Ask Me a Question About The Computer Business

Stefan says:

Hi Bryce –

I’m 16, and I started my computer repair business in my neighborhood. I’m not getting a load of business, although it’s enough for me to live off of.

I’m certified, but apart from that, do you have any other pieces of advice for a teenager working on his repair business?

Thanks,

Stefan

Scott says:

I’ve been in business a year now and i’m struggling financially and I was wondering if it gets any better in the second year? I realize its the toughest the first year but does it get better? Some months I’ve done really good other months nothing.

Majestic says:

Hey Scott…

I used to be struggling like yourself. Advertising and being organized helped me enormously.

These days I get calls from clients I services more than a year ago there’s always some sort of client traffic so to speak. Repeat business.

I would recommend that you advertise in classified ads. It doesn’t have to be in the yellow pages ($$$) but everything helps.

I advertise in 1 newspaper and 2 kind of suburban papers in 3 different areas of my city and it really has paid off. I also advertise on craigslist.

You can be the best in the business but if nobody knows who you are it really does not matter.

When you are not busy you can always use that time to plan other ways to generate business. Flyers, leaflet drop offs, etc…

What REALLY made a difference for me besides the advertising was my ORGANIZER. I don’t even use a blackberry. I find that as soon as I started writing things down properly in my agenda.. the more organized I was the more business came in and the more successful I’ve been.

I realize this question was for Bryce but I really have gone through a lot so I thought I’d just give you my 2 cents and I hope they help.

Regards,

Majestic

David says:

Hi there, i am just about ready to start my PC repair business, i am just in the process of getting a COMP Tia + certificaton. My qusetion is about insurance. I am from England and wondered if anybody can help, i think i need some form of liability insurance, if this is correct, what levels of cover do other Techs have and what sort of premium should i expect to pay.

TheBeardedOne says:

David,
You will almost certainly need Porfessional Indemnity Insuarance and Public Liability (as already stated). You can get some quotes here http://www.decision-finance.co.uk/professional_indemnity_insurance.html and Good Luck to all =)

Adora says:

Good Evening everyone,

I wanted to ask how would you get into a contract with a small business thats just opened up? A real estate agency recently opened in the Area and I wanted to help them with IT Maintenance etc…(If they arnt taken)

What would you do?
a) Send an email
b) walk in there
c) post a letter
d) Pretend I’m a customer and drop my documents on the floor with my Business Services Listed.

With Regards,
Adora

Michel G. says:

On-site work vs. taking back the computer ?

In this activity, many tasks require a lot of time. Do you try to make as much as possible at the client location or do you take back the computer as soon as you are facing a non trivial problem or a long task ?

One typical situation is the complete antivirus scanning of a computer. It can take more than one hour especially with portable computers. I have one running now : 25 min. 8%.
I can’t imagine sitting for two hours or more doing nothing. It’s also not good value for the customer.

There is also the problem of planning. Someone phones you, says his PC won’t boot, needs it yesterday, when can you come ? If the PSU has died, it takes 1/2 hour. If his windows is so populated with trojans that even though you cleaned up everything, the system is so screwed that you need to install from scratch, plus backups of course, then it can take a workday or more. How do you do when you have other clients waiting ?

So i have decided to make those long tasks at my place as a first rule but it has some disadvantages :

1. The client asked for someone to come at his home or office to have it solved there. If he wanted to bring his computer in a shop he could have done it by himself. Of course he has the diagnostic in his place so if the problem is trivial, it is solved without needing a transport.

2. Maybe the customer needs his computer tomorrow morning. In that case there is no choice, solve the problem there.

3. Bringing back the computers is accumulating work for later but you still have to do it ! If you come home late in the evening, it will be hard to start a complex task. And if your next day is busy, another delay and then the client is upset. That never happens when you work on-site, although sometimes you have to come multiple times.

4. Something might break when the computer is under your responsability, or worse, some client might accuse you even if there is no damage. (happened once, client refuse to pay new hdd, ram and, of course, work because there is a hole in the back of the computer : a missing cache where PCI cards fit. Of course the metal piece was missing before. I could have solved that easily but the guy just keep saying that as i work bad he doesn’t want to see me again …)

5. You win less for the same number of hours because you won’t ask the same price on-site than off-site (after all maybe i should get paid for watching that antivirus working while I drink a glass of wine with the client …)

Any advice ?

ben says:

I am having a hard time getting a client to get new servers the current servers are over 5 years old. I would love a document to show them that it’s time to replace the systems with new ones

Tesla says:

Hi David,

I pay around £150-£200 per 12months but I am also insured for wall mounting Plasma TV’s, installing projectors etc. as my business also undertake AV installations.

The cover is for £2mil which you will find when working for larger clients, perhaps schools they stipulate as a minimum.

Drop me a PM or email via the forums for any more info.