Despite the recent influx of smartwatches, people have continued to show a strong preference for old-fashioned clocks. These are clocks that need regular maintenance and occasionally break down, requiring a professional to fix them.
Clock repair businesses service worn-out and malfunctioning clocks. The industry has traditionally been dominated by older men, who are now retiring and leaving opportunities for young business owners. Many established businesses report backlogs of six weeks up to one year, which shows that there is demand for this type of work.
Ready to turn your business idea into a reality? We recommend forming an LLC as it is the most affordable way to protect your personal assets. You can do this yourself or with our trusted partner for a small fee.
Northwest ($29 + State Fees)
DIY: How to Start an LLC
Start a clock repair business by following these 10 steps:
- Plan your Clock Repair Business
- Form your Clock Repair Business into a Legal Entity
- Register your Clock Repair Business for Taxes
- Open a Business Bank Account & Credit Card
- Set up Accounting for your Clock Repair Business
- Get the Necessary Permits & Licenses for your Clock Repair Business
- Get Clock Repair Business Insurance
- Define your Clock Repair Business Brand
- Create your Clock Repair Business Website
- Set up your Business Phone System
We have put together this simple guide to starting your clock repair business. These steps will ensure that your new business is well planned out, registered properly and legally compliant.
Exploring your options? Check out other small business ideas.
STEP 1: Plan your business
A clear plan is essential for success as an entrepreneur. It will help you map out the specifics of your business and discover some unknowns. A few important topics to consider are:
- What will you name your business?
- What are the startup and ongoing costs?
- Who is your target market?
- How much can you charge customers?
Luckily we have done a lot of this research for you.
What will you name your business?
Choosing the right name is important and challenging. If you don’t already have a name in mind, visit our How to Name a Business guide or get help brainstorming a name with our Clock Repair Business Name Generator
If you operate a sole proprietorship, you might want to operate under a business name other than your own name. Visit our DBA guide to learn more.
When registering a business name, we recommend researching your business name by checking:
- Your state’s business records
- Federal and state trademark records
- Social media platforms
- Web domain availability
It’s very important to secure your domain name before someone else does.
What are the costs involved in opening a clock repair business?
The costs involved with starting a clock repair service business are minimal. In addition to training, business owners need a:
- Space to repair clocks
- Vehicle for making house calls
- Set of specialized tools
In order to keep the initial outlay low, business owners can set up a space in their home for completing repairs and use their personal vehicles when on house calls.
Together, tool costs may total a few hundred dollars. Clockworks, which sells repair tools, has one tool that costs $250. The other tools are $55 or less, with many priced under $20.
Business owners who want to purchase an established operation will still find that clock repair service businesses are affordable. Spokane Clock, for instance, is available for $40,000.
What are the ongoing expenses for a clock repair business?
When run out of a home, the ongoing expenses for a clock repair service business are minimal. They include a portion of the business owner’s utility and vehicle costs, along with any advertising fees. A retail location adds a lease payment, more utilities and other fees, which is why many business owners avoid getting one.
Many repairs require parts, but parts costs are built into customers’ bills. They may be charged separately or included in a flat fee.
Who is the target market?
A clock repair service business attracts a wide swath of customers. Typical customers include collectors and people who inherit family clocks as heirlooms. Many customers who have inherited a clock get the clock serviced even if repair costs are greater than the value of the clock.
How does a clock repair business make money?
A clock repair service business makes money by servicing clocks. Dale Foust and Jason Hahn, two professional in the industry, explain that the typical clock service involves:
- Ultrasonically cleaning the clock
- Polishing visible parts
- Testing and troubleshooting parts
- Replacing worn-out and broken parts
- Cleaning and testing the clock a final time
How much can you charge customers?
The prices charged by clock repair service businesses vary a fair bit, but most repairs end up costing several hundred dollars. On the low end, a new business owner made $150 fixing two cuckoo clocks. The work took 5 to 6 hours and required no parts. On the high end, Mike Murray charges between $300 and $1,400 for most services. He also marks parts up by between 100 and 300 percent (occasionally 1,000 percent for rare parts).
How much profit can a clock repair business make?
A clock repair business can make a significant amount for a simple small business. Spokane Clock averages $4,500 in repair work each month. If a business is run from home, almost all of that revenue will be profit. (Spokane Clock has a retail location.)
How can you make your business more profitable?
To increase revenue, a business owner can become a wheel specialist (horological machinist). This requires advanced training, but once trained a business owner will be able to make the small wheels used inside clocks.
Few clock repair professionals are wheel specialists, so becoming one can help attract higher-paying work. Sometimes, other professionals in the industry will even order custom-made parts from a wheel specialist they know.
Want a more guided approach? Access TRUiC’s free Small Business Startup Guide – a step-by-step course for turning your business idea into reality. Get started today!
