On-Location camera repair for crews and studios
Travel to studios, schools and production crews to service and fix video cameras on site, with fast turnaround.
- $3k-12k
- Part-time
- Out and about
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 mobile service that visits TV stations, production companies, churches, schools and rental houses to maintain and repair camera fleets, handling quick fixes on site and taking harder jobs back to your bench.
Your first three steps
- Make a list of studios, rental houses, schools and churches within driving distance and contact the person who manages their gear
- Assemble a portable toolkit and common spare parts, and set per-visit and maintenance contract prices
- Offer a discounted equipment health check to a few local organizations in exchange for testimonials
Who pays
Small broadcasters, production companies, camera rental houses, universities, houses of worship and corporate video teams.
How it makes money
Per-visit or hourly rates for on-site work, plus annual maintenance agreements for organizations with several cameras, plus parts markup.
Skills that help
- Electronics repair and troubleshooting
- Knowledge of professional camera systems
- Time management and reliability under deadlines
- Building business relationships
Watch out for
- General liability insurance, and cover for client equipment in your care or transit
- Check whether your city or county requires a business license, and sales tax registration with your state
- Professional broadcast gear often needs manufacturer-specific parts and training, so be honest about what you can fix
- Vehicle costs and travel time can eat into profit, so set a service radius
- Workers' compensation insurance once you hire help
Deep research report · US
Everything you need to start: on-location camera repair for crews and studios
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 mobile camera repair service?
Startup costs are typically around $3,000 to $12,000, depending on your vehicle, tools, test equipment, parts stock and insurance. Vehicle costs and travel time can eat into profit, so consider setting a service radius.
How much can an on-location camera repair service earn?
Monthly revenue is typically around $1,500 to $7,000, depending on your rates, how many studios, schools and crews you serve and how far you travel. Plan on at least about 15 hours a week.
What rules and risks should I check before starting?
Check general liability insurance and cover for client equipment in your care or transit. Also check city or county business license rules, state sales tax registration, and workers' compensation once you hire. Be honest about which professional gear you can fix.
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Photo: This_is_Engineering on Pixabay