Getting Started - Page 2

horatio324 · 12-19-2006, 05:12 PM

A lot of great ideas in here.

I started my computer repair biz back in April of this year. Before starting it though, from Jan-April I planned. Did in depth business plans, demographics of "can this commiunity support this business?" type stuff, census info, checked with competition and saw what I liked / didn't like, knew what I could improve on, what I could sell as "different/better/above and beyond the rest. Ran forecasted budgets, estimated profit / loss statements, and had a good idea where I was (financially) before we opened. Spent about $10,000 from Jan thru July... But by August (after 5 months open) I had already broke even - made everything I spent back. I was (still am) somewhat dumbfounded... most small businesses fail, and most that do make it take 1-2 years before a profit can be reached. If you haven't already, check out some of the small biz tips supplied by the gov at http://www.sba.gov/

Like many, starting out as a mobile biz only, offering "onsite mobile repair" which is something there is a market for everywhere. Why pay $1000+ on overhead for a brick and mortar store when you don't have to? People don't like to have to unplug everything and haul it down to store. I also have started this biz as part time. Luckily, with my current job (I work on an ambulance), we work 48 hours on, then off for 4-5 days. So I have always had the financial backing of one full time job to help support the computer biz endevour, plus about $5000 in the bank before starting.

Enough cannot be said about customer service. Someone mentioned clean shoes and crisp and the like. That is SO true. Anything you can do to "out - do" your competitors is a plus. Returning phone calls within 5 minutes, being ONTIME, answering questions in layman terms, always be in a good mood (even if you're not - customers don't want to hear you're having a bad day), being honest with them... I've passed up many times decent $$ by telling customers the truth of, "It's more cost effective for you to replace this than for me to fix it." They appreciate that so much, they buy a computer from me! wow!

Good luck, don't give up, plan things out, and you will make it.

--aaron

12-19-2006, 05:12 PM	#21 (permalink)
horatio324 Registered User Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: susanville ca Posts: 12 OS: XP Home, Pro, SBS 2003	A lot of great ideas in here. I started my computer repair biz back in April of this year. Before starting it though, from Jan-April I planned. Did in depth business plans, demographics of "can this commiunity support this business?" type stuff, census info, checked with competition and saw what I liked / didn't like, knew what I could improve on, what I could sell as "different/better/above and beyond the rest. Ran forecasted budgets, estimated profit / loss statements, and had a good idea where I was (financially) before we opened. Spent about $10,000 from Jan thru July... But by August (after 5 months open) I had already broke even - made everything I spent back. I was (still am) somewhat dumbfounded... most small businesses fail, and most that do make it take 1-2 years before a profit can be reached. If you haven't already, check out some of the small biz tips supplied by the gov at http://www.sba.gov/ Like many, starting out as a mobile biz only, offering "onsite mobile repair" which is something there is a market for everywhere. Why pay $1000+ on overhead for a brick and mortar store when you don't have to? People don't like to have to unplug everything and haul it down to store. I also have started this biz as part time. Luckily, with my current job (I work on an ambulance), we work 48 hours on, then off for 4-5 days. So I have always had the financial backing of one full time job to help support the computer biz endevour, plus about $5000 in the bank before starting. Enough cannot be said about customer service. Someone mentioned clean shoes and crisp and the like. That is SO true. Anything you can do to "out - do" your competitors is a plus. Returning phone calls within 5 minutes, being ONTIME, answering questions in layman terms, always be in a good mood (even if you're not - customers don't want to hear you're having a bad day), being honest with them... I've passed up many times decent $$ by telling customers the truth of, "It's more cost effective for you to replace this than for me to fix it." They appreciate that so much, they buy a computer from me! wow! Good luck, don't give up, plan things out, and you will make it. --aaron