A $15 screen repair kit and a YouTube tutorial is all you need. Charge $40-80 per fix — most phones take under 30 minutes.
| Item | Cost |
|---|---|
| iFixit Pro Tech Toolkit (essential precision screwdriver set) | $30-50 |
| Screen replacement parts for iPhone 11/12/13 (practice + first job) | $15-40 |
| Plastic opening tools / spudgers / suction cups | $5-15 |
| Heat gun or iOpener (heating adhesive for sealed screens) | $0-20 |
| Anti-static wrist strap | $5-10 |
| Total | $55-135 |
You don't need to know every phone. In most US markets, 80% of repair requests are iPhone 11, 12, or 13, and Samsung Galaxy S21 or S22. Go to iFixit.com, pull up the screen replacement guide for each model, and watch it twice. Then order a used/cracked screen for $5-10 from eBay, a practice frame to work on, and do the repair yourself before touching a client's phone. You'll make mistakes — on your own hardware, not theirs. That practice is what earns the right to charge money. One botched repair on a friend's phone costs you a client and your reputation. One botched repair on your own practice phone costs you $10.
Two sources work for most repair techs. iFixit (ifixit.com) — premium quality parts with guides and a warranty. Slightly pricier but fewer comebacks. MobileSentrix (mobilesentrix.com) — wholesale supplier used by professional repair shops, lower per-unit cost once you're doing volume. For your first 10 repairs, use iFixit parts — quality reduces the chance of a failed repair on a client's phone. Order parts only after you have the job confirmed and deposit paid, or keep 2-3 of your most common models in stock after you've built up volume.
Different phones have different part costs and difficulty levels. Build a simple price list: iPhone 11 screen ($40-50), iPhone 12/13 screen ($50-65), iPhone 14 screen ($65-80), Samsung Galaxy screen ($45-70), battery replacements ($25-35 for any model), charging port ($30-50). Post this list on your Instagram, in your messages, and any listings. Transparent pricing is a trust signal — repair shops often hide prices until you're already there. Being upfront converts more customers and reduces no-shows.
Charge friends and family your parts cost only for the first 3 repairs. You're paying for experience, not charity — their phones are your classroom, and you'll make mistakes under lower-stakes conditions. After each repair, ask: did the screen sit flush? Did touch work on every corner? Did Face ID or Face Recognition still work after? Check all functions before handing back any phone. The handback check is how you catch a problem when you can still fix it.
Post on Nextdoor, in local Facebook community groups, and in your high school or college's social channels. The pitch is simple: "Cracked your screen? I fix phones in [Your Area] — cheaper and faster than the mall kiosk." Take a before/after photo of every repair you do (with permission) — that's your entire marketing strategy. One photo showing a cracked screen and a fixed screen is more convincing than any ad. Post it, tag your city, and repeat.
Battery replacements are the easiest upsell. When someone brings you a screen repair, ask: "How's your battery holding up? If you're under 80% health, I can do a battery swap while the phone is already open for $25 extra." Batteries are cheap ($8-12), fast to install when the phone is already open, and high-value to the customer — they're already paying you and their phone is already in pieces. Charging port replacements are slightly harder but pay $30-50 each. Expand into these after your first 10 screen jobs.
iPhone 11, 12, 13, Samsung Galaxy S-series. Parts cost $15-30, 20-45 min labor. Most common repair — highest volume. Offer a 30-day warranty on parts and labor.
iPhone 14/15, Samsung foldables, or screen + battery combo. Higher part cost, slightly longer repair. Battery add-on during screen repair is the most profitable combo — parts already open, charge $25-35 extra.
Battery replacement (any model, $8-12 parts, 15-20 min) or charging port replacement ($5-15 parts, 20-30 min). Low part cost, all-profit labor. Great upsell when the phone is already opened for a screen job.
Copy these templates, fill in your details, and start marketing today. Every template is tested and proven.
📱 Cracked → Fixed. [Photo: cracked screen on left, repaired screen on right] Fixed this [Phone Model] screen today in under 30 minutes — right at my client's house. No appointment needed. No mall kiosk markup. I fix iPhones, Samsungs, and most Android phones in [Your Area]. Drop me a DM with your phone model and I'll send you a quote. iPhone 11/12/13: $[X] iPhone 14/15: $[X] Samsung Galaxy: $[X] Battery swap: $[X] 30-day warranty on all repairs. Text or DM to book. 📍 [Your Area]
🔧 Local phone repair — cheaper + faster than the mall. Hey [Neighborhood]! I do phone screen and battery repairs out of my home in [Your Area]. Same quality as the kiosk, without the $100+ price tag. Current prices: • iPhone 11/12/13 screen: $[X] • Samsung Galaxy screen: $[X] • Battery replacement: $[X] • Charging port: $[X] Most repairs done same day, at your location or mine. 30-day parts warranty. DM me or text [Phone]. Happy to send references from previous repairs.
PHONE SCREEN & BATTERY REPAIR — [Your Area] — Same Day I fix cracked screens and dead batteries for iPhones and Android phones. Prices: • iPhone 11 screen: $[X] • iPhone 12 screen: $[X] • iPhone 13 screen: $[X] • Samsung Galaxy S21/S22: $[X] • Battery replacement: $[X] • Charging port: $[X] I come to you OR you come to me — your choice. 30-day warranty on parts and labor. Text [Phone] with your phone model for a same-day quote. [Your Area] | Fast | Affordable | Guaranteed
"Hey — I fix phone screens on the side. iPhone screens starting at $[X], way cheaper than the Apple Store or mall kiosk. I've done [X] repairs already, takes me about 30 minutes. I come to you or you come to me, same-day if I have the part in stock. Do you know anyone with a cracked screen? Send them my way — I do $5 off per referral for you and for them." [Best used in person or as a DM/text. Post the before/after photo on your story first so people already know you do this before you say it.]