Guitar and violin repair and setup shop

Local musicians, students and parents, schools, music teachers and collectors.

Fixed prices for setups and standard repairs, hourly or quoted rates for restoration, plus strings and small parts.

• Fine woodworking and hand tool skills
• Setting up and adjusting instruments
• Customer service
• Pricing and quoting repair work

• Check with your city or county for a business license and zoning for a workshop or retail space
• Check general liability and garage-keepers style coverage for customers' instruments held in your care
• Valuable or antique instruments carry the risk of costly damage, so document condition with photos on drop-off
• Check your state's sales tax rules for parts and strings
• Rent is a fixed cost, so test demand with a home workshop or pop-up days first

Startup costs are typically around $5,000 to $25,000, depending on your premises, tools and parts stock. Rent is a fixed cost, so it can help to test demand with a home workshop or pop-up days first.

Monthly revenue is typically around $1,500 to $7,000, depending on your location, the mix of setups and larger repairs, and how many hours you open. This is revenue, before rent, parts and other costs.

Check with your city or county for a business license and zoning for a workshop or retail space. Check liability and garage-keepers style coverage for customers' instruments, and your state's sales tax rules for parts and strings.