STEP 2: Form a legal entity
One crucial aspect that cannot be overlooked when starting your clock repair business is the importance of establishing a solid business foundation. While sole proprietorships and partnerships are the most common entity types for small businesses, they’re a far less stable and advantageous option than LLCs.
This is because unincorporated business structures (i.e., sole proprietorships and partnerships) expose you as an owner to personal liability for your business’s debts and legal actions, while LLCs protect you by keeping your personal assets separate from your business’s liabilities.
In practice, this means that if your clock repair business were to face a lawsuit or incur any debts, your savings, home, and other personal assets could not be used to cover these costs. On top of this, forming your business as an LLC also helps it to appear more legitimate and trustworthy.
More than 84% of our readers opt to collaborate with a professional LLC formation service to kickstart their venture. We’ve negotiated a tailored discount for our readers, bringing the total down to just $29.
Note: If you’re interested in more information before getting started, we recommend having a look at our state-specific How to Start an LLC guide (DIY) or our in-depth Best LLC Services review (for those opting for a professional service).
STEP 3: Register for taxes
You will need to register for a variety of state and federal taxes before you can open for business.
In order to register for taxes you will need to apply for an EIN. It’s really easy and free!
You can acquire your EIN through the IRS website. If you would like to learn more about EINs, read our article, What is an EIN?
There are specific state taxes that might apply to your business. Learn more about state sales tax and franchise taxes in our state sales tax guides.
STEP 4: Open a business bank account & credit card
Using dedicated business banking and credit accounts is essential for personal asset protection.
When your personal and business accounts are mixed, your personal assets (your home, car, and other valuables) are at risk in the event your business is sued. In business law, this is referred to as piercing your corporate veil.
Open a business bank account
Besides being a requirement when applying for business loans, opening a business bank account:
- Separates your personal assets from your company’s assets, which is necessary for personal asset protection.
- Makes accounting and tax filing easier.
Recommended: Read our Best Banks for Small Business review to find the best national bank or credit union.
Get a business credit card
Getting a business credit card helps you:
- Separate personal and business expenses by putting your business’ expenses all in one place.
- Build your company’s credit history, which can be useful to raise money later on.
Recommended: Apply for an easy approval business credit card from BILL and build your business credit quickly.
STEP 5: Set up business accounting
Recording your various expenses and sources of income is critical to understanding the financial performance of your business. Keeping accurate and detailed accounts also greatly simplifies your annual tax filing.
Make LLC accounting easy with our LLC Expenses Cheat Sheet.
STEP 6: Obtain necessary permits and licenses
Failure to acquire necessary permits and licenses can result in hefty fines, or even cause your business to be shut down.
State & Local Business Licensing Requirements
Certain state permits and licenses may be needed to operate a clock repair business. Learn more about licensing requirements in your state by visiting SBA’s reference to state licenses and permits.
Most businesses are required to collect sales tax on the goods or services they provide. To learn more about how sales tax will affect your business, read our article, Sales Tax for Small Businesses.
Certificate of Occupancy
A clock repair business is generally run out of a storefront. Businesses operating out of a physical location typically require a Certificate of Occupancy (CO). A CO confirms that all building codes, zoning laws and government regulations have been met.
- If you plan to lease a location:
- It is generally the landlord’s responsibility to obtain a CO.
- Before leasing, confirm that your landlord has or can obtain a valid CO that is applicable to a clock repair business.
- After a major renovation, a new CO often needs to be issued. If your place of business will be renovated before opening, it is recommended to include language in your lease agreement stating that lease payments will not commence until a valid CO is issued.
- If you plan to purchase or build a location:
- You will be responsible for obtaining a valid CO from a local government authority.
- Review all building codes and zoning requirements for your business’ location to ensure your clock repair business will be in compliance and able to obtain a CO.
STEP 7: Get business insurance
Just as with licenses and permits, your business needs insurance in order to operate safely and lawfully. Business Insurance protects your company’s financial wellbeing in the event of a covered loss.
There are several types of insurance policies created for different types of businesses with different risks. If you’re unsure of the types of risks that your business may face, begin with General Liability Insurance. This is the most common coverage that small businesses need, so it’s a great place to start for your business.
Another notable insurance policy that many businesses need is Workers’ Compensation Insurance. If your business will have employees, it’s a good chance that your state will require you to carry Workers’ Compensation Coverage.
Find out what types of insurance your Clock Repair Business needs and how much it will cost you by reading our guide Business Insurance for Clock Repair Business.
STEP 8: Define your brand
Your brand is what your company stands for, as well as how your business is perceived by the public. A strong brand will help your business stand out from competitors.
If you already have a logo, you can also add it to a QR code with our Free QR Code Generator. Choose from 13 QR code types to create a code for your business cards and publications, or to help spread awareness for your new website.
