Mobile typewriter servicing for offices

Collectors, writers' groups, museums and heritage venues, film and theatre prop departments, and small offices with older machines.

Call-out or hourly rate for visits, fixed prices per machine for services, plus parts and ribbons. Bulk services for groups of machines can fill a day.

• Mechanical repair skills
• Organising routes and appointments
• Confident, friendly customer manner

• Public liability insurance, since you will be working in customers' premises
• Insurance for the machines you carry or take back to your workshop
• Check your vehicle insurance covers business use
• Demand may be spread thinly, so check there are enough customers within a sensible travelling distance
• Register as a sole trader with HMRC once you start trading

Startup costs are typically around £800 to £3,500, depending on your toolkit, spare parts, insurance and how you set up for travelling to customers. Treat this as an estimate and check your own costs.

Check public liability insurance, since you will be working in customers' premises, and insurance for machines you carry or take back to your workshop. Check that your vehicle insurance covers business use, and register as a sole trader with HMRC once you start trading.

Monthly revenue is typically around £400 to £2,000, depending on how many customers you visit and what jobs you take on. Demand may be spread thinly, so check there are enough customers within a sensible travelling distance.