Part time PC repair buisness- advice please

[Tazman]

I like that last one Ed_S

Mike

[howste]

I've done this as a side business (read: hobby) for several years now. Just a few things to mention:

• I build computers and sell parts, but I don't carry any inventory - why should I when the local wholesaler has everything on hand?
• Like Ed_S mentioned above, get a sales tax ID number and keep track of everything you charge tax on. I buy parts tax-free, so there's no confusion about what hardware I owe sales tax on.
• I claim a percentage of my house as business expense, and this always saves me money at tax return time. I also keep track of and claim mileage for picking up parts (when I don't have the time for free delivery ) and onsite service.
• I have a standard labor rate of $45/hr. I charge this to businesses, but only $35/hr to individuals. They get happy when I tell them I'm charging them less than the standard rate.
• I don't try to make a living at it. It's fun for me, and has the added bonus of a little extra income.
• I advertise by word-of-mouth. I tried a couple of different things advertising, and basically wasted my money.

[cadetstimp]

The trickiest thing about running a business like this is knowing how to diplomatically draw the line between PC service and user training. Too many times there's nothing wrong with the PC but in explaining this to the user and how things work it turns into a training session (especially in regards to laptops). This is especially true when users try to argue that they are being cheated when all they really need is training. Training and PC Service should always be respected a two seperate things ...otherwise you could be wasting a lot of valuable time with no return. Some people guard against this by charging a straight hourly rate regardless of what is being done.

That is so true - many times the problem is just getting the machine to work for the client - and after the fact your find that they may be online - but the machine will not function as they have nerver done any updating - and when you tell them to go online and get what they need they still look at you funny - twitchy eye stop speaking - then you know to run . fast

Alien alert -


truly many times a problem that has come to me - is more operator error - and not knowing how to do anything more than turn it on and get mail - surf - when they want to do something with it - like build a web page - and the salesman told them they could with that machine - they think its the machines fault when they cannot do it - or get a confused mess onscreen.

wiz - but thats a whole new subject.

[TOAD6147]

I would (and have) charged my own mother that.

Now, THAT'S brutal, let me tell ya'!

[KAknight]

I am currentally doing this sort of work too. I got started by putting up a free website - www.20m.com Then I printed up some free business cards - www.vistaprint.com I started putting up a bunch of those business cards everywhere. I went to some small businesses and most of them took a card and taped it to the top of their monitor. I put an little envelope full of cards next to the tape return slot at Blockbuster. I left fliers in the laundry room several apartment complexes. I put cards on boards in college dorms. I got so much business I started handing it off to my other tech friends. I don't make any money off parts. I just quote directally from www.pricewatch.com I usually charge $10-$15 less then the retail stores for work. I take off $10 if they promise to tell a frend about me. Stables, BestBuy. & CompUSA all charge between $60-$70 an hour for in store labor. I usually do on-site work. One piece of advise - do not give away any software. You will get asked, but do not do it. Just buy a license for Windows 98 SE. It is a lot cheaper than going to jail.