How to promote & market a clock repair business
A clock repair service business’ advertising efforts should be focused on reaching customers within the business’ defined service area. Local search engine optimization and gathering customer reviews will help a business attract customers who search for a clock repair online. Sponsoring groups and placing ads in local papers will increase offline awareness.
How to keep customers coming back
A clock repair service business can keep customers returning by providing a high level of service. Impressing customers will help ensure they come back when their clock needs maintenance, and it can lead to referrals.
STEP 9: Create your business website
After defining your brand and creating your logo the next step is to create a website for your business.
While creating a website is an essential step, some may fear that it’s out of their reach because they don’t have any website-building experience. While this may have been a reasonable fear back in 2015, web technology has seen huge advancements in the past few years that makes the lives of small business owners much simpler.
Here are the main reasons why you shouldn’t delay building your website:
- All legitimate businesses have websites – full stop. The size or industry of your business does not matter when it comes to getting your business online.
- Social media accounts like Facebook pages or LinkedIn business profiles are not a replacement for a business website that you own.
- Website builder tools like the GoDaddy Website Builder have made creating a basic website extremely simple. You don’t need to hire a web developer or designer to create a website that you can be proud of.
Recommended: Get started today using our recommended website builder or check out our review of the Best Website Builders.
Other popular website builders are: WordPress, WIX, Weebly, Squarespace, and Shopify.
STEP 10: Set up your business phone system
Getting a phone set up for your business is one of the best ways to help keep your personal life and business life separate and private. That’s not the only benefit; it also helps you make your business more automated, gives your business legitimacy, and makes it easier for potential customers to find and contact you.
There are many services available to entrepreneurs who want to set up a business phone system. We’ve reviewed the top companies and rated them based on price, features, and ease of use. Check out our review of the Best Business Phone Systems 2024 to find the best phone service for your small business.
Recommended Business Phone Service: Phone.com
Phone.com is our top choice for small business phone numbers because of all the features it offers for small businesses and it’s fair pricing.
Is this Business Right For You?
Anyone who appreciates clocks and is mechanically gifted may like owning a clock repair service business. Having a passion for clocks helps business owners connect with customers and maintain enthusiasm for the work. A mechanical inclination is necessary because clocks that need to be serviced are intricate machines.
Want to know if you are cut out to be an entrepreneur?
Take our Entrepreneurship Quiz to find out!
What happens during a typical day at a clock repair business?
A typical day at a clock repair business involves:
- talking to customers about their clocks
- servicing clocks (in-house or at customers’ locations)
- ordering or making parts as needed
- testing clocks before returning to customers
What are some skills and experiences that will help you build a successful clock repair business?
Running a successful clock repair service business requires knowing how to service and repair clocks. Business owners have a few ways to gain this technical knowledge:
- Some experienced clock repair professionals (e.g. Bob of Tascione and Mike Murray via Clocksmiths) offer training materials
- A few junior colleges have certificates and associate degrees in clock repair
- The National Association of Watch & Clock Collectors offers workshops, online courses and webinars
Above all, multiple people in the industry underscore the importance of working under an experience cock repair professional.
What is the growth potential for a clock repair business?
Most clock repair service businesses remain relatively small. They’re typically one- or two-person operations that serve the local area. For instance, repair professional Mike Murray maintains a service area of 25 miles from his business’ location.
Having said that, some well-established businesses have clocks shipped to them. This doesn’t account for a large portion of business for any clock repair professional, but a few receive the periodic order from a distant customer. Dale says these orders usually come from referrals of local customers.
Take the Next Step
Find a business mentor
One of the greatest resources an entrepreneur can have is quality mentorship. As you start planning your business, connect with a free business resource near you to get the help you need.
Having a support network in place to turn to during tough times is a major factor of success for new business owners.
Learn from other business owners
Want to learn more about starting a business from entrepreneurs themselves? Visit Startup Savant’s startup founder series to gain entrepreneurial insights, lessons, and advice from founders themselves.
Resources to Help Women in Business
There are many resources out there specifically for women entrepreneurs. We’ve gathered necessary and useful information to help you succeed both professionally and personally:
- Funding
- Events
- Guides
- Support
If you’re a woman looking for some guidance in entrepreneurship, check out this great new series Women in Business created by the women of our partner Startup Savant.
What are some insider tips for jump starting a clock repair business?
When opening a clock repair service business, securing a traditional retail location is unnecessary. In fact, it can be detrimental to a business.
Many established professionals run their businesses from their home on a by-appointment basis. By doing so, they:
- Keep overhead costs low
- Do not have to maintain set hours
- Can go on house calls anytime
How and when to build a team
Most clock repair businesses are one- or two-person operations. When businesses have an employee, the employee usually helps customers while the business owner does most of the repairs.
Useful Links
Industry Opportunities
- Online Clock Repair Video Course
- Junior Colleges With Clock Repair Courses
- National Association of Watch & Clock Collectors – Education