Starting a neigborhood/mini-business

0m3g4Muff1n987 · Post by **0m3g4Muff1n987** » Sun Jan 20, 2008 7:38 pm

I need an iPhone. I'm currently using my dad's 1GB Sandisk Sansa Express, which just barely holds all my music, and it's got a tiny screen with no album art and the quality's not too great and... eh. I need one since my touch got stolen. So I need money. My parents thought I could do something with my compy skillz, so I thought I'd help people with fixing their PC's and setting up new ones for much lower prices than, say, Geek Squad. I looked at their prices and I knew I could beat $100+ for any kind of problem.

But I need to determine good rates for people to pay. I do need to make at least $300 (since I'm selling my razr for 100 and I'm going to try to get 100 for my well-used PSP, but my parents want me to tithe it all too), but I don't want to raise the prices a lot and turn potential customers off. I was thinking something like this:

-Basic, easy-to-fix problems (ex. outdated drivers, using mac software with a PC or something >_>) - $30-$40

-Moderate problems (ex. incompatible/disfunctional hardware, corrupted program's files, etc) - around $75

-Big problems (OS failure, blue screen, huge spyware infection, etc) - $100 or more

Do you think they're too low? Too high (I'll be living in a box if they are)? Juuuuuust right? Give meh some feedback. I need to start making some money, this sansa express is muy annoying.

HPDarkness · Post by **HPDarkness** » Sun Jan 20, 2008 7:50 pm

Seems fine to me. But you'd have to keep the job up even after you get the iPhone. The bill for that thing is fucking ridiculous.

JK-47 · Post by **JK-47** » Sun Jan 20, 2008 8:01 pm

If you know what you're doing. I say go for it.

gh0570fchurch · Post by **gh0570fchurch** » Sun Jan 20, 2008 8:02 pm

Good luck selling a Razr for $100. Plus, does 1GB seriously hold all your music? Wow, that's really not much. Anyway, that should work. Just find good ways to advertise your little business, and it should be fairly effective.

galvination · Post by **galvination** » Sun Jan 20, 2008 8:32 pm

Things like insurance for the computer etc, may be an issue for you, and additional charges for parts and fixes may have to be more expensive if you need to buy parts at regular consumer prices. I'm sure if you fix computers for people who aren't necessarily savvy in that area it will be some easy quick money. Just make sure you know what you're doing

latinomodder · Post by **latinomodder** » Sun Jan 20, 2008 8:35 pm

I read on an earlier thread you've never built a computer, that would really scare me to leave my computer with you... Well I wouldn't trust myself with one either, looks at Dell with MacOSX installed

HPDarkness · Post by **HPDarkness** » Sun Jan 20, 2008 8:49 pm

Whoa, If you've never built a computer before. Then I wouldn't do this. Fixing a computer is a lot more than reinstalling software. Sometimes computer failures are because of faulty hardware. You'd have to to be willing to buy hardware and install it for computers and everything.

Vaati · Post by **Vaati** » Sun Jan 20, 2008 9:08 pm

And if you break the person's computer even more you might have to buy them a new one. How old are you? Maybe you could get a job at a grocery store or something other than fixing computers.

HPDarkness · Post by **HPDarkness** » Sun Jan 20, 2008 9:33 pm

Just to tell you. You need a lot of tools for computer repair. I repair computers in my neighborhood. I usually don't charge people I know well. It's usually friends/family that call.

You are going to have to buy tools:
Tool Kit
System Builders Disc:
Disc
Portable hardrive, Used to store peoples files on before you do a clean install:
Portable HDD
and once again, Be prepared to buy backup parts. The people will obviously pay for them. But you would be the one ordering them, and installing them.

So be aware of what you are getting yourself into before you do it.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Mon Jan 21, 2008 12:59 am

I thought about doing this once, with my dads help because i know very little about computers compared to a computer repairman (or women) but i know a hell of a lot compared to people around here at my age.

also money saver get a hard drive en closer if you already have a regular hard drive its a good $30 but saves you money.

also you need to be very part savvy you need to know parts like the back of your hand before you can start a good business
thanks well gotta go will post more advice later

0m3g4Muff1n987 · Post by **0m3g4Muff1n987** » Mon Jan 21, 2008 7:39 am

Hm, thanks. I knew I'd have to get a portable HD (but 120GB might not cut it, I'll probably want to get like 500GB just to be safe), I never thought about a tool kit. I'll probably need one.

