What are the basic tools & equipment I need to get started doing repairs?

One of the most attractive things about the cell phone repair business is how inexpensively you can get started.  

We cover this in depth in the Cell Phone Repair Essentials CRE106 course and we also provide recommendations on where to purchase these items for the best quality and pricing.

At a bare minimum we recommend at least:

  1. Desk/workstation with enough space to stay organized and hold your tools and equipment.  We suggest ideally a 5’ x 4’ table or workstation but even something as small as 32” x 24" desk can work well.
  2. Ample lighting via overhead lights or desk lamps to see properly so you’re not straining your eyes.
  3. Magnifying glass (can be lighted as mentioned in #2), jeweler’s loupe, etc.  Preferably something that doesn’t tie up a hand so you can work with two hands.
  4. ESD Mat & Wrist Strap.  This prevents you from discharging static electricity into a device, potentially destroying it beyond repair.  Don’t skip this one!
  5. Hand Tools:  Basic tools such as screwdrivers, spudgers, iSesamo and non-mar nylon openers are essential for getting into the trickiest devices.  This is the recommended tool quick for quality and price here:  https://amzn.to/3kWY4eH
  6. Heat Station:  This is a simple controllable, low-heat, station to help soften adhesives that are holding the device components together and in place.
  7. Organizational system/method.  You need a structured way to keep track of where everything came from and where it goes so nothing gets lost, mixed up or left out.  This can be as simple as a magnetic mat, the Cellular Repair School proprietary SMPLE system or even just an organized way of taking things out so you know exactly how to put them back.  We recommend something more organized, especially if you’re completing a lot of repairs that you come back to at a later time.
  8. Digital Multimeter.  It’s always a great idea to have a multimeter on hand to help when the repair doesn’t go as planned, such as a button not working or something simple needs to be tested with basic troubleshooting.  You can easily apply the knowledge and techniques taught in our Cell Phone Repair Essentials course to help you figure out what the culprit might be.  Don’t underestimate how much of a lifesaver having even just basic electronics knowledge can be when you’re working on a customer’s precious device.
  9. Adhesives.  Be sure to have some double sided tapes in various widths for putting things back together and holding them in place. 
  10. Proper training & Certifications.  This cannot be stressed enough!  Do not be a YouTube jockey.  Learn how to do things the right way.

While this is not even close to a comprehensive list, it's enough to get you started doing quality repairs and earning money quickly.