Home-Based sewing machine servicing and resale

Home sewers, dressmakers, sewing groups, schools and community workshops needing machines serviced, and buyers wanting a reliable second-hand machine.

Fixed or quoted fees for servicing and repairs, plus profit on refurbished machines and accessories sold through online marketplaces, your own page or local sewing groups.

• Mechanical aptitude and patience with fiddly work
• Diagnosing faults and testing stitch quality
• Clear communication with customers
• Photographing and describing items for sale

• Check your landlord or mortgage lender allows business use, and whether customers visiting is an issue
• Insurance that covers customers' machines while in your care and any stock, as home policies often exclude business use
• When selling refurbished electrical items, check electrical safety testing and your duties under consumer law
• Parts can be hard to source for older or less common brands, so be clear about what you will and will not repair
• Stored machines take up space, so plan how many you can hold at once

Startup costs are estimated at typically around £800 to £4,000, depending on your tools, spare parts and how many used machines you buy to refurbish. Your own workspace and the range of brands you cover will also affect the figure.

Monthly revenue is estimated at typically around £600 to £3,000, depending on how many machines you service, how many refurbished machines you sell and the hours you put in. Treat these as estimates, not promises.

Check your landlord or mortgage lender allows business use and customer visits. Check insurance covers customers' machines and stock, as home policies often exclude business use, and look at electrical safety testing and consumer law when selling refurbished machines.