Mobile machine repair technician
Drive to workshops, farms and small plants to fix broken machines on site.
- $5k-25k
- Part-time
- Out and about
Estimates for a small start in the US, not guarantees.
Official data
22,907 US businesses with employees in this field, +2.1% in a year
NAICS 811310 “Commercial and industrial machinery and equipment (except automotive and electronic) repair and maintenance”. Source: U.S. Census Bureau, County Business Patterns 2023.
What it is
An on-site repair service for machines such as shop equipment, pumps, conveyors, compressors and farm machinery, working from a well-stocked van or truck.
Your first three steps
- Pick a niche (farm equipment, shop machinery or packaging lines) and list the machines you can already fix
- Price your hourly rate and trip fee by calling local repair shops, then set up an LLC and get an EIN
- Visit local farms, machine shops and small factories in your county and offer a free equipment check
Who pays
Small manufacturers, machine shops, farms, ranches, and warehouses that lose money whenever a machine is down.
How it makes money
Hourly labor rate plus a trip charge and parts markup, with service contracts or planned maintenance visits for repeat customers.
Skills that help
- Mechanical troubleshooting
- Welding or basic fabrication
- Reading manuals and wiring diagrams
- Clear quotes and communication
Watch out for
- General liability insurance, and commercial auto cover for your work vehicle
- Check whether your state or city requires a contractor or electrical license for some repair work
- Safety rules such as lockout/tagout and working around heavy or live equipment
- Check sales tax rules on parts and repair labor with your state revenue department
- Customers may pay slowly, so ask for deposits on big parts orders
Deep research report · US
Everything you need to start: mobile machine repair technician
Researched with live web search for United States: real startup prices, the licences and rules, what others charge, a break-even example, how to find your first customers and a 30-day launch plan. With sources.
- Startup costs with real prices
- Licences, registration and rules
- Pricing: what others charge
- Break-even example
- Finding your first customers
- 30-day launch plan
- Risks and how to reduce them
Questions people ask
How much does it cost to start a mobile machine repair business?
Startup costs are estimates, typically around $5,000 to $25,000, depending on your van or truck, tools, parts stock and insurance. Customers may pay slowly, so ask for deposits on big parts orders to protect your cash.
How much can a mobile machine repair technician earn?
Monthly revenue is typically around $2,500 to $12,000, depending on how many hours you work, your local customer base and the jobs you take. Treat it as an estimate of revenue, assuming at least about 15 hours a week.
What licenses and insurance do I need for mobile machine repair?
Check general liability insurance and commercial auto cover for your work vehicle. Check whether your state or city requires a contractor or electrical license for some repair work, and ask your state revenue department about sales tax on parts and repair labor.
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