Mobile piano tuning service

Homeowners, piano teachers, churches, schools, community centers and local music venues.

A flat fee per tuning visit, plus extra for pitch raises, minor repairs and regulation work. Repeat annual and twice-yearly clients and referrals from teachers build steady work.

• Good ear and patience
• Fine hand skills with tools
• Reliable and friendly with customers
• Scheduling and route planning

• Check whether your city or county requires a business license
• General liability insurance is worth getting, since you work around valuable instruments
• Tuning skill takes months or years to build, and old pianos can break strings during tuning, so explain this to clients upfront
• Check your state's sales tax rules for parts and services

Startup costs are typically around $800 to $4,000, depending on the tools you buy, your vehicle setup and any training or insurance. These are estimates, and building tuning skill can take months or years.

Monthly revenue is typically around $600 to $4,000, depending on how many clients you serve and how many hours you work. The estimate starts at about 8 hours a week. Most pianos need tuning once or twice a year.

Check whether your city or county requires a business license, and your state's sales tax rules for parts and services. General liability insurance is worth getting since you work around valuable instruments. Explain upfront that old pianos can break strings during tuning.