| ter repair jobs in large companies are one of the first | | | | you had no activity. |
| areas that the pencil pushers attack when the | | | | One of the easiest ways to make sure you do all the |
| economy goes south. It’s an easy slow | | | | basic accounting for tax purposes is to buy one of |
| moving target that is pure cost, with no direct line to | | | | the several small business accounting packages. They |
| profits. | | | | take you step by step through the setup and can |
| New projects, software and hardware upgrades, and | | | | teach you a lot about what transactions need to be |
| ongoing service take a back seat to sales and | | | | tracked and why. You can also look for a local |
| marketing efforts. This is never a good thing for both | | | | accountant that deals with small businesses in your |
| the users, who don’t get the support they | | | | area that can help you get started. |
| need, and the computer technicians who need a job. | | | | One of the first questions I get asked by potential |
| Most IT departments represent a big cost. And the | | | | clients or even people who are thinking about doing |
| payroll is usually well above many of the other | | | | computer repair is what do I charge. This is |
| business units. To find and keep good technicians, | | | | dependent on a couple of things. One is the market |
| you have to pay a good price. Which is good during | | | | area, large metro areas like Los Angles or Houston |
| an economic boom but when money gets tight, | | | | mean higher hourly rates. Small rural areas will have |
| it’s one of the first targets of opportunity | | | | lower rates. |
| for cutbacks. | | | | Scope of work and client have a bearing on your |
| A downturn in the economy is a good time to take | | | | compensation. If you deal with high-end services and |
| the entrepreneurial spirit out of the closet and put it | | | | difficult technical issues, you can command a higher |
| to work for enterprising computer technicians. A | | | | rate. If you are setting up a 3 user home network, |
| good computer technician can make a decent living | | | | probably a lesser rate. |
| doing onsite computer repair and service. | | | | The whole compensation side is dictated by |
| Most small companies have no IT staff and need to | | | | competition, market area and size, and often |
| use a freelance computer repair guy or gal to do the | | | | complexity of the service. So just call around and see |
| miscellaneous software and hardware chores. | | | | what the going rates are and charge accordingly. |
| Companies that have just enough employees, say | | | | Always remember you can go down with little |
| over 7 but fewer than 20, are a perfect market for | | | | resistance but going up is a much tougher scenario. |
| the independent computer repair and service | | | | The primary area of confusion for the new computer |
| entrepreneur. | | | | repair business owner is marketing your services. |
| Many don’t realize it but small companies | | | | Obviously business cards to hand out with contact |
| make up the bulk of employees in our economy. The | | | | information and type of services you plan to offer is |
| number of small businesses is huge and it’s a | | | | the cheapest and quickest way to start. |
| large and lucrative market for many service | | | | Handing out flyers with more detailed information, |
| companies of all types. Since many companies rely on | | | | talking to friends and business associates, advertising |
| computers and software to run their business, | | | | in local papers or publications are all good marketing |
| it’s a top priority. | | | | techniques. But one often overlooked marketing |
| The biggest problem for the transition to freelance | | | | method is recommendations by satisfied customers. |
| computer repair is finding the clients and running the | | | | Good people skills are a must. You want every client |
| basic business aspects. Most technicians are already | | | | to be happy when you leave and recommend you to |
| technically qualified but lack basic marketing and | | | | others. This means that you need to communicate |
| day-to-day operational skills for running a computer | | | | well with any and all levels of users. |
| repair business. | | | | Never talk down to an inexperienced user, be careful |
| After 30 years in the business I can tell you that | | | | to explain any issues in plain English and don’t |
| it’s not brain surgery but there are a few | | | | go computerese on them. Keep it simple and easy to |
| tricks to making it work. The number one thing to | | | | understand. |
| keep in mind at all times is that you are in a service | | | | Many of the most common repairs are working with |
| business. That means you make sure the customer is | | | | the users, not hardware or software problems. |
| satisfied. | | | | When you have your own business, time |
| You also have to adhere to any local laws and | | | | management is critical. Don’t under estimate |
| licensing. All you really need to get started is a DBA | | | | what it will take when giving quotes. In the field |
| (go to your local county offices and register a | | | | anything can happen and it’s better to be a |
| business name for doing business as), a bank account | | | | hero and finish early than to have to explain why it |
| that recognizes the DBA (for paying bills and making | | | | took longer. |
| deposits). Most states require that you collect sales | | | | So if you find yourself a victim of our slowing |
| tax so the next task is to apply for a sales tax | | | | economy, have some computer skills, you do have |
| permit. | | | | the option of starting your own computer repair |
| Most states allow you to do this online and you can | | | | business. There will always be a need for computer |
| do a search for sales tax permit and state name to | | | | repair services, as long as there are computers. |
| find the website. It will have all the basic rules and | | | | If you want to learn more about starting a computer |
| information you will need to register and get your | | | | repair business, check out the links below in our |
| permit. By the way, do not fail to file your sales tax | | | | signature. The more you know the better decision |
| reports or you will be fined in most states, even if | | | | you can make. |