Mobile machinery repair engineer
Travel to workshops, farms and small factories to fix broken machines on site and cut their downtime.
- £4k-20k
- Part-time
- Out and about
Estimates for a small start in the UK, not guarantees.
Official data
5,811 UK companies in this field, 21% registered in the last 2 years
SIC 33120 “Repair of machinery”. Source: Companies House, November 2026.
What it is
A van-based repair service that diagnoses and fixes faulty machinery at the customer's site, such as workshop machine tools, farm equipment, compressors and packaging lines.
Your first three steps
- Choose a narrow niche, such as farm machinery, woodworking machines or food equipment, and check local demand
- Get a van, a core tool kit and insurance, and set up supplier accounts for common parts
- Introduce yourself to local farms, workshops and industrial units, and offer a quick-response call-out rate
Who pays
Small workshops, farms, factories and units that cannot afford to have machines out of action for long.
How it makes money
Call-out fee plus hourly labour, with parts supplied at a mark-up. Service contracts with regular customers bring steadier work.
Skills that help
- Mechanical or electrical fault finding
- Welding, fitting or machining
- Reliable and quick to respond
- Clear quotes and record keeping
Watch out for
- Public liability insurance, and professional indemnity if you give advice or sign off repairs
- Check whether your work on lifting equipment, pressure systems or guarded machinery needs specific competence or inspection rules (HSE guidance)
- Electrical work on machines may require qualifications, check what applies to the jobs you take on
- Safe isolation of machines and working alone in industrial or farm settings
- Waste oil and old parts need correct disposal, check whether you need waste carrier registration
Deep research report · UK
Everything you need to start: mobile machinery repair engineer
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 machinery repair business?
Startup costs are typically estimated at around £4,000 to £20,000, depending on your van, tools, diagnostic and welding equipment, parts stock and insurance. Treat this as an estimate and cost your own setup for the machines you plan to repair.
How much can a mobile machinery repair engineer earn?
Estimated monthly revenue is typically around £1,500 to £7,000, depending on the machines you service, your call-out rates, how many hours you work and how quickly you can respond. This is revenue before fuel, parts, insurance and other costs.
What rules should I check before starting machinery repair?
Check public liability insurance, and professional indemnity if you advise or sign off repairs. Check HSE guidance on lifting equipment, pressure systems and guarded machinery, any qualifications for electrical work, safe isolation and lone working, and whether you need waste carrier registration.
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