Opening a repair counter is a working-capital problem before it is a technical one. The tool list is short. The parts decision is where most new shops either build a margin or lock cash into stock that never moves.
You cannot take in volume without repeatable tooling for screens, batteries and charging ports. Buy for consistency, not for the longest equipment list.
Board-level equipment, a microscope and a laminating line earn their place once incoming volume justifies them. Buying them on day one usually freezes cash you need for stock.
Demand in a repair business is concentrated. A handful of part categories account for most jobs, and the long tail can be ordered per job.
| Part category | Relative demand | Buying notes |
|---|---|---|
| Screen assembly | Largest single category | Needs the widest model coverage; quality tiers change value sharply |
| Battery | Second, and steady | Few part numbers per model, low handling risk, easy to hold deep |
| Charging port and flex | Recurring | Often bundled with microphone or antenna; check assemblies carefully |
| Back glass and housing | Recurring, labour heavy | Adhesive quality decides how the job holds up |
| Cameras, speakers, buttons | Low volume, high urgency | Keep shallow cover; restock on demand |
| Adhesives, seals, screws | Consumable | Running out stops jobs; never let this line hit zero |
The screen is the biggest line of parts cost and the first thing a customer judges. Four categories cover most of what you will be quoted, and they behave differently enough that mixing them silently is a mistake.
Match the tier to the customer, not to your cheapest quote. A resale customer who inspects the device will notice a lower tier, which is why our screen inspection guide separates the tiers on the bench before they reach a job.
Battery is the easiest part to buy well: few part numbers, predictable failure, and a readout the customer can check. Original pulled cells hold the most predictable behaviour. Aftermarket cells vary, and a new cell paired with a transferred original board can produce a health figure that does not match the physical part.
Whatever you fit, record what was used against the IMEI. If a customer checks the reading and the number does not match the work done, the argument is no longer technical. Our battery service outline covers tier selection and test logging for partner work.
Buying direct from a wholesale supplier widens the model coverage and usually improves price at depth, but only if the terms are clear before you send money.
New shops lose more money to unclear terms than to high unit prices. Compare a landed cost per part rather than a headline figure. The framework in our sourcing guide applies directly to parts as well as to handsets.
Stock depth should follow observed volume, not a supplier's price break. Count your model mix for the first thirty days and buy against that data.
A practical pattern: hold several units of the two or three models that appear weekly, keep single units of models that appear monthly, and order per job for anything rarer. Review monthly and let dead SKUs leave the shelf.
Labour should be priced on time and skill; parts should be priced to cover their own cost plus the warranty you actually offer. Blending the two into one number hides a losing service line.
Re-check parts cost before you confirm a quote, and set a policy for parts price movement. Quotes built on last quarter's cost are the fastest way to run a busy counter at a loss. Read our refurbishment versus used explainer if you also resell finished devices alongside repair work.
AppleUsed supplies pre-owned iPhones, tested parts and repair after-sales service to repair businesses and wholesale partners in 40+ countries.
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