Watch repair shops fix watches, repair batteries, repair watch faces, and overhaul inner watch mechanics. Offering simple and complex repairs alike, watch repair shops can fix mechanical and digital watches alike. A lot of watch repair shops have watch parts, too. Some may also sell watches.
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.
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Start a watch repair business by following these 10 steps:
- Plan your Watch Repair Business
- Form your Watch Repair Business into a Legal Entity
- Register your Watch Repair Business for Taxes
- Open a Business Bank Account & Credit Card
- Set up Accounting for your Watch Repair Business
- Get the Necessary Permits & Licenses for your Watch Repair Business
- Get Watch Repair Business Insurance
- Define your Watch Repair Business Brand
- Create your Watch Repair Business Website
- Set up your Business Phone System
We have put together this simple guide to starting your watch 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 Watch 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 watch repair business?
The initial cost of a watch repair shop is about $40,000. This amount covers initial franchising fees, a small workshop, watch repair parts, and a repair desk. Additional money can also be spent on educational fees.
What are the ongoing expenses for a watch repair business?
Expect to pay about $2,000 for a highly visible rent location. A lot of your watch repair tools will be purchased upfront, but you can spend as much as $500 per month to manage and replace these tools. Tools depreciate, too, requiring eventual replacement.
Who is the target market?
Watch repair shops make the most money from watch and clock enthusiasts. Customers with designer, collectible or otherwise rare watches are valuable. They often respect the art of watch and clock repair. They may also be return customers, if they’re sporting a collectible. These customers also return often for watch cleaning. While a watch repair shop may make most of its profits from watch repair, it can make extra money by offering watch cleanings.
How does a watch repair business make money?
A watch repair shop makes most of its money by repairing wristwatches. It can also make money by repairing pocket watches and clocks, however. A serious watch repair shop owner can make money by selling individual parts. They can even become a trusted watch parts provider.
Some watch repair shops may offer routine watch cleanings. By using a specialized machine, shop owners can ensure safe, effective cleanings after any tune-ups have been completed.
How much can you charge customers?
Each customer can be charged about $150 for a single repair job. This price is based on repairing stem, crown, or mainspring parts. Cleanings can be done for as little as $20. You can charge higher prices if you’re working on expensive watches.
How much profit can a watch repair business make?
A watch repairer can make between $24,000 and $36,000 per year, depending on their expertise. If they operate a shop, they can make a six-figure salary. To make this much, however, a watch repair shop owner needs to be incredibly marketable and reach a wide audience.
How can you make your business more profitable?
Offer services online. A lot of modern watch repair shops let customers ship watches to them. Because a lot of watch-wearers are turning to smartphones, the watch repair industry has become less effective. You’ll need to have a solid marketing plan to thrive.
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 watch 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 watch 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 watch 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.
Service Agreement
Watch repair businesses should consider requiring clients to sign a service agreement before starting a new project. This agreement should clarify client expectations and minimize risk of legal disputes by setting out payment terms and conditions, service level expectations, and intellectual property ownership. Here is an example service agreement.
Recommended: Rocket Lawyer makes it easy to create a professional service agreement for your watch repair business when you sign up for their premium membership. For $39.95 per month, members receive access to hundreds of legal agreements and on call attorneys to get complimentary legal advice.
Certificate of Occupancy
A watch 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 watch 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 watch 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 Watch Repair Business needs and how much it will cost you by reading our guide Business Insurance for Watch 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 watch repair business
Watch repair shops do well when marketed in shopping malls. Get the word out about your business. Have calling cards, and hand them out to local shoppers. Make sure you have a grand opening, and create awareness for your watch shop.
How to keep customers coming back
Your watch repair shop will need to be incredibly visible. Establish your shop alongside busy streets, in shopping malls, or near big establishments. More often than not, location attracts and retains customers more than actual services—where watch repair is considered.
You should still offer incredible services, however. Repair watches quickly, and offer a slew of repair options. Offer cleaning services and sell watch parts.
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?
The ideal watch repair shop owner loves watches. They also have a passion for clockmaking, watchmaking, and the history of watches. Watch repair shop owners are good with people, and they also honor the world of repair.
Because watch repair is very specific, general repairmen may not be fit for the watch repair business. Those who’re experienced with repairing small mechanical items, however, may find watch repair to be incredibly fun. Those who enjoy collecting watches and clocks, too, may enjoy the art of watch repair. As a business owner, a watch repair shop owner will need to have a good handle on management, accounting, and marketing.
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 watch repair business?
A watch repair shop owner will need to study the art of watch repair. They need to constantly make their skills better, learning about band repair, cork repair, face repair, and parts replacement.
They should also make their workspace incredibly efficient. A watch repair shop owner will need to catch loose watch pieces, organize their workspace, and organize their tools. Over time, a watch repair expert will invest in better screwdriver sets, part trays, and watch components.
Other responsibilities include attracting customers, extending services to new clients, offering well-priced repairs, and more. From a management perspective, a watch repair shop owner will need to collect payments, manage employees, offer competitive services, and market to the local community.
What are some skills and experiences that will help you build a successful watch repair business?
A modern watch repair shop owner needs to be an expert at repairing watches. Normally, this requires years of experience. Watch repair shop owners need to be able to dismantle, clean and reassemble watches quickly, safely, and effectively.
The best watch repair shop owners have at least 20 years of experience fixing watches. They will also understand the ins and outs of watch benches. As part of the daily job, a watch repair shop owner will need to source their parts. Having a good eye for watch part prices helps. Watch repair shop owners will also be effective business operators. They understand customers, are very personable, and know how to reach new markets.
What is the growth potential for a watch repair business?
Most watch repair shops are local. Some, in fact, only exist in shopping malls. A watch repair shop with a lot of success, however, can easily become a local hotspot for watch enthusiasts. For this to happen, though, the shop needs to offer amazing prices. It also needs to be effective with a variety of watch repairs. A watch repair shop which offers additional watch parts and cleaning services has a higher growth potential.
It’s possible to become a multi-state provider, but a lot of customers prefer local settings. E-commerce watch repair shops also exist. These shops receive watches by mail, repair themm and return them within a certain amount of time. If you want to expand, consider becoming a digital provider. It’s a lot cheaper than becoming a national provider, and it’s a very popular modern job.
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 watch repair business?
Make sure you have all necessary equipment. If you want to be economical, settle for a basic tool box. Consider the complexity of becoming a master watch repairperson, too. As a watchmaker, you’ll need to be knowledgeable about different watch models. Watches have different technologies, and they can suffer a lot of damages.
Survey your competitors, too, and see their price ranges. Then, offer your watch repair skills for slightly better prices.
How and when to build a team
You can run a watch repair shop by yourself, if need be. That said, you should try to have a business partner as soon as possible. A small team of two to five people can run a watch repair shop effectively. By spreading responsibilities across multiple people, you can assure a higher turnaround time.
Useful Links
Industry Opportunities
- American Watchmakers-Clockmakers Institute
- Franchise opportunity with Fast-Fix Jewelry & Watch Repairs