Small Data Recovery Lab with Clean Bench

Small and mid-sized businesses with failed servers or NAS devices, IT support firms that outsource recovery, and individuals with important irreplaceable data.

Tiered fees by problem type and drive size, plus rush fees and fees for returning data on a new drive. Contracts with IT firms and businesses bring repeat work.

• Strong technical knowledge of drives, RAID and file systems
• Electronics handling and fine hand skills
• Careful record keeping and chain of custody
• Quoting and customer service for high-stress situations

• Equipment and donor parts are a large upfront cost, and parts supply can be difficult
• A failed attempt can destroy data for good, so build in clear written terms and a careful process
• Check general liability, errors and omissions, and property insurance, and workers' compensation once you hire
• Handling business and medical data brings privacy duties, so check which rules apply, such as HIPAA, and use secure storage
• Check your city or county business license, zoning and your state's sales tax rules for repair services
• Quiet periods are likely at the start, so keep enough cash to cover rent while you build referrals

Startup costs are typically around $15,000 to $60,000, depending on your premises, recovery equipment, clean-air workstation and donor parts stock. Equipment and parts are a large upfront cost, and parts supply can be difficult.

Monthly revenue is typically estimated at around $4,000 to $18,000, depending on your mix of business and personal jobs and your referrals. Quiet periods are likely at the start, so keep cash to cover rent.

Check your city or county business license and zoning, and your state's sales tax rules for repair services. Also check privacy rules such as HIPAA for business and medical data, plus general liability, errors and omissions, property insurance and workers' compensation once you hire.