Home workshop screen repair by post or drop-off
Repair phone, tablet and laptop screens from a tidy home workspace, with drop-off or postal customers.
- £400-2k
- Side hustle
- From home
Estimates for a small start in the UK, not guarantees.
Official data
1,549 UK companies in this field, 32% registered in the last 2 years
SIC 95210 “Repair of consumer electronics”. Source: Companies House, November 2026.
What it is
A small bench set-up at home where you repair phones, tablets and laptops sent in by post or dropped off by appointment, including trade work for other businesses.
Your first three steps
- Set up a clean, well-lit bench with anti-static kit and a safe place to store devices
- Create a simple website or listings page with clear prices, turnaround and warranty
- Approach local shops, landlords and small offices offering trade rates
Who pays
Online customers wanting a cheaper repair than the high street, plus local businesses and small shops that outsource repairs.
How it makes money
A fixed price per repair, with higher prices for laptops and newer models. Trade work for other shops can bring steady volume at lower margins.
Skills that help
- Careful, methodical bench work
- Basic online listing and customer messaging
- Record keeping for parts and jobs
Watch out for
- Check whether you need permission from your landlord, mortgage lender or council to run a business from home
- Public liability insurance, plus cover for customers' devices while in your care
- Postal repairs: customers' devices can get lost or damaged in transit, so use tracked services and clear terms
- Damaged lithium batteries are a fire risk, so store and handle them safely
- Data protection: you may handle personal data on devices, so check your obligations
Deep research report · UK
Everything you need to start: home workshop screen repair by post or drop-off
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 home screen repair business?
Startup costs are typically around £400 to £2,000, depending on your tools, parts stock and bench setup. These are estimates, so check prices for the devices you plan to repair before you commit.
How much can a home screen repair business make?
Monthly revenue is typically around £500 to £2,500, depending on how many postal, drop-off and trade repairs you take on. The estimate assumes at least around 8 hours a week of work.
What should I check before repairing devices from home?
Check whether you need permission from your landlord, lender or council to run a business from home. Check public liability and device cover, use tracked postage with clear terms, store damaged lithium batteries safely, and check data protection duties.
Other ways to run this business
Mobile phone and tablet screen repair
Replace cracked phone and tablet screens at customers' homes, offices or a meeting point.
- £500-2.5k
- Side hustle
- Out and about
Repair shop or kiosk for phones and laptops
Run a small shop or kiosk offering walk-in screen repairs on phones, tablets and laptops.
- £5k-25k
- Full-time
- Own premises
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Photo: maxlenke on Pixabay