Stock for the phones that walk in, not the phones you like
A new shop’s first mistake is buying one screen for every model. The second is buying the cheapest grade of everything. Repair demand follows the installed base with a two to four year lag: the phones breaking today were sold two to four years ago. In most markets in 2026 that means iPhone 11 through 14 make up the bulk of tickets, with 15 and 16 series growing and X, XR and XS still steady. Start with those, add models as tickets prove demand, and keep a supplier who ships in days so you do not need to stock the long tail.
First stock list: screens
| Model | Grade | Qty | Why |
|---|---|---|---|
| iPhone 11 | Incell LCD | 3 | LCD model, Incell is close to original, high volume |
| iPhone 12 / 12 Pro (shared) | Soft OLED | 3 | One screen fits both; highest OLED volume |
| iPhone 13 | Soft OLED | 3 | Rising volume |
| iPhone 13 Pro | Refurbished Original | 1 | 120 Hz customers notice aftermarket |
| iPhone 14 | Soft OLED | 2 | |
| iPhone 14 Pro | Refurbished Original | 1 | |
| iPhone XR | Incell LCD | 2 | Still common, budget customers |
| iPhone X / XS | Hard OLED | 1 each | Low price point, declining |
| iPhone 15 | Soft OLED | 2 | Growing |
| iPhone SE 2020 / 2022 (shares iPhone 8 screen) | Incell LCD | 2 | One part covers three models |
Keep one Soft OLED and one Refurbished Original for the Pro models where the customer will pay for 120 Hz and original colour. Our screen selection guide explains the grades; all are in the iPhone parts catalogue.
First stock list: batteries
Batteries sell in larger numbers than screens and do not break in transit, so stock deeper. Two to three each for iPhone 11, 12, 12 Pro (same battery), 13, 13 Pro, 14, 14 Pro, XR and SE 2020; one each for X, XS, 11 Pro, 15 and 15 Pro. Choose Original Chip or Pre-Programmed (JCID) grades so Battery Health shows after the job; read battery health and cycle count before you write your warranty text. Add a pack of adhesive strips per model.
First stock list: small parts
- Charging port flex for iPhone 11, 12, 13, 14 and XR, one each. Read charging port diagnostics first so you do not burn through them.
- Rear camera lens glass for 11 to 14, two each. Cheap, fast job, high margin.
- Back glass for 12, 13 and 14, one each, if you have a laser or plan to fit one; otherwise skip.
- Screen adhesive and battery adhesive for every model you stock.
- Screw sets and a few earpiece meshes; both get lost or damaged more often than you expect.
- Tempered glass protectors for your top ten models. Every screen repair should leave with one.
Tools: week one
- Driver set with pentalobe P2, Phillips 000, tri-point Y000 and standoff bits.
- ESD mat, wrist strap, magnetic screw mat.
- Heat plate or heat gun, suction cup, plastic picks, metal and plastic spudgers, ESD tweezers.
- Known-good charger and cable, USB ammeter, multimeter.
- Isopropyl alcohol, lint-free wipes, Kapton tape, UV glue and lamp for small cracks.
- A fireproof battery pouch and a sand bucket.
Most of this is under Screwdrivers, Tweezers and Kits and Tools and Equipment.
Tools: first month
- A programmer. JCID V1SE with screen and battery boards, or QianLi iCopy Plus. Without one you cannot restore True Tone or fix battery pop-ups, and customers will ask. See using a JCID programmer.
- A display tester such as the DL S800 once you hold more than about twenty screens.
- Microscope and hot air station only when you decide to do board work; do not buy them for a screen-and-battery shop in month one.
Suppliers: two, not one
Keep a primary supplier for stock orders and a second for urgent single parts, even if the second is more expensive per unit. A single supplier’s stock-out becomes your stock-out. Agree grades, warranty and QC video in writing before the first stock order, following how to order parts from China safely. Order small first, then increase as the defect rate proves out.
Pricing the first jobs
Price by grade and say so on the menu: Incell, Soft OLED, Refurbished Original. Customers who are offered the choice complain less afterwards. Put the Unknown Part note and True Tone transfer in your standard explanation; see the Unknown Part guide. Keep a written warranty, typically 90 days on parts and labour, excluding physical and liquid damage.
Budget
The stock above is roughly 35 screens and 35 batteries plus small parts, which lands between 2,500 and 4,000 USD at wholesale depending on grade mix. Week-one tools are 300 to 500 USD; a programmer adds 150 to 400 and a display tester with cables 250 to 400. A workable shop opens on under 6,000 USD in parts and tools, with the rest of the budget going to rent, signage and a point-of-sale system that tracks tickets and parts.
Safety note
Set up the battery area before the first ticket: a non-flammable work surface, no solvents stored next to batteries, a fireproof pouch, and a metal bin for removed cells that goes to a recycler. Do not store swollen batteries overnight indoors. Teach every technician to disconnect the battery before touching any flex. These habits cost nothing on day one and are expensive to add after an incident.
FAQ
Should I stock Samsung parts too?
Only after the first month of tickets shows demand. Samsung screens are model-specific and costly to hold; order to ticket at first.
Which grade should be my default?
Soft OLED for OLED models and Incell for LCD models give the best balance of price and customer satisfaction. Offer Refurbished Original as the upgrade.
How much stock is too much?
If a part has sat for 90 days, you ordered too deep. Screens for current models lose value every quarter.
Do I need a laser machine on day one?
No. Back glass jobs can be sent out until volume justifies the machine; see our back glass guide.