How to Start a Cell Phone Repair Business: Full Checklist
Start a cell phone repair business step by step: a startup cost worksheet, the bench tools, where to buy parts, licensing basics and the software you need.
To start a cell phone repair business, decide which repairs you will offer and where, build a startup cost worksheet, register the business and get the licenses your state and city require, set up a bench with the right tools, open accounts with two or three parts suppliers, and run every job through repair software from the first day. The steps below walk through each one in the order most new shop owners actually do them, with a checklist at the end.
Step 1: Decide what you will fix, and for whom
Before you spend money, write down three things. They decide almost every cost that follows.
- The devices. Most shops start with the phones they see most in their area (usually iPhone and Samsung Galaxy) and add tablets later. Board level work like charging chip and connector repair needs more equipment and training, so many shops add it in year two.
- The repairs. Screens, batteries, charging ports, back glass and cameras make up the everyday menu. A short menu done well beats a long menu you cannot stock.
- The setup. A storefront gets walk in traffic but costs the most. A kiosk or a shared space costs less. A mail in or on site service needs almost no retail space but needs shipping and scheduling. Business customers (schools, offices, phone stores that send you their repairs) give you steady volume at lower prices.
Write a one paragraph description of your shop: "We repair iPhone and Galaxy screens, batteries and charging ports, same day, for walk in customers in [your area]." You will use it on your website, your Google Business Profile and in every conversation with a landlord or supplier.
Step 2: Calculate your startup costs
There is no honest single number for what a repair shop costs to open, because rent, build out and inventory change everything. What works is a method. The U.S. Small Business Administration suggests that you list every expected expense, estimate each one, and sort them into one time costs and monthly costs, then total them to see how much money you need and when. The same SBA guidance recommends budgeting monthly costs for at least a year and adding a buffer of about 10% for the unexpected.
Copy this worksheet and fill in your own numbers from real quotes:
| Category | One time or monthly | Where to get the number | Your estimate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Business registration and licenses | One time, some renew | Your state and city websites | |
| Lease deposit and first month | One time | Landlord quote | |
| Build out: counter, bench, shelving, lighting | One time | Contractor or store quotes | |
| Bench tools and safety gear | One time | Supplier carts (see Step 4) | |
| Starting parts inventory | One time | Supplier price lists for your repair menu | |
| Computer, iPad or iPhone for the counter, receipt printer | One time | Retail prices | |
| Signage and website | One time | Designer and sign shop quotes | |
| Rent and utilities | Monthly | Lease and utility estimates | |
| Insurance | Monthly or yearly | Insurance agent quotes | |
| Software (repair and point of sale) | Monthly | Software pricing pages | |
| Payroll, if you hire | Monthly | Wages plus employer taxes | |
| Marketing | Monthly | Your plan | |
| Card processing fees | Monthly, % of sales | Your processor's rate |
Two tips that save money. First, buy starting inventory only for your top repairs (the five or six models you see most), because parts for rarer models can be ordered per job. Second, get every quote in writing.
Step 3: Register the business and get licensed
This section is general information, not legal advice. Rules depend on your state, county and city, so confirm each item with the agency that issues it.
- Choose a structure and register it. LLCs and corporations usually register with the Secretary of State (or a similar office) in each state where they do business. If you operate under a name that is not your own or your entity's name, most states require a DBA. The SBA notes that in most cases the total cost to register a business is under $300, though fees vary.
- Get an EIN. You need a federal Employer Identification Number to hire employees and for several tax filings. The IRS states that you never have to pay a fee for an EIN and warns about websites that charge for one. Form your LLC or corporation first, then apply.
- Get state and local licenses. Phone repair is not on the federal list of regulated activities, but the SBA explains that most small businesses need a combination of state and local licenses and permits. Check your Secretary of State, your county and your city, and track renewal dates. Opening in Puerto Rico? See how to open a repair shop in Puerto Rico.
- Register to collect sales tax. If you sell parts, accessories or devices, your state will likely require you to collect sales tax. The SBA's tax page links to each state's department of revenue, which is where you register.
- Check secondhand dealer rules before you buy used phones. Many states regulate businesses that buy used goods. Florida, for example, requires secondhand dealers to record the seller's ID and right thumbprint and report each purchase to law enforcement within 24 hours. Our guide on how to buy used phones safely covers this in detail.
- Get insured. The SBA lists general liability, product liability, professional liability and commercial property insurance among the common policies, and notes that businesses with employees must carry workers' compensation, unemployment and disability insurance. Ask your agent about customer devices in your care.
- Plan battery disposal. You will collect swollen and dead lithium ion batteries every week. The EPA says they should not go in the trash or recycling bins, recommends taping the terminals or bagging each battery, and points businesses to universal waste rules and certified recyclers. Set up a recycler before you open.
Step 4: Set up the bench and tools
A screen or battery repair needs fewer tools than most people expect. For reference, iFixit's iPhone 14 screen replacement guide lists a P2 pentalobe screwdriver, a tri-point Y000 screwdriver, a suction handle, opening picks, tweezers, a spudger and a heat source (a hair dryer, the iOpener or a heat gun), with safety glasses as optional. A kit like iFixit's Pro Tech Toolkit bundles a 64 bit driver set with pentalobe, tri-point and Torx bits, spudgers, picks, tweezers and an anti-static wrist strap.
