dsteven2

Okay just started a computer repair business. Besides finding my own work from Home users and other small businesses, are there companies or brokers that work with local computer technician's that would have work and are willing to set technicians up with the people who need work done? Almost like a middle man that businesses or people would call to get work done and then the middle man would give the work to local technicians. If so who are these companies and where can I find them at. Any help would greatly be appreciated. Thanks

Dirkpitt289

That's a great idea but I wouldn't know where to even begin to look.

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Dirkpitt289

Cellus

Welcome to TSF.

There are companies that hire out techies, but they're usually an employee of the company and not independent. Look around and generally network a bit - eventually you may find that particular niche you are looking for. Give these companies phone calls and correspond with them.

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jasonkozdra

My best advice (sometimes I get lazy and don't follow it myself) is to fill your shirt pocket with business cards, schedule a whole day to go knocking on the doors of businesses, and give your best sales pitch. Sometimes you will find work that day. I have even had people call me with work 6-8 months later due to that initial contact.

Don't try these "brokering" type shortcuts. Get out and beat the pavement. You are building relationships, not just servicing PCs. Focus on the relationship. It might take a year or so, but I am finding that it pays off.

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Jason Kozdra
Vero Beach PC, Inc.
Computer Repair &
Tech Support

dsteven2

Jason

Thanks for the reply, I plan on going out and finding my own business and creating new relationships but in the mean time do you know of any brokers that I could go through to make get some revenue moving? Let me know if you have any ideas

Thanks

Doug

jasonkozdra

Sorry, but if I knew, trust me, I would use the resource.

I have had to build what little business I have the "old fashioned way".

It doesn't happen overnight.

I wish you the best.

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Jason Kozdra
Vero Beach PC, Inc.
Computer Repair &
Tech Support

dsteven2

Thank you for your input, if I find anything out I will post and let you know

Doug

PanamaGal

When we were doing business in the states, the owner of the local radio Shack contacted us and aasked if he could recommend us to his customers who needed computer repair, since they didn't provide that service. We gave him our business cards and he handed them out to his customers when they needed repairs. Perhaps you could call on some local electronics stores and see if you could do this?

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bry623

I distributed flyers with my numbers on them in every business that would let me.

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Chevy

Here's another one:

Get a bunch of stickers that have your company name/contact info on them, along with "This keyboard is warranted for life".

Give them out to smaller businesses (those that wouldn't likely have a full-time IT type).

Now you've got your name and number in front of them all the time. IF someone does call you on the free keyboard, your bound to find other things wrong ....

(I got this from an HVAC friend who's doing the same, but with thermostats).

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Zazula

About the tech support brokers, this type of companies exist (at least in Greece); they have a phone number you call for whatever problem you have (from plumbing to appliances to electronics to what have you), and they arrange that the appropriate technician takes care of your problem. So, it is very easy to contact them; you have to open Yelow Pages and retrieve their phone numbers from their classified ads there.

I believe that nowadays, even companies which normally used to prefer hiring a technician (or adding an extra technician), are in a mindset of opting for subcontracting; that is you can approach companies that use computer tech support (or even offer this service to customers and get paid for it), and let them know they can divert some workload to you - I have seen this working, also.

Of course, the best way for expanding your client base is being referred by satisfied customers. Now, if you make sure that this initial clientele pool contains a couple of technology-relative or technology-connected companies or stores, an interesting thing can happen: these folks are deemed by the community as having a more educated idea about tech support; so they are asked far more often to refer a good tech - and you can end up with securing a constant customer inflow and/or an arrangement of the kind PanamaGal talked about.

Another option I've always seen working (and it is very nicely timed, now that is November): Have a number of mousepads made. On top, they should have your logo (or simply your name) and your contact data. On the rest of the mousepad body, they should have a 2007 calendar (three rows of four months each). Distribute them to as many businesses as you can. Don't forget to target professionals' offices (e.g. CPAs, secretaries in doctors'/dentists' offices, etc). Everybody will welcome this mousepad and most will start using it (because having a calendar always visible without it being in the way of anything, makes them see it as a practical, useful gift). They'll always have your contact data in front of their eyes and, if that pc starts acting up, who they're gonna call? Well, guess who!

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suprafly

try www.computerassistant.com, may be what you're looking for. I'm going through the same thing myself, I have been doing computer work on the side for 6 years and finally quit my day job and am relying on this full time. I probably have around 75 local clients now, but it has taken me years of hard work. It'll be a slow start but stick with it. Advertising in the newspaper classifieds (not so much yellow pages) has gained me some business, but I promise you the best type of advertising is word of mouth. Build up a client base, be frugal and save and reinvest everything you can unitl you get solid on your feet.
-Christian

NWPhotog

Good advice. There are brokers or middlemen but once you start down that road you are really changing both your focus and your business. Most are much better off developing their own Clients instead of building someone else's business. Spend 40-60 hours a week doing tech work and development. What that means is if you only have 5 hours a week of tech work you spend 35+ hours getting new business. More than half of this business is customer service and marketing. If you are a great tech but bad at these two activities get a job working for someone else. It is almost impossible to make it as a start up without these skills.

NWPhotog

Great idea.

horatio324

Don't know of any brokerages either, sorry. But... here's a list of local business associations to check out / join.. they have definately made a big difference on my biz.

-- local rotary
-- City (or County if small county) Chamber of Commerce
-- BNI http://bni.com - Business Networking International, there are local chapters all over the world, and it works

Yes, these do require some legwork and to goto meetings and hobnob with other business owners... but (but wait! Business owners make IT decisions, like, I need it fixed, new stuff, upgraded stuff!!!) - so it's worth it. Good luck!

--aaron

Monkey Business

I think you really do need to get on the phone/in the car and make yourself known. Also, in the UK there are small business start up clubs, populated by small business owners. Few of them know enough to deal with their own IT issues, but will deal with someone they meet at a networking event. Other sources are government contacts and big business contracts - often you can join a mailing list detailing what the contracts are available to tender for. Again, in the UK there are some aimed particularly at small businesses, allowing us to have access to chances we would not normally have. And - if you can, give away something for free (that doesn't cost you much), such as a sheet on backing up, or keeping machines trouble free. Then when you call upon a business, you're just saying 'would you like this free info?' and 'by the way, call me if you need me' (cheesy but it does help - a slightly different slant on Zazula's point above). And good luck.