Shoe Repair & Cobbler Service

Repair and restore shoes, boots, and leather goods

Startup Cost
$15,000-$60,000
Difficulty
Intermediate
Time to Profit
10-18 months
Profit Potential
$7,000-$33,000/month

Overview

Shoe repair shops charge $15-$150 per repair depending on service.

Completing 50-150 repairs weekly generates $80,000-$400,000 annually with 65-80% margins after materials and rent.

In 2025, quality shoes cost $150-$500+, making $30-$100 repairs economical.

Services include heel replacement ($25-$60), sole replacement ($40-$150), shoe stretching ($20-$40), zipper repair ($25-$50), leather patching ($30-$80), boot repair ($50-$150), and shoe shining ($10-$25).

Successful cobbler businesses develop leatherworking skills, work with various shoe types (dress, casual, boots, athletic), stock common materials (heels, soles, laces), provide quick turnaround (same-day for simple repairs), and maintain foot-traffic location.

Can add key cutting, watch battery replacement, and leather goods repair (bags, belts, jackets) for additional revenue.

High-end shoe repair (designer brands, exotic leathers) commands premium pricing.

Many repairs take 30-60 minutes.

Location critical: downtown areas, shopping centers, or business districts.

Marketing through local foot traffic, signage, and word-of-mouth.

Some cobblers specialize in high-end or orthopedic shoe work.

Required Skills

  • Shoe Repair Techniques
  • Leatherworking
  • Sewing Machine Operation
  • Material Selection
  • Customer Service
  • Efficiency

Pros and Cons

Pros

  • Recession-resistant (people repair vs. buy new)
  • Multiple revenue streams (shoes, keys, watches, leather goods)
  • Loyal local customer base
  • Can operate solo or with assistants
  • Quick repairs allow high daily volume

Cons

  • Foot-traffic location required (higher rent)
  • Physical demanding work
  • Lower per-repair revenue ($15-$150)
  • Some shoes not economical to repair (cheap footwear)
  • Competition from fast fashion disposable mindset

How to Get Started

  1. Learn shoe repair through training or apprenticeship
  2. Find foot-traffic location (downtown, shopping center)
  3. Invest in cobbler equipment and materials
  4. Stock inventory of common repair parts
  5. Set competitive pricing structure
  6. Add complementary services (keys, watch batteries)
  7. Build local reputation through quality work

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