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.

Watch making is a calling not everybody is born to do. That is why only few are chosen to participate. It can be a very profitable venture if you have the repairing skills, the attitude and the knowledge.


how to start a clock repair company


Learn how to repair clocks and watches

There are numerous ways to master clock and watch repair. The best method I know is thru actual experience and osmosis. Find a watchmaker who has mastered the art and become his apprentice. Get a job at a clock and watch repair shop and develop the skills, the dedication and the patience it takes to become adept at it. 

In addition to this, supplement your learning by attending repair courses and seminars. It would be a good stewardship of time. Buy a how to book about timepiece repairs. I also suggest you join organizations that will expand your contacts. Search the web for such organizations.

Have the necessary equipment to do the repair

Gather your tools. A basic tool box should have the following equipment. It should comprise of several screwdrivers, oils, lighting, magnification apparatus and a few sizes of tweezers. These would be excellent tools to have as a beginner. 

As your business grows and you become more adept at clock and watch repairing invest on addition tools like a polisher, caliper and a cleaning machine.

Determine your price range

Considering the complexity of mastering a skill in repairing watches and clocks, no wonder a watchmaker can make a good decent living. Learning how to repair watches is a lifelong obligation. A watchmaker has to be knowledgeable of different models out there made from different times with different technologies that control it. 

You can say that watch repairing can be more complex than surgery for each watch presents different signs and symptoms the watchmaker must consider, study, and care for. So ask what you think is fair. But as a guide, try surveying other competitor watch and clock repair services and see how much they ask for. Now you have a price range you can follow.

Fill up the other blanks of your business

  • Start with watch repair business licensing
    Visit your County Clerk’s Office and work on the papers to get a license to operate. File for a registration name for your business. After the process has been accomplished make a copy of the documents and display them at your shop.
  • Look for a visible location
    Survey a couple of areas that have a lot of people. Look up areas like malls, busy streets, and spaces near huge establishments. A lot of times choosing the right place to set up your shop can make you or break you.
  • Advertise your repair services
    Get the word out that you are in business. Have calling cards ready and hand them over to people you meet. Organize a grand opening day to create awareness.

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:

Luckily we have done a lot of this research for you.

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.

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.