Home and personal services

Sneaker cleaning and restoration

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

Some evidenceLast checked 24 Oct 2026

See how this fits you, freeAbout 6 minutes, no sign-up.

Is this for you?

Best for

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

In South Africa: Strong in townships, towns and near schools.

What you need

  • A phone is enough to start
  • Works on everyday data
  • No camera needed
  • No cold selling
  • At least 4 hours a week · age 16+

The money

What it can earn

  1. Pocket money
  2. A top-up
  3. A second income
  4. Can become a full income

This is usually pocket money: helpful, but rarely enough to live on by itself.

What people charge

R45 to R230 per pair

A 2026 SA guide: basic washes about R45 to R100, deep cleans R125 to R230 (Kick-O-Mat); Court Order charges R125. Scenarios assume about two pairs an hour.

Costs to plan for

Start-up
R500 to R3 000
Every month
Cleaning solution, brushes, towels, laces, packaging.
Payment fees
Cash, EFT or QR.
Margin
High; products are cheap.

How it is paid: Price per pair; extras for suede, whitening and laces. Our viability score for it: 55 out of 100 (how we score).

How to start

  1. Test it cheaply Before you spend

    • Clean five pairs for friends and film before and after
    • Price a basic and a deep clean
    • Success signal: 20 paid pairs in a month

  2. First week Days 1 to 7

    • Buy brushes, cleaner and towels
    • Write prices for basic, deep and suede cleans
    • Post your first before-and-after video

  3. First month Days 8 to 30

    • Tag every pair and keep a register
    • Offer a school-shoe deal before term

  4. By three months Days 31 to 90

    • Add whitening and lace swaps
    • Run a weekly collection round

Friends usually bring the first pairs. First income usually takes 3 to 45 days. A day-by-day version for your situation is in the full plan.

Step-by-step guide

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

18 short lessons with scripts, templates and rand prices to copy. R149 once-off, and the first lesson is free.

See what is inside

Customers and demand

Who pays

Young people, parents of school kids, sneaker collectors.

Shoes that look new again.

Is there demand?

SA sneaker laundries publish prices: a deep clean at R125 a pair (Court Order), and a 2026 price guide puts basic washes at about R45 to R100 and deep cleans at R125 to R230 (Kick-O-Mat).

Drop-off at homeSchool-shoe cleaning before termInstagram and TikTok before-and-afters

Getting customers

Before-and-after videos and word of mouth.

Word of mouth and referralsDirect messagesResponding to enquiries

Risks and rules

Watch out for

  • Damaging suede or delicate pairs: test first and agree in writing
  • Lost pairs: tag every pair
  • Slow drying in winter

Competition: Moderate.

Room to grow: Grows with collection rounds and selling care kits.

Legal and tax in South Africa

  • Register for income tax with SARS once you earn above the tax threshold, and keep a record of every sale and every cost (stock, materials, transport and fees are business costs).
  • If you are 16 or 17, you need a parent's or guardian's OK, and an adult should look after payments and any accounts.
  • Never work during school hours.

Questions people ask

How much does it cost to start sneaker cleaning and restoration in South Africa?

Our research puts start-up costs at about R500 to R3 000. Recurring costs: Cleaning solution, brushes, towels, laces, packaging.

How long until the first income?

Typically about 14 days, and between 3 and 45 days. Friends usually bring the first pairs.

Can I do it with only a phone?

Yes, a smartphone is enough to start, although a laptop helps as you grow.

What about tax and legal rules?

Register for income tax with SARS once you earn above the tax threshold, and keep a record of every sale and every cost (stock, materials, transport and fees are business costs). If you are 16 or 17, you need a parent's or guardian's OK, and an adult should look after payments and any accounts. Never work during school hours.

Sources (3)

Free tools for this

Test sneaker cleaning and restoration with your own numbersWork out the rate you need to chargeEstimate the tax on this side income

Not sure this is the one?

The free test ranks every option against your skills, time and budget.

Take the free test

Read next

Researched by the Earn Path team · editorial policy