Mobile printer and copier repair business

Small offices, schools, surgeries, estate agents and other local businesses without their own IT or equipment support.

Call-out fee plus labour and parts for repairs, and fixed monthly or yearly fees for planned maintenance visits.

• Practical fault-finding
• Basic electronics and mechanical repair
• Clear, patient customer service

• Public liability insurance, and check whether you need cover for the equipment you work on
• Portable appliance testing (PAT) is often requested by clients, so check whether you need a qualification to offer it
• Safe handling and disposal of toner and old parts, check local waste rules and whether you need waste carrier registration
• Some manufacturers restrict access to parts and service software, so check what you can buy as an independent
• Data on machine hard drives, so agree how you will handle confidential information

Startup costs are typically around £1,500 to £6,000, depending on the tools, parts and equipment you buy. These are estimates, so price up your kit and insurance before you commit.

Monthly revenue is typically around £1,000 to £5,000, depending on how many call-outs you win and whether clients sign up to regular maintenance plans. The estimate starts from around 12 hours a week.

Check public liability insurance and whether you need cover for the equipment you work on. Also check whether you need a qualification to offer PAT testing, local waste rules and waste carrier registration for toner and old parts, and how to handle confidential data.