The business in one offer
Who it serves
Homeowners with pets that have clawed through screens, families who opened windows in spring to find torn mesh, and landlords preparing units for move-in. They pay because removing, rebuilding and reinstalling screens takes tools and patience they do not have, and a full set done on site saves trips to a hardware store.
What to sell first
On-site rescreening of standard aluminum window screens with fiberglass mesh, priced per screen with a three-screen minimum, plus an optional pet-resistant mesh upgrade per screen. Includes removal, rebuilding and reinstallation in one visit. Excluded: sliding glass door frames with custom profiles, retractable screens, porch enclosures, window repair and glass work.
A per-screen price with a minimum makes quoting simple by text from a count. Common frame sizes and two mesh types keep your van stock small, and the pet upgrade adds revenue without new skills or tools.
What could it cost to start?
This is an original example budget for the limited pilot described above. It is not a researched market average or a complete quote for every location.
| Item to price | Example allowance |
|---|---|
| Portable screen table and spline rollers | $220.00 |
| Fiberglass and pet-resistant mesh rolls | $380.00 |
| Frame stock, corners and spline assortment | $300.00 |
| Frame cutter and hand tools | $200.00 |
| General liability insurance deposit | $450.00 |
| Booking page and yard signs | $110.00 |
| Example total | $1,660.00 |
What this assumes—and excludes
Assumes you own a van or SUV that can hold a work table and rolls of mesh. Excludes business licenses, ladder upgrades for second-story screens, owner pay and advertising. Get local supplier and insurance quotes before relying on this budget.
Collect actual supplier, insurance and local-authority information. Add a reserve for delays and unexpected costs; the example total is not a funding recommendation.
How the unit economics work
At an assumed $210.00 per house visit and $34.00 in direct costs, contribution is $176.00 before monthly fixed costs, owner pay and taxes. With 2.2 all-in working hours per unit, that is $80.00 per delivery hour before those deductions. These inputs illustrate the arithmetic; they do not establish a market price or expected earnings.
The example also allows $90.00 in monthly fixed costs. Include unpaid acquisition and administrative time when deciding whether the offer is worthwhile.
Try your own numbers
These are editable planning assumptions, not prices we have verified. Calculations stay in your browser.
Operating result = (price − direct cost) × units − monthly fixed costs. Before owner pay, taxes, financing and startup recovery. At these inputs, delivery requires 22 hours per month, plus any work not included in your per-unit estimate. Sales volume is a scenario, not a forecast.
How to find the first customers
Test a small offer before scaling traffic. Record the source of each enquiry, whether it fits the offer, and whether the buyer pays.
- Ask independent pet stores and groomers whether you can leave a card that explains pet-resistant screen upgrades, and offer their customers a clear per-screen price.
- Contact small property managers before spring leasing season and offer a per-unit screen check and repair at turnover, with photos of each repaired screen.
- Rescreen every window in your own home and photograph a before and after set. Use those photos on your booking page and neighborhood posts where businesses are allowed.
- Put a yard sign at each finished job with customer permission. Track how many inquiries mention seeing a sign in their neighborhood.
What to validate before spending more
- Rebuild screens for two friends' homes and time the whole visit from arrival to final cleanup. Check that your per-screen price covers setup time on small jobs.
- Call two or three local suppliers and compare mesh roll and frame stock prices, including whether they hold your most common frame profiles in stock.
- Ask your city whether mobile repair work needs a general business license or a home occupation permit for storing stock at home.
- Test a spring promotion price against your standard rate in two neighborhoods and record which one yields more booked visits per flyer delivered.
The operational catch
Older homes and some newer builds use odd frame profiles that do not match your stock, and you only discover this on site. Ask customers for a photo of a corner and the frame edge before booking. Carry a small set of less common profiles, and price custom frame jobs separately so a single odd screen does not take an hour of unpaid time.
A practical way to fund the first step
Start with a basic table and a few mesh rolls, and charge a minimum per visit so small jobs cover travel. Use spring revenue to buy more profiles and pet mesh once you know what your area needs.
Separate cash already available from money still to earn. Count only proceeds after direct expenses, and do not spend customer funds needed to fulfill their existing orders.
Questions before you start
Can I repair sliding screen doors?
Many sliding screen doors use standard frames and rollers, but some have custom profiles. Start with simple doors and quote others after seeing photos. Replacing rollers is a useful add-on.
Does pet-resistant mesh really stop claws?
It is thicker and more durable than standard mesh, but determined pets can still damage it. Describe it as more tear resistant rather than pet proof, so customers understand the limits.
What about second-floor windows?
Many screens can be removed from inside the house. For screens that must be removed from outside, consider ladder safety and insurance before accepting the job.
Source-backed checks
These references support the specific checks below. They do not endorse this business idea or substantiate the example prices, costs or demand.
Square's fee page explains that processing rates differ for tapped, dipped or swiped payments versus keyed-in or online payments. Square: Understanding Our Fees.
Google's Business Profile guidelines say a business must make in-person contact with customers during its stated hours to be eligible for a profile. Google Business Profile: Business eligibility and ownership guidelines.
The FTC's advertising FAQ tells small businesses that product claims must be truthful and backed by evidence. Federal Trade Commission: Advertising FAQ's: A Guide for Small Business.
- Understanding Our FeesSquare · Reference checked September 8, 2026
- Business eligibility and ownership guidelinesGoogle Business Profile · Reference checked September 8, 2026
- Advertising FAQ's: A Guide for Small BusinessFederal Trade Commission · Reference checked September 8, 2026
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