Question for you PC repair business owners

[thestrangebrew1]

I wouldn't. Technology changes too fast, and users have different needs. I'd get stuff on an as-needed basis, and just keep parts from abandoned machines, or whatever. A one week turnaround isn't bad for a failed component repair imo.

Yea ok. I'll just go on an as need basis. I think as far as pricing goes, I'm going to do the following:

$25 diagnosis fee. If additional work needs to be done per client's req it'll be $100 incl. the diagnosis fee and I take the machine home with me. (OS/virus removal)

If hardware needs to be installed, $25 for installation, no charge for the hardware itself.

If a client needs other services, ie a home network installation, configuring devices to stream on the network etc., I'm thinking $25/hr (still thinking about this one).

For backup services, depending on how much data, I'll charge a flat fee of $50, not incl. hardware (ext. hdd etc.) If it's a small amt I might just throw in a free USB drive.

I may be providing consulting services to the business, ie if the client wants to setup a NAS/home server, I'd do consulting for parts/build, setup and assist in implementation. The goal here would be to provide the consulting service, but eliminate technical support on my end. Again, possibly $25/hr (still up in the air).

I'm going to focus on these 4 services for now, and see how it goes.

 

[sze5003]

If customer needs new hardware , your charging 25 and no charge for the hardware? So for a new hd you would charge $100 total ?

 

[thestrangebrew1]

If customer needs new hardware , your charging 25 and no charge for the hardware? So for a new hd you would charge $100 total ?

Sorry worded that a little weird. The cost of the hardware would be on the client, I would charge to install it. I wouldn't charge the client to order it basically.

 

[sze5003]

Yeah that makes sense. I fix pc's for friends a lot and like many have said they have no clue. Half the time they will ask me to order it and install it.

For something like that I would charge for the hardware and install. That's where it can get expensive because they will want their data backed up too. $25 diag fee, $100 for hard drive, $50 for install and data replaced.

Can be tough making money when you do stuff for people you know. I just normally do crap like that free but they pay for parts.

 

[thestrangebrew1]

Can be tough making money when you do stuff for people you know. I just normally do crap like that free but they pay for parts.

This will be my biggest challenge I think. Our town is so small. I'm not originally from here, but my wife is and knows just about everyone. I'll have to really maintain the line between business and friends.

 

[sze5003]

Yeah it's tough. Especially if you go and free up some virus from a friend's computer next time they will expect it for free too. Family don't charge but friends just tell them your going to have to because they will spread the word.

 

[techs]

Sorry worded that a little weird. The cost of the hardware would be on the client, I would charge to install it. I wouldn't charge the client to order it basically.

Remember to build into the price fees for rma'ing defective hardware. I add between 5-10 dollars markup on hardware. I need that to make up for my losses on rma shipping and other issues that arise with new parts.

Also, just a fyi. If your rates are lower than your competitor be ready to deal with those people who are "super bargain" hunters. I found that when I was just 5 dollars an hour less I got a lot more customers. And a lot more problem customers. People who come in for a problem like their browser won't play video. Than they get it home and they will call saying now their printer doesn't work, thier MS Word doesn't work, etc. and it worked fine when they brought it in and you broke it so you now have to fix it.

I once did a service call 35 miles away. One of the things I fixed was the software for their printer and I printed a couple of test pages. I got a call 3 weeks later saying they never had tried to print since I left and now that they tried it doesn't print.

I go out there and check the logs and they were printing tons of stuff everyday.

You don't want to be the "cheap" computer shop. I try and do more for what I charge than my competitors. In other words 45 dollars at my shop buys you more service than another shop. And I don't have to advertise the cheapest prices.

 

[Fritzo]

How long are you planning on this business? If you don't mind a bit of friendly advice, PC repair shops aren't going to be very lucrative in the coming years due to people switching to ultra-portable laptops and tablets. Not much that can be fixed in those. You're probably going to spend most of your time cleaning infections and transferring data.

 

[BUTCH1]

I used to "help" friends with problems but stopped that a long time ago you would fix a machine for free only to get called again for another free fix, fuck that. Most of the problems were dead PS's, malware, idiots searching for free porn without any antivirus running and dust bunny's so bad the system would operate for 10 min then shut off due to blocked cooling fins on the CPU. An ex-coworker has his own business, he says a lot of his work is laptops nowadays..

