This is primarily a one-man business, although there are repair technicians who form a group, for the sake of being able to take in more volume. More and more appliances are now computerized and your grandfather’s repair skills may no longer apply today. This means that you will need special electronic skills. Hourly wages for appliance repairmen have also increased and demand for appliance repair usually peaks in the summer when air conditioners, pool motors and refrigerators break down.
Medium: you’ll need a toolkit with a variety of standard tools of all types and sizes. Plan on having tools for repairing refrigerators, air conditioners, water heaters, television, cable connections, small appliances and other do-it-yourself tasks in and around the home. You’ll also need a vehicle, cell phone, and possibly a light portable computer as well as a pager (see Training and Resources to get an idea of tools and prices).
If you’ve never tried your hand at appliance repair, you need to work as an apprentice for at least 12 months either with a master craftsman or a store that sells and repairs appliances. A high-school education will suffice. You will also need at least six months of vocational training and understand the computer aspect of electronics. Numerous opportunities are available for those who have had formal training in appliance repair and electronics.
A person who loves to take apart objects and put them back together again. If as a child you tinkered with your computer a lot and love to work with your hands, then this is a business that you might consider. A person who enjoys mechanical challenges would do well as an appliance repair technicia
As of May 2006, appliance repair technicians earned between $17.00 and $26.00 per hour. As an independent repairman, you could probably charge around this range, but much will depend on your geographical location, the type of appliance you’re repairing, and whether or not you provide the parts as well.
If large stores farm out work to you because they are short of technicians, some of them will pay you a commission over and above your hourly rate. So the more work assignments you receive, the more you make.
The US government predicts a 2% growth in this area between 2006 and 2016. Appliance repair opportunities will especially be higher for people who have had formal training in mechanics and electronics. Work will be abundant in large retailers like Sears or Home Depot. Demand is said to outnumber supply (of workers).
An advertisement in the paper is one of the best places to tell the world about your services. You can approach large retailers and home renovation centers to see if they farm out excess work. If you have friends who work in companies, you can ask them to pass on your business card to the maintenance department.
Your municipal government may also need your services because municipal buildings and other infrastructure need to be repaired/maintained regularly (e.g. park facilities).
Industries that need a high number of appliance repair technicians are:
• Electronics and appliance stores
• Personal and household goods
• Drycleaning/laundry services
• Natural gas precision
• Electronic and precision equipment repair
• Automobile industry
• Schools and colleges
(source: US Government, Bureau of Labor)
If you want to specialize in refrigeration repair and will be handling refrigerants, your state may require that you apply for a licence.
If you have time in the evenings, you may want to enroll in vocational training in your local college to upgrade your repair skills, especially for dishwashers, washer and dryer, refrigerators, vacuums, stoves, heaters, air conditioning and garage door mechanisms.
Since state certifications are an added advantage, you may want to look into the following for certification (this is purely voluntary, not mandatory):
1. National Appliance Service Technician Certification (NASTeC) – issues a certification to technicians in the diagnosis, repair and maintenance of major home appliances. Visit http://www.nastec.org.
2. The Professional Service Association (PSA) – this organization has an identical certification program. Repairers who earn the PSA certification are designated as Certified Appliance Professionals (CAP). http://www.psaworld.com/
Also: This web site might be of interest to you: http://www.appliance-repair.org/?c1=ppc&source=findwhat&kw=Start_Your_Own_Business.
This web site gives you an idea of the kind of tools/kits you might need: http://www.applianceaid.com/tools.html.
Laid off? Unemployed? Retired but still wish to be productive? These business articles are for those who are keen on stimulating their thoughts and actions by undertaking a new venture either alone or with others. Study the other home-based businesses in this section and see where you can channel your talents. Take the road to self-employment or entrepreneurship!
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