Phone repair shop or kiosk
Run a small storefront or mall kiosk where walk-in customers get phones fixed while they wait.
- $8k-35k
- Full-time
- Own premises
Estimates for a small start in the US, not guarantees.
Official data
1,726 US businesses with employees in this field, -11.7% in a year
NAICS 811213 “Communication equipment repair and maintenance”. Source: U.S. Census Bureau, County Business Patterns 2023.
What it is
A small repair shop or kiosk in a strip mall, shopping center or busy street. You handle screens, batteries and charging ports, and may sell cases and screen protectors.
Your first three steps
- Learn the repair work through a course or an apprenticeship at an existing shop, then build up experience
- Compare locations by rent, foot traffic and nearby competitors, and get the lease terms reviewed before signing
- Form an LLC, get an EIN, and set up accounts with two parts suppliers and a point-of-sale system
Who pays
Walk-in customers of all ages, plus nearby workers and students who need a same-day fix.
How it makes money
Price per repair, plus extra sales of cases, chargers and screen protectors. Steady foot traffic and fast turnaround drive volume.
Skills that help
- Phone repair and diagnostic skills
- Customer service and honest quoting
- Managing parts stock and cash flow
Watch out for
- Commercial lease terms and rent: check the length and any personal guarantee
- Check your city or county for a business license and state sales tax registration
- General liability insurance, plus property cover for customers' devices and your stock
- Parts supply and quality: counterfeit or poor parts can hurt your reputation
- Workers' compensation insurance once you hire staff
- Safe storage and disposal of lithium batteries, check local rules
Deep research report · US
Everything you need to start: phone repair shop or kiosk
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 phone repair shop or kiosk in the US?
Startup costs are typically around $8,000 to $35,000, depending on your location, the size of the premises, your tools and how much parts and accessory stock you buy at the start.
How much can a phone repair shop earn per month?
Monthly revenue is typically around $4,000 to $20,000, depending on your location, foot traffic and how many repairs and accessories you sell. These are revenue estimates, so rent, parts and other costs come out of that.
What licenses and insurance should I check before opening a phone repair shop?
Check your city or county for a business license and register for state sales tax. Look at general liability and property cover for customers' devices and stock, workers' compensation once you hire, local rules on lithium battery storage and disposal, and your lease terms.
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