Start Your Repair Business

1. Legal & Insurance Foundation

Before touching a customer's appliance, protect yourself:

• Form an LLC: Protect your personal assets by forming a Limited Liability Company in your state.
• General Liability Insurance: Absolutely non-negotiable. If you accidentally cause a leak that floods a $50,000 kitchen, your insurance protects you. ($1M/$2M policies are standard and relatively cheap).
• Business License: Check with your county or city clerk for local business operation requirements.

2. Setting Your Rates

Independent techs typically charge a Diagnostic Fee (or Service Call Fee) plus Labor and Parts.

• Service Call Fee: Usually ranges from $80 to $130 just to show up and diagnose the machine. This covers your driving time, gas, and expertise.
• Flat Rate vs. Hourly: Most successful businesses use flat-rate pricing guides (like the Major Appliance Service National Price Guide). The customer agrees to a total price upfront, preventing arguments if a repair takes you longer than expected.
• Parts Markup: It is standard industry practice to mark up parts. Your markup covers the cost of sourcing, warranty risk, and shipping.

3. Marketing & Customer Acquisition

In the beginning, you need to be easily found when a customer panics over a broken fridge:

• Google Business Profile: Claim this immediately. It's free and puts you on Google Maps. Ask every satisfied customer for a 5-star review.
• Local SEO: Have a clean, fast website (like this one!) targeting keywords like "washer repair in [Your City]".
• Lead Generation: Services like Yelp, Thumbtack, or HomeAdvisor can help get initial traction, but focus on building organic word-of-mouth.

4. Initial Tools and Inventory

You don't need to carry every part in your van. Start by stocking the most common universal failure items:

• Universal igniters for gas ovens
• Dryer thermal fuses and heating elements
• Washer drain pumps (Whirlpool/LG)

For everything else, diagnose on the first trip, order the exact OEM part, and return to install it.