot be fixed economically
- If you take work by post, check courier insurance and keep a record of item condition on arrival
Deep research report · UK
Everything you need to start: home luggage and bag repair
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 luggage repair business?
Startup costs are typically around £500 to £2,500, depending on the sewing equipment, spare parts and tools you buy. These are estimates, so price up your own kit list before you begin.
How much can a luggage repair business earn?
Monthly revenue is typically around £300 to £1,800, depending on how many repairs you take on and the type of jobs. These are estimates, not guarantees, and parts and postage costs come out of that.
What should I check before repairing luggage from home?
Check whether your landlord, mortgage lender or council needs to agree to a business at home. Consider public liability insurance and cover for customers' items, and agree in writing what you will and won't repair.
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