How to Start a Screen Repair Business

Part 1 - How to start a Screen Repair business - Background

A screen repair business helps people repair electronic devices that have sustained physical trauma. Whether it’s a cell phone, tablet, or laptop, an experienced screen repair technician can help restore technology for a reasonable cost without the client having to buy an expensive replacement.

Our guide is in 3 parts:

• Part 1 - How to start a Screen Repair business - Background
• Part 2 - Our planner tool to see if this idea is the right fit for you
• Part 3 - Action plan to get started

What are the costs involved in opening a screen repair business?

Total costs will depend on whether or not an owner decides to open up a formal space. You likely already have many of the tools they need on hand to perform repairs (e.g., scissors, screwdrivers, etc.) If not, the costs are usually around $50 or less to purchase. In addition, you’ll need an inventory of replacement screens available so that you don’t have to make customers wait for you to order a new one. This will likely cost several hundred dollars to get the parts you need.

Additional costs include employee salaries if the business requires extra help, advertising dollars to get the word out, and website software to ensure easy online communication with customers.

What are the ongoing expenses for a screen repair business?

Most technicians will want an available inventory to work with rather than ordering new screens every time, so they’ll need to keep up with replenishing their available stock. Owners will also have to factor in mortgage/lease payments if they have an office, and liability insurance on the off-chance they irreparably damage someone’s phone or a natural disaster (e.g., flooding, etc.) destroys their customer’s electronic devices.

Who is the target market?

The target market is anyone with a broken electronic device who doesn’t want to spend full price on a new device. The most common repair request will usually be for smartphone screens.

How does a screen repair business make money?

Screen repair businesses charge based on the time they spend making the repairs, the equipment they use, and the nature of the physical device itself. For example, certain phones require more expertise to fix, which means owners can charge a premium for those screens.

How much can you charge customers?

Because screen repair is a valuable skill, it’s not unusual to charge around $80 – $100 for each repair. Look up the rates of the competitor’s in your area for a better idea of how to price your services.

How much profit can a screen repair business make?

The cost of operations for a screen repair business is on the low side, so it’s not unusual for each repair to make high returns. If you’re charging $100 a repair at an 80% profit margin, you would only need to repair 20 phones in a week to make $1,600 in profit. Considering a dropped phone is a common occurrence, 20 customers a week may not be difficult to achieve.

How can you make your business more profitable?

As you grow your clientele and your confidence, you can start offering additional repairs besides screens. For example, fixing phones and laptops with water damage or replacing broken components to ensure the longevity of the device. You may also want to start buying old, broken devices from customers so you can fix and sell them (either online or in-person) for a profit.

Day-to-Day and Growth

What happens during a typical day at a screen repair business?

The majority of the day will be spent scheduling appointments and fulfilling repair commitments. There should also be time devoted to marketing, budgeting, and general equipment maintenance.

What are some skills and experiences that will help you build a successful screen repair business?

Owners should have some experience repairing a variety of screens, whether they learned their skills in a classroom, on the clock, or just tinkering around at their home. As devices change from year to year, owners should be just as comfortable handling a 10-year old device as they are with a brand-new model. You’ll also need some experience in customer service to be able to handle customer disputes and general requests.

What is the growth potential for a screen repair business?

Smartphone repairs are a multi-billion dollar industry, and there’s still plenty of room to capitalize on the activity. Electronic devices have become truly ubiquitous in the world today, and their popularity is unlikely to change anytime soon. While new production methods will undoubtedly yield tougher, more resilient glass as years go by, it’s unlikely it will eliminate the need for a skilled screen repair technician.

What are some insider tips for jump starting a screen repair business?

The first think you’ll need to do is decide on a specialty for your business. Few people can fix every type of device in the world, so choose based on the demographics of the neighborhood. Fads aren’t just for teenagers, so it should be easy to spot whether people seem to favor Apple, Samsung, HTC, or Google devices.

You’ll also need to decide if a storefront is worth it to you. Storefronts give you an opportunity to house your inventory in one place, and makes it possible to work on several devices at once. It also gives you more credibility with your customers because you look like an established business. Finally, you can likely choose a storefront in a less expensive section of town because you just need a consistent space to work — not necessarily to impress customers.

However, a mobile business that allows you to visit customers at their home cuts out many of your initial start-up costs, and offers your customers the all-important convenience factor. It can still be a good way to build rapport and credibility as you service different clients (albeit, one at a time.)

Owners should also consider the angles they want to use to attract their customers. It’s important to put some time into determining your prices — especially as the cost of technology continues to go down. If you charge the same price as a used version of a current model, it will be difficult for a customer to justify spending the money to have their screen repaired. You may also be able to increase your revenue by marketing to those who want to keep their nostalgia devices (e.g., first-generation iPods, etc.) up to par.

How and when to build a team

You don’t necessarily need to hire a team at the beginning. In fact, it’s not recommended if you’re trying to keep your costs low. Use management tools such as online calendars to keep your appointments straight until you have enough customers (and revenue) that you absolutely need to hire help.

Part 2 - Is a Screen Repair business the right fit for you?

Part 3 - Action plan to launch your Screen Repair business in 90 days