Home workshop instrument repair

Local musicians, parents of student players, private teachers and school band directors. Music stores without their own repair tech may also send work your way.

Flat fees for standard services (like a guitar setup) and hourly labor for bigger repairs, plus parts marked up modestly. Repeat work from school band programs can smooth out busy and slow periods.

• Fine hand skills and patience
• Playing or knowing the instrument
• Diagnosing problems and explaining costs clearly
• Careful record keeping of customer instruments

• Check whether your city or county requires a home occupation permit and whether your HOA or lease allows customer drop-offs
• General liability and a policy covering customers' instruments in your care (often called bailee or care, custody and control coverage)
• Valuable or vintage instruments: be clear about what you will and won't work on, and put estimates in writing
• Check your state's rules on sales tax for parts and labor

Startup costs are typically around $1,000 to $5,000, depending on which instruments you specialize in and the tools and parts you buy. These are estimates, so start with the tools for your most common jobs.

Monthly revenue is typically around $500 to $3,000, depending on how many repairs you take on and what you charge. It is an estimate, and results vary with local demand and your hours.

Check whether your city or county requires a home occupation permit and whether your HOA or lease allows customer drop-offs. Also check general liability and coverage for customers' instruments, and your state's sales tax rules for parts and labor.