San Diego's most trusted niche tech repair has been serving individual photographers, retail dealers, schools, and government clients since 1974. Film and digital cameras, lenses, and accessories. National mail-in program. Significant repeat clientele leads to steady revenue and cash flow. Current owners have implemented and invested into systems, processes, CRM, and technology to lay the groundwork for immediate scalability.

Top Highlights

Current owners spend fewer than 5 hours per week overseeing operations remotely - though cash flow numbers reflect buyer coming in to replace an employee
No technical skills required -- a fully trained team of skilled technicians handles all repairs, supported by a dedicated in-house trainer
Generous seller financing - $75K down, remainder on a 5 year seller note (6% interest)
Long-tenured staff -- three repair techs (a fourth in training) with a combined 100 years of experience; one tech has been on staff since 2004, another for 16 years
Loyal nationwide customer base -- walk-in traffic from across San Diego County plus a national mail-in program generating over 2,000 service tickets per year
Very little direct competition -- one of the only dedicated camera repair shops in Southern California; manufacturer repair centers charge more and take twice as long
Growing markets -- film photography is experiencing a major cultural revival, driving increased demand for repair services alongside a steady digital camera market
51-year brand with proven reputation -- 4.6 stars on Google and 4.5 on Yelp across hundreds of reviews
Perfect for a first-time buyer or a multi-business operator looking for a passive income asset


Business Overview
Founded in 1974, this is San Diego's most established camera repair institution -- operating continuously for over 51 years and changing hands only twice in its history. The current owners stabilized, modernized, and grew the operation before deciding to return to their full-time careers, and the business runs entirely without their day-to-day involvement.
The shop services film and digital cameras, lenses, and related equipment for a diverse client base that includes individual photographers, retail camera dealers, school districts, government agencies, police and fire departments, and military clients. The business holds authorized warranty repair status for a major lens manufacturer and services equipment from virtually every major brand.
Technicians are compensated on commission only (40% of labor billed), which means payroll costs flex downward during slower periods -- a meaningful structural advantage for cash flow management.
Day-to-day operations run on modern, cloud-based systems including a dedicated repair CRM, QuickBooks Online, and an online payroll platform. The business can be overseen entirely remotely.

Financial Summary

2024 Revenue: $ 454,239
2024 SDE: $ 82,148

2025 Revenue: $ 489,700
2025 SDE: $ 88,506

Current rent: $3,815/month | Lease expires August 2026 (3-year renewal typical)

Growth Opportunities

Only 3 of 6 repair benches are currently in use -- adding 1 to 2 technicians could double ticket volume with minimal capital investment
National retail dealer outreach -- most camera retailers subcontract repair work; this shop is positioned to become their preferred outsourced solution
School and municipal outreach -- school photography programs operate on committed purchase order budgets, representing recurring contract revenue
Camera rental department -- in-house repair capability creates a structural cost advantage over competitors who lose margin to damaged rental equipment
Marketing is essentially untapped -- no active PPC or SEO spend; a modest digital budget could meaningfully grow the national mail-in business

Inventory level is 15-20k and is included in the sale