Small engine repair: a guide for pros

What customers ask, how to win the job, and what to put on your profile.

Offering small engine repair

You repair small gas engines, including trimmers, chainsaws, blowers, generators and tillers, cleaning fuel systems, replacing ignition and starting parts and tuning the carburetor. Customers come back to shops that get the engine running right and explain what went wrong.

What customers ask

  • Why won't my trimmer start after sitting all winter?
  • Why does my chainsaw run rough?
  • Is the generator safe to run in the garage?
  • Why is the pull cord hard to pull?
  • Is it worth fixing an old blower?

How to win the job

  • On the first call, ask whether the engine cranks, whether it fires, and how the fuel has been stored, then give a likely cause.
  • Carry spark plugs, air filters, primer bulbs, fuel lines, recoil springs and ropes for the brands you service most.
  • Drain and inspect the fuel system on every no-start, since stale fuel is behind many of these calls.
  • Check the ignition for spark with a tester and replace the coil or module only after the test confirms it.
  • In the quote, name each part, the test that confirmed it and the warranty term.
  • Run the engine under load before the customer picks it up, and show them how the fuel should be stored.

What to put on your profile

  • Photos of cleaned carburetors and replaced recoil starters
  • The equipment brands you service, such as trimmers, chainsaws and generators
  • Whether you service generators, and how you handle fuel storage advice

Follow-up that helps the customer

  • Suggest draining the fuel before long storage or adding a fuel stabilizer
  • Recommend replacing the air filter and spark plug at the start of each season
  • Remind the customer to keep equipment out of enclosed spaces when it is running

Licenses and permits

Small engine repair is generally not licensed as a trade. Check with your state or local licensing agency or business office for any business license that applies.

Questions

Do I need a business license for small engine repair?

Requirements vary by state and locality. Check with your state or local licensing agency or business office before you take paying work.

How do I get leads on infinibell?

Pros join free and pay only for the leads they accept. You can decline any lead for free. We review profiles before they go live, and the Insured badge shows once we have checked your current insurance.

About this guide

This national guide is written and checked by infinibell. Rules and conditions differ by place, so local pros are credited on guides for the cities they serve, not on national ones.

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