 

[exdeath]

I don't do HDDs and data transfers unless they agree to upgrade to solid state. I'm not moving 100 GB of data at 10 MB/s.

Problem with that is if you bill the time it actually takes its hundreds of dollars and not worth it, if you dont, you waste hours for peanuts .

 

[techs]

I don't do HDDs and data transfers unless they agree to upgrade to solid state. I'm not moving 100 GB of data at 10 MB/s.

If my calc is right that's about 170 minutes. What is wrong with that?
Of course you wouldn't want to do it on a service call, but in shop or home just hook it up and watch porn for awhile.

 

[thestrangebrew1]

Remember to build into the price fees for rma'ing defective hardware. I add between 5-10 dollars markup on hardware. I need that to make up for my losses on rma shipping and other issues that arise with new parts.

Also, just a fyi. If your rates are lower than your competitor be ready to deal with those people who are "super bargain" hunters. I found that when I was just 5 dollars an hour less I got a lot more customers. And a lot more problem customers. People who come in for a problem like their browser won't play video. Than they get it home and they will call saying now their printer doesn't work, thier MS Word doesn't work, etc. and it worked fine when they brought it in and you broke it so you now have to fix it.

I once did a service call 35 miles away. One of the things I fixed was the software for their printer and I printed a couple of test pages. I got a call 3 weeks later saying they never had tried to print since I left and now that they tried it doesn't print.

I go out there and check the logs and they were printing tons of stuff everyday.

You don't want to be the "cheap" computer shop. I try and do more for what I charge than my competitors. In other words 45 dollars at my shop buys you more service than another shop. And I don't have to advertise the cheapest prices.

Thanks for the pro tip. Honestly, the prices I listed are substantially lower than the competitors, but they also offer a ton of more services (iphone repair, tv/receiver repair etc.) For an on the side business though, the endless calls from uber cheap customers will be problematic because I also have my reg. 9-5. I don't plan on making this my sole source of income.

As for how long I intend to go with this business, like I said it's a side job basically, so as long as the service is needed. I do plan to evolve into something more specific as the local market demands, but as a completely new business owner, I'll take this in stride.

 

[sze5003]

Lots of people now will have laptops and.they will say "it's slow ". I hate that, knowing it's a laptop that is 4+ years old and it's loaded with crap.

I had a friend drive to my house, 25+ min, didn't charge him to diagnose anything, ran all types of AV and Malware detection. Finally he didn't need anything but wanted windows reinstalled.

A month later I get the same call my laptop is too slow. I told you it's old.

 

[exdeath]

If my calc is right that's about 170 minutes. What is wrong with that?
Of course you wouldn't want to do it on a service call, but in shop or home just hook it up and watch porn for awhile.

So going to spend 2 hours installing and configuring the OS and updates, then another 2 hours moving data, so over 4 hours, and still only charge $45 for a "format", or $10 hr, screw that.

 

[exdeath]

Lots of people now will have laptops and.they will say "it's slow ". I hate that, knowing it's a laptop that is 4+ years old and it's loaded with crap.

I had a friend drive to my house, 25+ min, didn't charge him to diagnose anything, ran all types of AV and Malware detection. Finally he didn't need anything but wanted windows reinstalled.

A month later I get the same call my laptop is too slow. I told you it 's old.

This is where I offer the solution in the form of an SSD. If they don't do that first, then enjoy your slow computer because until you address that archaic tape drive, anything else is futile. Feel free to buy a new computer, it will also have a HDD and be just as slow despite having 100 times the CPU. When you are ready to fix the problem once and for all, call me.

I do a all or nothing package deal on these. SSD, reinstall using Microsoft vanila source with their OEM key, and an external enclosure for their dino drive if its healthy for backup and create a instant recovery image. Everyone loves it. $100 plus their SSD of choice plus enclosure for the old drive. Since I have OEM Windows on a USB 3.0 thumb drive the complete Windows install takes 5 minutes.

Easiest $100 ever and I haven't met anyone who wasnt still orgasming months later. Plus its more pleasant for me next time they need me to work on something when it doesn't take 30 minutes to reboot.

 

[thestrangebrew1]

My radius will only be about 15 miles. This will encompass a pop of about 20000 people if that lol. I'll definitely reconsider my pricing and I need to look into billing software. I'm currently looking at Bookkeeper to do the basics and it's fairly inexpensive.

