Home luggage and bag repair workshop

Frequent travelers, families, college students, and people with expensive bags who would rather repair than replace.

Flat price per repair (for example a zipper replacement or a wheel set), plus parts. Mail-in customers pay shipping, and rush jobs can carry an extra fee.

• Hand sewing and basic machine sewing
• Patient, detailed repair work
• Sourcing the right parts
• Clear quoting and customer communication

• Check whether your city or county requires a home occupation permit, and review any HOA or lease rules
• Check state and local rules on business registration and sales tax on parts or repairs
• Consider general liability insurance and cover for customers' items while in your care
• Be clear about what you cannot fix, and keep written quotes so customers agree to costs before work starts
• Airline damage claims can have tight deadlines, so tell customers to check with their airline first

Startup costs are typically estimated at around $600 to $3,000, depending on the sewing equipment, tools, spare parts and insurance you choose. Your own costs may vary with the repairs you plan to offer.

Monthly revenue is typically estimated at around $400 to $2,500, depending on how many repairs you take on and your pricing. The estimate assumes at least around 8 hours a week.

Check whether your city or county requires a home occupation permit, and review HOA or lease rules. Also check state and local business registration and sales tax rules, and consider insurance that covers customers' items while in your care.