1. Quiz
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  3. Your plan
  4. Your guide

Step-by-step guide

Shoe and bag repairs: your step-by-step start

Replace heels and soles, stitch, glue and stretch shoes, and fix bags and zips, from a small stall, container or home.

  • 18 lessons
  • 5 modules
  • About 1 hour
  • First lesson free

Is this guide for you?

Good fit if

  • Patient people who are good with their hands and leather, often learning from an experienced cobbler first.

Think twice if

  • You cannot put about R1 500 into getting started.
  • You cannot free up about 10 hours a week.

Honest expectations

  • First income usually takes about 14 days.
  • Part time, most people earn a modest top-up from this. Treat bigger numbers you see online with care.
  • The main risk to plan for: damaging an expensive pair: agree the price and risk before you start.

What is inside

  1. Module 1

    Is this right for you?

    What it involves, who pays, and honest expectations.

    1. How shoe and bag repairs worksFree · 5 min
    2. Honest expectations4 min (in the full guide)
  2. Module 2

    Set up and price

    What you need and what to charge.

    1. Your startup kit, costs and skills5 min (in the full guide)
    2. Pricing and getting paid5 min (in the full guide)
    3. Your numbers: a worked example in rands5 min (in the full guide)
  3. Module 3

    Your first week

    The first steps, in order.

    1. Your first week, step by step6 min (in the full guide)
    2. Week one, step 2: Write a price board for the five most common repairs3 min (in the full guide)
    3. Week one, step 3: Find a spot with foot traffic and ask about a permit3 min (in the full guide)
    4. Finding your first customers: who to message5 min (in the full guide)
    5. Messages to copy: your first customers5 min (in the full guide)
  4. Module 4

    Your first month

    A routine that brings in customers.

    1. Your first 30 days: build a routine4 min (in the full guide)
    2. Month one, task 1: Keep a ticket book: name, number, repair, price and deposit3 min (in the full guide)
    3. Month one, task 2: Buy materials in bulk only for repairs you do often3 min (in the full guide)
  5. Module 5

    Months two and three

    Repeat what works, grow and stay safe.

    1. Days 31 to 90: repeat what works and grow4 min (in the full guide)
    2. Months two and three, task 1: Add polish, laces and insoles for sale3 min (in the full guide)
    3. Months two and three, task 2: Offer a school-shoe repair deal before term3 min (in the full guide)
    4. Getting paid safely and spotting scams4 min (in the full guide)
    5. Risks, rules, tax and staying safe5 min (in the full guide)

What it costs to start

R1 500 to R15 000 to get started, from our research

What you will use:

  • Last, hammer and knives
  • Contact glue and heel tips
  • Strong thread and awl
  • Ticket book

Prices change and differ by area, so check two places near you before you buy.

Try it before you buy

Lesson one is free. If it helps, the whole guide is R149 once-off.

Start the free lesson

Reviewed 24 October 2026 by the Earn Path team. Next review due 24 October 2027.