Plan each bench around these:
| Item | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Precision driver with pentalobe, tri-point, Phillips and Torx bits | Covers the screws on most phones and tablets |
| Suction handle, opening picks, spudgers | Open adhesive sealed screens and back glass without cracking them |
| Tweezers (straight and angled) | Connectors and small brackets |
| Heat source | Softens adhesive so the panel lifts cleanly |
| Anti-static wrist strap and mat | Protects boards from static |
| Safety glasses | Glass and battery work |
| Parts trays and labeled bins, one per ticket | Screws never get mixed between devices |
| Fireproof container for damaged batteries | A swollen battery has a safe place to go |
| Bright, adjustable lighting | Fewer torn flex cables |
Buy one complete bench first, then copy it for each technician you add. Matching benches make training faster and tools easier to find.
Step 5: Choose your parts suppliers
Parts are your biggest variable cost and your biggest quality risk. Most shops use a mix of sources.
Genuine manufacturer parts.
- Apple's Self Service Repair program sells genuine parts, repair manuals and tools you can buy or rent, the same parts and tools it says it makes available to Apple Authorized Service Providers.
- Apple's Independent Repair Provider program gives approved businesses genuine parts, tools, training and diagnostics for out of warranty repairs. It requires a commercial location (residential addresses do not qualify), an email on your own domain, and Apple certified technicians for repairs with genuine parts. Applications are accepted from U.S. businesses and review can take up to four weeks.
- Samsung's Self-Repair program offers genuine parts, tools and manuals to owners and unaffiliated repair businesses, sold through Encompass Repair Parts.
Wholesale parts distributors. Wholesalers such as MobileSentrix and Injured Gadgets sell displays, batteries, flex cables and tools for iPhone, iPad and Samsung devices, and both list LCD buyback programs where you can send back cracked screens. These are examples, not endorsements; compare several.
Before you commit to a supplier, check:
- Warranty and returns. Read the RMA process. Find out how a defective part is credited and how long it takes.
- Quality naming. Ask what each grade or tier means in plain terms and order samples of each.
- Shipping speed and cutoff times. Next day parts let you keep less inventory.
- Buyback of broken screens. Credits for returned screens lower your real part cost.
Tell customers which kind of part you used. On recent iPhones, Settings shows a Parts and Service History that can label a replaced display, battery or camera as Genuine, Unknown or Used, so the customer will find out anyway. Say it first, and put it on the ticket.
Step 6: Pick software before your first customer
The day you take your first repair, you need to record who left which device, what was wrong, what you promised and what it cost. A notebook breaks down by week two. Look for software that covers:
- Repair tickets with device, IMEI or serial, lock code, photos, signature and status. Our repair ticket checklist lists every field.
- Inventory tied to repairs, so using a screen on a ticket takes it out of stock.
- Customer updates by email or text when a device is ready.
- Point of sale for repairs, accessories and deposits.
- Reports on what you repaired, what you sold and what you earned.
SpotsPOS Repair runs on iPhone and iPad with a web portal, in English and Spanish. It covers repair tracking, inventory, customer notifications and buybacks. Plans start at $45 a month for one employee, with a 14 day free trial and no credit card (see pricing).
Step 7: Price your repairs
Do not copy the shop down the street. Build each price from your part cost, your labor time, your overhead and your warranty risk, then compare with the market. Our guide on how to price phone screen repairs walks through the method with a worked example.
Your launch checklist
- [ ] One paragraph shop description: devices, repairs, setup
- [ ] Startup cost worksheet filled with written quotes, plus a 10% buffer
- [ ] Business registered, EIN obtained, DBA filed if needed
- [ ] State and local licenses and sales tax registration in place
- [ ] Secondhand dealer rules checked (if you will buy used phones)
- [ ] Insurance quotes compared and a policy bound
- [ ] Battery recycler arranged
- [ ] One complete bench set up and tested
- [ ] Accounts open with at least two parts suppliers
- [ ] Repair menu and price list written
- [ ] Repair terms and warranty written and reviewed
- [ ] Repair software set up with your services, parts and terms
- [ ] Google Business Profile and website live
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to start a cell phone repair business?
It depends mostly on rent, build out and how much inventory you stock. Use the worksheet above: list every one time and monthly cost from real quotes, budget at least a year of monthly costs, and add about 10% for surprises, as the SBA suggests. A mail in or on site service costs far less to open than a storefront.
Do I need a license to repair cell phones?
There is no federal license for phone repair, but most businesses need state and local licenses or permits, plus sales tax registration if they sell parts or accessories. If you buy used phones from the public, your state or city may also regulate you as a secondhand dealer. Check with your Secretary of State, county and city before you open.
Do I need a certification to fix phones?
No general certification is required to open a repair shop. Apple's Independent Repair Provider program does require Apple certified technicians for repairs that use its genuine parts, and certification exam fees are waived for approved providers.
Can I run a phone repair business from home?
Many people start with mail in or on site repairs before opening a storefront. Check your local zoning and home business rules first. Note that Apple's Independent Repair Provider program does not accept residential addresses.
What software do phone repair shops use?
Repair shops use software that combines repair tickets, inventory, point of sale and customer messages in one place. Try two or three on a free trial with a real repair from intake to pickup before you choose.
Ready to set up your shop? See how SpotsPOS Repair runs repairs, inventory and sales from your iPhone or iPad.