Phone repair shop or mall kiosk
Open a small storefront or kiosk offering walk-in repairs on phones, tablets and more.
- $8k-40k
- Full-time
- Own premises
- Licence or permit needed
Estimates for a small start in the US, not guarantees.
Official data
3,045 US businesses with employees in this field, -3.5% in a year
NAICS 811219 “Other electronic and precision equipment repair and maintenance”. Source: U.S. Census Bureau, County Business Patterns 2023.
What it is
A small shop or mall kiosk where customers walk in for fast repairs such as screens, batteries and charging ports, with accessories sold alongside.
Your first three steps
- Get repair experience first, by working in a shop or training, and build a list of the repairs you will offer
- Compare rent in a few locations with strong foot traffic and ask landlords about short or flexible leases
- Secure a parts supplier, price list and basic point-of-sale system before choosing your final location
Who pays
Walk-in customers of all ages, nearby workers and students, and people who need a same-day fix.
How it makes money
Per-repair pricing, plus accessory sales and extras like screen protectors. Adding tablets, game consoles or laptops can widen the customer base.
Skills that help
- Reliable, fast repair skills
- Customer service at the counter
- Managing stock and supplier orders
- Local marketing and reviews
Watch out for
- Check city or county business license, zoning and signage rules for retail premises
- Register with your state for sales tax and check how repair services are taxed
- General liability and property insurance, and cover for customers' devices on site
- Lease commitments and rent are the biggest fixed cost, so read terms carefully
- Check state rules on secondhand goods or electronics resale if you also buy or sell used phones
Deep research report · US
Everything you need to start: phone repair shop or mall 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 in the US?
Estimates put startup costs at typically around $8,000 to $40,000, depending on whether you open a kiosk or a small storefront and on your lease terms. Rent is usually the biggest fixed cost, so read lease terms carefully.
How much can a phone repair shop or kiosk make?
Estimates suggest monthly revenue of typically around $4,000 to $20,000, depending on your location, foot traffic and how many repairs and accessories you sell. That is revenue rather than profit, so rent and costs come out of it.
What rules should I check before opening a phone repair shop?
Check your city or county business license, zoning and signage rules for retail premises. Register with your state for sales tax and check how repair services are taxed. Also look at liability and property insurance, and state rules on secondhand electronics if you resell used phones.
Other ways to run this business
Mobile phone repair service
Fix cracked screens and dead batteries at customers' homes, offices or a coffee shop meetup.
- $800-4k
- Side hustle
- Out and about
Home bench phone repair and mail-in
Repair phones from a home workbench for local drop-offs and mail-in customers.
- $500-2.5k
- Side hustle
- From home
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