1. Quiz
  2. Your result
  3. Your plan
  4. Your guide

Step-by-step guide

Sneaker cleaning and restoration: your step-by-step start

Hand-clean, whiten and restore sneakers and school shoes, with drop-off at home or collection in your area.

  • 18 lessons
  • 5 modules
  • about 1 hour in total

Is this guide for you?

Good fit if

  • Neat, patient people who love sneakers and can build a following with before-and-after photos.

Think twice if

  • You do not want to find and talk to customers yourself.

Honest expectations

  • First income usually takes about 14 days.
  • This is usually pocket money: helpful, but rarely enough to live on by itself.
  • The main risk to plan for: damaging suede or delicate pairs: test first and agree in writing.

What is inside

  1. Module 1

    Is this right for you?

    What it involves, who pays, and honest expectations.

    1. How sneaker cleaning and restoration 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 prices for basic, deep and suede cleans3 min (in the full guide)
    3. Week one, step 3: Post your first before-and-after video3 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: Aim for tag every pair and keep a register3 min (in the full guide)
    3. Month one, task 2: Offer a school-shoe deal before term3 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 whitening and lace swaps3 min (in the full guide)
    3. Months two and three, task 2: Run a weekly collection round3 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

R500 to R3 000 to get started, from our research

What you will use:

  • Brushes and cleaner
  • Microfibre towels
  • Tags and register
  • Phone for videos

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.