Start Your Own Business Sharpening Knives

THINGS YOU WILL NEED

*  Sharp Shop Machine
*  Inverter (8oo watts or better)
*  12 volt deep cycle battery
*  Battery charger
*  portable table or cabinet

STEP 1

Purchase a Sharp Shop Machine. Read instructions until you fully understand them. Purchase as many cheap knives as you can from thrift stores, yard sales, or anywhere else you can get them cheap, under . If you have any idea about knife quality, stat with the lowest quality knife you have. Now sharpen it, following instructions. When you think it is sharp,check it with a piece of receipt paper. Start with the base of the knife at the top of the paper, pull the knife through the paper in 1 smooth action. If it cuts clean all the way through the cut, you have achieved success.

STEP2

Continue to practice your sharpening skill. When you can consistently sharpen 30-50 knives without damaging the blade, it’s time to move on. Sharpen knives for friends for free. Tell them you plan to start a business sharpening knives. All you want is for them to tell their friends and co-workers if they like your sharpening. This gives you practice and free advertising.

STEP 3

Check your local classified ads for events like swap meets, community garage sales, motorcycle rallies, car shows and gun & knife shows. Ask if you can set up a stand to sharpen knives. Some events may charge a vendor’s fee. Check with your local government offices to see what type of license you need. Most of the time you might need a vendor’s license. Some events may not have electricity available. This is when you will need the inverter. An inverter and a good 12v deep cycle battery will last you at least a day of sharpening. Charge your battery after each day of events. Carry an extension cord. I like to have a 50′ cord. If the event has electricity, they might let you plug in. A lot of the time for free.

STEP 4

Advertise! Let people know where you will be, Invite people to attend the event if it is open to the public, and remind them to bring their knives. Hang flyers anywhere you can get people to read them. Run an ad in local free papers, newspapers, Radio ( If the event sponsor is advertising by radio, ask to be mentioned) is somewhat expensive, but could be profitable for a large event. You can even go door-to-door offering your services. Just be sure to get the word out to as many people as you can. Don’t forget business cards. If you work out of your house, put a sign out front. Check your local city ordinances for permits and other rules about signs.

STEP 5

Go to all of the restaurants in your area. Ask the manager if they have someone to sharpen their knives. You can offer to sharpen a couple of them for free so they can see what you can do for them. I charge restaurants per knife. Try to set up a sharpening schedule with your customers, once each month, every 2 weeks or every week. Schedule 1 day of the week at a time. when you think you have all that you can do in 1 day, start scheduling another day of the week. Try not to book restaurants for Friday, Saturday or Sunday. These are the days when most big events are scheduled.

STEP 6

Add more items to your booth. I sell new & vintage knives all the time, and I have motorcycle gear for the motorcycle events. These items also sell well at flea markets and swap meets. Try to set up events that you can attend every week, such as flea markets or swap meets that are open every week. People that come to these events regularly may only have a pocket knife with them,but if they know you will be there the next time they come, they might bring their kitchen knives too.

STEP 7

Be creative. If you think a lot of people will be at an event, try to set up a booth. If you try it several times, and your earnings don’t increase, find somewhere else. This business will only be as successful as you want it to be.