Musical instrument ownership in the United States is high. According to a 25-year-anniversary report from the International Music Products Association, about half (52%) of US households have at least one instrument-owning musician. Of those that have a musician, about half (48%) have two or more family members who play something.
Although this report is from 2003, instrument ownership has remained high since the report was issued. Lots of people in the U.S. own instruments — and some of those instruments break down.
Musical instrument repair businesses service and repair instruments when they need routine maintenance or break. With so many people owning instruments, there is high demand for repair work.
Ready to turn your business idea into a reality? Tailor Brands is our top recommendation because it guides you through every step of the process with hands-on support.
Tailor Brands ($0 + State Fees)
Start a musical instrument repair business by following these 10 steps:
- Plan your Musical Instrument Repair Business
- Form your Musical Instrument Repair Business into a Legal Entity
- Register your Musical Instrument Repair Business for Taxes
- Open a Business Bank Account & Credit Card
- Set up Accounting for your Musical Instrument Repair Business
- Get the Necessary Permits & Licenses for your Musical Instrument Repair Business
- Get Musical Instrument Repair Business Insurance
- Define your Musical Instrument Repair Business Brand
- Create your Musical Instrument Repair Business Website
- Set up your Business Phone System
We have put together this simple guide to starting your musical instrument 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 Musical Instrument 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 musical instrument repair business?
The startup costs for a musical instrument repair business are manageable. Some of the biggest expenses include:
- Securing a space for repairing instruments
- Purchasing tools for making repairs
- Advertising the business’ repair services
Business owners who have limited initial capital can keep these costs minimal by setting up a repair workshop in their home and using tools they already own. A few specialty tools may be needed, but a good set of screwdrivers and variously sized pliers will do a lot of the work. Many of the specialty tools that are required either don’t cost a lot new or are available used at a discounted price.
Business owners who don’t want to start their operation from scratch might purchase an existing musical instrument repair business. These businesses are often affordable compared to other businesses’ purchase prices. For instance, one instrument repair business is listed at $75,000.
What are the ongoing expenses for a musical instrument repair business?
The ongoing expenses for a musical instrument repair business are minimal. They primarily include utilities and rent. Parts costs are built into customers’ bills.
Who is the target market?
The target market for a musical instrument repair business is local musicians. Because musical instruments are large and valuable, musicians normally won’t ship them into repair facilities. Instead, they’ll bring them to a repair professional in the area.
How does a musical instrument repair business make money?
A musical instrument repair business makes money by charging customers for fixing their instruments. There are different levels of repair:
- “Play condition” repairs mechanically fix an instrument but don’t make aesthetic improvements
- “Professional quality” repairs fix an instrument technically and aesthetically
- “Overhauls” completely rebuild an instrument so that it’s like-new
How much can you charge customers?
Most musical instrument repair businesses have a multi-tiered fee system. They might:
- Perform small, quick fixes for free
- Offer a basic service for a flat fee per instrument
- Offer common services (e.g. repadding woodwinds) for a flat fee per instrument
- Have an hourly rate for all other work
The Cayuga Music Shop has an hourly rate of $60, and most of their basic services range from $15 to $100. Repadding woodwinds costs several hundred dollars. These costs are representative of what other businesses charge.
How much profit can a musical instrument repair business make?
A musical instrument repair business can bring in a nice annual revenue for a small business. The business mentioned above as being for sale has an annual revenue of $88,160. Because ongoing expenses are low, most revenue is profit.
How can you make your business more profitable?
A musical instrument repair business may increase revenue by selling new and/or used instruments. Some businesses also rent instruments to students.
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 musical instrument 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 musical instrument 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.
Ready to Turn Your Business Idea Into a Reality?
Tailor Brands is our top recommendation because it guides you through every step of the formation process with hands-on support — from paperwork and compliance to devising a detailed plan to help you achieve your business goals.
Note: If you’re interested in more information before getting started, we recommend having a look at our How to Start a Business guide (DIY) or our in-depth Best Business Formation 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 musical instrument 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 musical instrument 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 musical instrument 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 musical instrument 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 Musical Instrument Repair Business needs and how much it will cost you by reading our guide Business Insurance for Musical Instrument 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 musical instrument repair business
As mentioned, word-of-mouth advertising is the most effective way to grow a musical instrument repair business. To do this, a business owner must break into the local music seen. Some ways to do this include:
- Repairing instruments for friends and acquaintances
- Advertising in concert programs
- Giving music teachers business cards
- Posting business cards at area businesses
- Networking with bands and solo artists
How to keep customers coming back
A musical instrument repair business owner can set attract customers by seeking advanced certifications in certain types of repair. These extra certifications will help set a business owner apart from other local repair professionals.
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 enjoys music and is mechanically inclined might like running a musical instrument repair business. Business owners regularly interact with people who are passionate about music, and fixing instruments is a hands-on, mechanical process.
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 musical instrument repair business?
A typical day at a musical instrument repair business involves:
- talking to customers about issues their instruments are having
- ordering supplies needed for fixing instruments
- repairing and servicing instruments
- testing instruments after they’re repaired
What are some skills and experiences that will help you build a successful musical instrument repair business?
A successful business owner will be both an experienced musician and trained in the specifics of musical instrument repair.
Business owner’s don’t need to be Grammy-winning artists, but they ought to have studied music during college. Without this level of knowledge, business owner’s won’t be able to help professional musicians much.
To learn instrument repair, business owners should look for a local instrument repair class. Some vocational schools and junior colleges offer these classes, but they aren’t available everywhere. If attending a class isn’t possible, the next-best option is to find an instrument repair technician who’s willing to set up an apprenticeship. Online classes aren’t ideal because repairing instruments is a hands-on process.
After learning the basic skills of musical instrument repair, business owners should practice — and a lot. Practice will help refine skills, and it will show business owners what they can and can’t do with their skill set. EBay is a good place to find inexpensive instruments that can be torn down and rebuilt.
Ultimately, business owners should aim to become certified. The National Association of Professional Band Instrument Repair Technicians offers certification in the field. More instrument-specific groups include the Guild of American Luthiers and the International Double Reed Society. Some instrument manufacturers, such as Straubinger, offer workshops and certifications for working on their particular instruments.
What is the growth potential for a musical instrument repair business?
A music instrument repair business can be a small, one-person operation that maintains part-time hours, or it can grow to have multiple locations in different states. The Cayuga Music Shop is an example of a local repair business. Sam Ash is a larger company that has locations in sixteen states. Sam Ash, like most larger companies, sells instruments and provides lessons in addition to making repairs.
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 musical instrument repair business?
When starting a new musical instrument repair business, providing every customer with the highest level of service is essential. Most business will come by word of mouth. Impressing a customer will keep them returning for future work, and it’ll lead to referrals.
How and when to build a team
Most musical instrument repair businesses start out as a one-person operation. As demand and revenue grow, business owners may hire a part- or full-time employee.