If you’ve ever looked into buying a flagship device such as the Samsung S10, iPhone XS or Huawei P30 Pro, you’ll know that they don’t come cheap. You can expect to pay close to if not over $1,000 for one of these new devices. This means that when it breaks, your first choice would naturally be to fix it instead of getting a replacement.
On the plus side, this is making the phone repair industry much more profitable, especially when you consider recent changes in smartphone design. For example, new displays are curved and folded around the bottom, making them significantly more expensive to manufacture. This allows repair stores to charge higher markups for replacements.
If you’ve ever dreamed of running your own smartphone repair business, the current state of the industry makes now a better time than ever to make it happen. In order to help you get on your feet, we’ve listed the most important steps to creating a successful smartphone repair business.
Learning and Certification
Of course, in order to get started in this industry, you’ll have to know what you’re doing. This not only means having a comprehensive understanding of the smartphone repair process, but also that of running a business. There’s a lot to cover when it comes to entrepreneurship and there are a number of ways to brush up on your business knowledge.
Perhaps the best way would be to obtain a certificate in finance or business intelligence through an online MBA course. It’s not only significantly shorter than a traditional college education but also much more affordable and convenient as you can study from home. This will equip you with the knowledge you need to be a successful businessman or woman.
Once you’ve covered the fundamentals of running a business, it’s time to brush up on your smartphone knowledge. There are a variety of places online where you can take courses on smartphone repairs, such as Udemy.
Be sure to cover as many courses as possible that allow you to show off the certifications you acquire. This will give your newly established business a more professional and trustworthy image.
Choose Your Business Model
There are namely two ways you can go here, with each having their own set of advantages and disadvantages.
Mobile Business: This is ideal for entrepreneurs who are low on capital, as you don’t have to deal with the significant cost of opening a store. One downside is that while your customers will appreciate the convenience of you going to them, you’ll only be able to work on one device at a time, potentially lowering your hourly earnings.
Storefront: A storefront is significantly more expensive, but does give you an established location where you can build your brand and earn trust with your customers. You can work on multiple devices at one time and benefit from customers coming to you instead of constantly having to hunt for them yourself.
Establish Yourself Online
With what you may have to spend on equipment and premises or travel expenses, you might not have much left for a comprehensive marketing strategy. Fortunately, the internet makes it easy for any business, no matter how small, to establish a digital presence and grow their audience.
In addition to having your own website, you should also create social media pages on every relevant hub. You can use each social media site for a different type of marketing. For example, you can post repair videos on YouTube and before/after repair images onto Instagram while offering informative articles on smartphone repairs on Facebook.
The more unique, high-quality content you can provide your target audience, the more interest will generate around your business. Be sure to establish yourself on review websites and places such as Google My Business. This will further expose your repair shop to people who live nearby.
Find a Good Spare Parts Supplier
One of your biggest ongoing expenses will be the spare parts you need for each customer’s smartphone. Aside from the cost, you also need to provide a quick service, which means finding a supplier who can deliver stock fast enough. Quality is also important, as low-quality parts will break and customers won’t trust your business.
Therefore, if you want to succeed in the smartphone repair business, you need to ensure that your parts are affordable, available, and good quality. Be sure to look at second-hand or bulk-supply websites such as eBay, Alibaba, and Amazon. Stick to reputable sellers and always do your research before buying off-brand parts.
Conclusion
The key to success is putting an emphasis on quick service and high-quality products. People should know you as the best at what you do.
