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jahudnall · 12-24-2008, 10:37 PM

Hi alabamatech,

Here is just a few comments/suggestions. I started a computer repair company a year ago and let you know some things that helped me.

First, yes do a combination of at clients location repairs and drop-off and pick-up repairs.(If you can convert the garage into an office/repair space that would be great and you can just open the overhead for them. I even got a banner printed that I hang above my garage when I expect a customer.

Do INCORPORATE. I would look in to an LLC. In Oregon its $50 dollars and can be done online at the states website.

If you can afford insurance then get it but I do not have it yet, although I should look into. It can cover you in case something happens but you should do fine your first year if you play the game right.

There really should not be a problem you can not fix if you are in this business. If there is a problem you can not fix it should be a problem that almost no one could fix or would cost a lot to fix (e.g. fried motherboard, in which case you offer to help find a replacement and charge accordingly.)

On the above note: If there is a problem that you just cant seem to fix then let the customer know you need to research the issue some more and you will get back to them when you find a solution. Most problems you can get answers to online with some time googling etc. Just make sure you DO get back with them in a timely manner and be fair and even give a discount or the fix for free. The knowledge you would learn from finding a solution to a problem that you can not fix is more valuable in your personal skill set to recall later then the charge you would charge them. We all run into problems we can not immediately fix, its know how to find the solution in a timely manner that set the good tech apart from the rest.

Here are a few other tips I suggest.

Get a work order, receipt etc designed and that will work efficiency with your process. I have a work order/receipt. One document that I fill in the customer details, problem etc. I bring it out, fill in the resolution, get signatures, keep a copy. On this I have a place for the price of services etc. and a small disclaimer for the customer to protect not only me but them too.

Get some sort of database to hold you customer accounts and info in. I recommend commitCRM. This software is designed for IT companies and is really cheap. It is such a great program.

Get some business cards and hand them out everywhere, leave 3, 4 , or 5 with each customer, offer some sort of referral bonus.

Be friendly with your customers, give new customers discounts and show it on the work order, let them know what it normally costs and the discount they are receiving. People love discounts.

Take it slow, stay organized and keep a planner. Use this planner everyday. Block out everything you need to do and stay on top of it.

Do not invest in yellowpages if you CAN NOT afford to lose all the money invested. I was burned here.......

Word of mouth is your bread winner in this business. Be friendly to everyone. I get calls all the time from referral and I have even stopped a lot of my advertising and still get calls.

KNOW that this will take time to establish a reasonable/profitable client base. I would look into another job and start this part time because it will take at least 6 months to a year before you get enough biz for full time work, unless of course you have thousands of dollars for a marketing and pr campaign.

Get a collection of repair tools and get familiar with them. Keep them on a usb,cd,dvd or hard drive and bring it with you. Keep these tools updated.

okay, I think I wrote enough for now. If you have any questions let me know and I will try and help out.

regards, Jeremy

12-24-2008, 10:37 PM	#2 (permalink)
jahudnall Registered User Join Date: Dec 2008 Posts: 2 OS: vista64	Re: Computer Repair Business Hi alabamatech, Here is just a few comments/suggestions. I started a computer repair company a year ago and let you know some things that helped me. First, yes do a combination of at clients location repairs and drop-off and pick-up repairs.(If you can convert the garage into an office/repair space that would be great and you can just open the overhead for them. I even got a banner printed that I hang above my garage when I expect a customer. Do INCORPORATE. I would look in to an LLC. In Oregon its $50 dollars and can be done online at the states website. If you can afford insurance then get it but I do not have it yet, although I should look into. It can cover you in case something happens but you should do fine your first year if you play the game right. There really should not be a problem you can not fix if you are in this business. If there is a problem you can not fix it should be a problem that almost no one could fix or would cost a lot to fix (e.g. fried motherboard, in which case you offer to help find a replacement and charge accordingly.) On the above note: If there is a problem that you just cant seem to fix then let the customer know you need to research the issue some more and you will get back to them when you find a solution. Most problems you can get answers to online with some time googling etc. Just make sure you DO get back with them in a timely manner and be fair and even give a discount or the fix for free. The knowledge you would learn from finding a solution to a problem that you can not fix is more valuable in your personal skill set to recall later then the charge you would charge them. We all run into problems we can not immediately fix, its know how to find the solution in a timely manner that set the good tech apart from the rest. Here are a few other tips I suggest. Get a work order, receipt etc designed and that will work efficiency with your process. I have a work order/receipt. One document that I fill in the customer details, problem etc. I bring it out, fill in the resolution, get signatures, keep a copy. On this I have a place for the price of services etc. and a small disclaimer for the customer to protect not only me but them too. Get some sort of database to hold you customer accounts and info in. I recommend commitCRM. This software is designed for IT companies and is really cheap. It is such a great program. Get some business cards and hand them out everywhere, leave 3, 4 , or 5 with each customer, offer some sort of referral bonus. Be friendly with your customers, give new customers discounts and show it on the work order, let them know what it normally costs and the discount they are receiving. People love discounts. Take it slow, stay organized and keep a planner. Use this planner everyday. Block out everything you need to do and stay on top of it. Do not invest in yellowpages if you CAN NOT afford to lose all the money invested. I was burned here....... Word of mouth is your bread winner in this business. Be friendly to everyone. I get calls all the time from referral and I have even stopped a lot of my advertising and still get calls. KNOW that this will take time to establish a reasonable/profitable client base. I would look into another job and start this part time because it will take at least 6 months to a year before you get enough biz for full time work, unless of course you have thousands of dollars for a marketing and pr campaign. Get a collection of repair tools and get familiar with them. Keep them on a usb,cd,dvd or hard drive and bring it with you. Keep these tools updated. okay, I think I wrote enough for now. If you have any questions let me know and I will try and help out. regards, Jeremy Last edited by jahudnall; 12-24-2008 at 10:41 PM.