Home sewing machine repair bench

Home sewers, quilters, hobbyists, students, and fabric or craft stores that want a local repair person to refer customers to.

A flat fee for a standard tune-up and a quoted price for bigger repairs, plus parts. Repeat customers return for yearly servicing.

• Mechanical aptitude and patience
• Comfortable using small hand tools
• Basic sewing knowledge to test machines
• Clear communication about costs and turnaround

• Check whether your city or county requires a home occupation permit, and review any HOA or lease rules about customers visiting
• Consider general liability insurance and check whether it covers customers' property while in your care
• Check your state's sales tax rules for repair labor and parts
• Parts for older or specialty machines can be hard to find, so be clear with customers about what you can and cannot fix
• Set a written policy for unclaimed machines and for repairs that are not worth the cost

Startup costs are typically around $400 to $2,000, depending on the tools, test equipment and parts stock you set up. These are estimates, so price your own bench before you buy anything.

Monthly revenue is typically estimated at around $300 to $2,000, depending on how many machines you service and what you charge. Parts for older or specialty machines can be hard to find, which may limit the jobs you take.

Things to check: whether your city or county requires a home occupation permit; HOA or lease rules about customer visits; general liability insurance and whether it covers customers' property; and your state's sales tax rules for repair labor and parts.