TV repair: a guide for pros

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

Offering tv repair

TV repair is a parts-and-diagnosis job where the customer wants to know whether repair makes sense before they pay. Win it by testing each section of the TV in order and being straight about the repair versus replace decision.

What customers ask

  • Why is my TV dark?
  • Can you fix the power board?
  • Is the screen worth fixing?
  • How long will the repair take?
  • Will the TV last after the repair?
  • Do I need a new TV?

How to win the job

  • On the call, ask for the TV brand, model number, size, age, the symptom and whether the TV shows any status light pattern.
  • Check the input source, the cables and the power before you open the TV, and show the customer the results.
  • Test the power board, the backlight circuit and the main board with the correct equipment, and record each reading.
  • Quote each part on its own line with the part number, and say if the part is no longer made.
  • Tell the customer straight when the panel is damaged and the repair does not make sense, and quote the options.
  • Test the TV at full brightness for a set period before the customer takes it back, and log the result.

What to put on your profile

  • Post photos of repaired TVs with the power board, backlight or main board shown
  • List the TV brands and sizes you service, and the boards and parts you keep on hand
  • State the screen repairs you handle and the ones you refer out
  • Show a sample repair report with the test results and the part numbers

Follow-up that helps the customer

  • Suggest a surge protector or power conditioning for the TV after a board failure
  • Offer a wall mount check when the TV was mounted and the bracket looks loose
  • Recommend a firmware update after a board repair to confirm the settings are current

Licenses and permits

TV repair usually does not need a separate contractor license, but work involving in-wall power, outlets or high-voltage components may require a licensed electrician or trade training. Confirm your scope with your state or local licensing agency before you take paid work.

Questions

Do I need a license to repair TVs?

It depends on where you work and what the repair includes. Check with your state or local licensing agency, and confirm whether any electrical work in the repair needs a licensed trade.

How do I handle a customer who wants a cheap fix on a damaged panel?

Explain the damage with photos, and say what the repair would and would not fix. Put the decision in writing so the customer knows the risk.

What do I do with a part that is no longer made?

Tell the customer in writing, and check for a compatible board or a refurbished part. If none exists, say the repair cannot be completed and offer the options.

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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