How I manage my moneyThe hobby repair service that needs a price for labour

The rhythm of the weekend

My garage has become a sanctuary of chains, gears, and lubricant. As an engineer, the precision of a bicycle repair suits my temperament perfectly. During the week, I focus on my primary role, but come Saturday morning, my focus shifts entirely to the small repair shop I have built out of my home. My mortgage of £940 per month is manageable, but the side business was meant to provide a little more freedom.

The hidden cost of labour

My last month of work brought in £320 in revenue. However, after deducting £125 for parts, the profit looks thinner than I expected. I have been putting in roughly eight hours of labour, but I find myself failing to account for that time in my final quotes. I often undercharge because I enjoy the work, but I am beginning to see this as a flaw.

Pricing for reality

I have avoided charging for the time spent troubleshooting complex issues, which is a mistake. If a repair requires expertise I have not yet mastered, I end up spending hours researching at my own expense. It is becoming clear that I need to be more selective, refusing jobs that fall outside my primary skillset instead of trying to force a fix.

Treating my hobby as a business has shown me that my time has value, even if I struggle to charge for it.

Insurance and professional boundaries

I have been ignoring the reality of insurance and the liability that comes with charging for work. When I treat this as a favour, it feels safe, but once money changes hands, the expectations shift significantly. I am currently looking into the logistics of proper coverage, which will inevitably eat into my margins.

The trade-off of passion

There is a real risk that by professionalising my hobby, I am stripping away the very joy that brought me to the workbench. I have to decide if the financial gain is worth the loss of my weekend peace. Some repairs are simply not worth the stress, and learning to say no is a skill I am just beginning to develop.