On the brightside, I just got word that my Home Occupation Permit (to allow me to conduct a small business at my house) has been approved. Now on to the fictitious business name and then the business license. I've already got a few people from work wanting me to take a look at their machines. 🙂

 

[sze5003]

Yeah its what I say too. I try to educate them as much as they will understand. Eventually he wanted a new laptop anyway. But lo and behold I'll get a call when it's full of porn and viruses again.

I never charge this guy cuz his uncle owns a valet business that I used to work at and anytime I'm in the city or need anything they are always able to help me out.

 

[Hugo Drax]

How much do you expect to earn a month/year on this business net of expenses and how many hours do you expect to work on this business every week/month?

 

[techs]

My radius will only be about 15 miles. This will encompass a pop of about 20000 people if that lol. I'll definitely reconsider my pricing and I need to look into billing software. I'm currently looking at Bookkeeper to do the basics and it's fairly inexpensive.

On the brightside, I just got word that my Home Occupation Permit (to allow me to conduct a small business at my house) has been approved. Now on to the fictitious business name and then the business license. I've already got a few people from work wanting me to take a look at their machines. 🙂

I have about the same number, maybe slightly more, of people in a similiar area. Tons of work out there with that many people.

I use QuickBooks Pro 2007. Since I don't need it to do taxes or payroll I don't need any updates so I have just used it for the last 5 years. Before that I used QuickBooks Pro 2003 for 4 years.

I had a bookeeper set it up. I just use it to print invoices and sales receipts and keep track of my recievables and sales tax owed. All my business purchase receipts and bank statements go into a big pile. I just separate my for shop use purchases. And then I give it to the bookeeper at the end of the year and she takes care of everything.

 

[exdeath]

SSDs generate return customers as well. First time SSD users are so mind boggled over their newfound performance they see you as a god that can do miracles and are eager to give you more work 😀

 

[thestrangebrew1]

How much do you expect to earn a month/year on this business net of expenses and how many hours do you expect to work on this business every week/month?

I expect maybe $200-$300/mo and maybe 20 hrs/wk if that. On the research I've done, recommendations are to advertise heavily and get word of mouth out quickly, but I don't want to put myself in a position where I over extend myself Of course there has to be a market for this, so I'm in a bind deciding whether I want to put my business on blast, or just work on what I have lined up and see how word of mouth goes.

 

[thestrangebrew1]

I have about the same number, maybe slightly more, of people in a similiar area. Tons of work out there with that many people.

I use QuickBooks Pro 2007. Since I don't need it to do taxes or payroll I don't need any updates so I have just used it for the last 5 years. Before that I used QuickBooks Pro 2003 for 4 years.

I had a bookeeper set it up. I just use it to print invoices and sales receipts and keep track of my recievables and sales tax owed. All my business purchase receipts and bank statements go into a big pile. I just separate my for shop use purchases. And then I give it to the bookeeper at the end of the year and she takes care of everything.

Thanks I actually just posted a question about software in the software for Windows forum. I'll look into getting my hands on an older version. But I'm running w8 right now. Might have to install 7 if I can't find anything compatible.

 

[exdeath]

That's $3.75 an hour before taxes... 80 hrs a month for $300...

Better off working part time at McDonald's and making more than double that...

The most common mistake people make in this business is being too cheap and not being able to afford to run a business.

Craigslist highschool kids undercharging are not your competition, places like Best Buy are.

 

[thestrangebrew1]

That's $3.75 an hour before taxes... 80 hrs a month for $300...

Better off working part time at McDonald's and making more than double that...

The most common mistake people make in this business is being to cheap and not being able to afford to run a business.

lol yea, I'll be reconsidering my pricing here tonight. But I'd rather be working on a PC than flipping burgers. It just all depends on how many people want my services.

 

[exdeath]

lol yea, I'll be reconsidering my pricing here tonight. But I'd rather be working on a PC than flipping burgers. It just all depends on how many people want my services.

Ill flip burgers for $9 an hour before I work on computers for $3 an hour. In the end its 3x the income and thats really all that matters; the income and lifestyle it affords you is the whole point of doing anything to begin with.

$100/hr is typically the ball park book rate for most all skilled professions.

Just get quotes for AC work, plumbing, auto repair, gunsmithing, body shop, etc.

You can have specials like $49 for virus removal and common basic quick "easy money" services that you can do quickly to remain competative while still being profitable, just like you can get an oil change for $19 at a auto shop that charges $90hr for general labor.