For everyone who says I need to build a computer first, I know a ton about the hardware and different kinds of it, and where it all goes in a computer. I've never actually built an entire computer, but I've replaced a couple parts in the ones in my house and I know where it all goes anyway. Besides, new parts come with instructions all the time.

And yeah Mike, I don't know as much as people from the Geek Squad for sure, but I definitely know waaaaay more than any given person at my school, and I know that, and probably more than most people in my hood of more than 1500 houses/apartments. So I'd say I'm pretty much set. I did this because my mom says she knows a lot of people who just have simple problems that they're just too lazy to call anyone about, so I knew I could make some money.

And I'm not going to get an OS disc, I'll just tell them that they must supply it if they want their OS reinstalled or whatever.

HPDarkness · Post by **HPDarkness** » Mon Jan 21, 2008 9:29 am

About 85% of people will most likely not have an OS disc handy. Also you have to know what parts are compatible with each other. If you mess something up, you would have to provide a new one using your own money.

Outrage · Post by **Outrage** » Mon Jan 21, 2008 11:20 am

I'd say grab a disc for Windows 98, 2000, XP Home, XP Pro, XP Media Center, and Vista handy (All versions of Vista are on the same disc... all that's different is the serial key that you input).

Then, you have to know different brands of hardware, where to find the drivers, and known compatibility issues.

Next, familiarize yourself with antivirus/spyware/trojan software. A lot of people use it (I don't use it because I don't download porn and other virus-ridden things), and it tends to cause a lot of issues when they quarrantine files.

Now, be sure to have a failsafe plan (talk to your parents, grandparents, etc) in case you hit a point of no return (kill the bios and don't know how to flash a new one, the list goes on...). That way, if you nuke someone's PC, you can get them a new one, since they'll hold you responsible.

I could go on forever about helpful tips, and if you'd like, I can.

BIG TIP #1
The monitor isn't plugged into the PC. Non-savvy people have the most simple issues, but they're your best customers. Always be sure to do the right thing and show them how to fix this "problem" in the future if it ever happens again, that way they don't end up paying you twice for the same issue.

If you think that you can pull this off, then kudos and good luck. I hope to see a topic in a few months about how successful your business idea has been.

Kirk · Post by **Kirk** » Mon Jan 21, 2008 2:14 pm

Outrage wrote:Always be sure to do the right thing and show them how to fix this "problem" in the future if it ever happens again, that way they don't end up paying you twice for the same issue

Wait, what?

0m3g4Muff1n987 · Post by **0m3g4Muff1n987** » Mon Jan 21, 2008 2:59 pm

He means sometimes there are some n00bs who will call me and I'd go over to find that their monitor is not plugged in or something like that. Then I could get a super easy, almost free $30+. But he said make sure you tell them how to fix that "problem" in the future so they won't have to go to the trouble of calling me so I can reconnect the monitor again. Even though it means more money, it's ripping people off.

Anyway, thanks man, that was a big help. I know a ton about the different brands and stuff of hardware... my mom's coming. I'll come back in mb 2 hours.

TomClancey · Post by **TomClancey** » Mon Jan 21, 2008 3:24 pm

If you didn't know, he was being sarcastic. Implying that you shouldn't tell them, so you could easily make double that.

0m3g4Muff1n987 · Post by **0m3g4Muff1n987** » Mon Jan 21, 2008 5:48 pm

What? He was being serious. I'm pretty sure. Uh...

Well, yeah, as I was saying, I know a ton about hardware and the companies, I usually know about compatibility issues (what, like, using an Intel proc with an AMD mobo or something?

) and I always know where to find drivers. The website, durrrrrrrr

I know most of the big spyware tools, like Norton, AVG, Ad-Aware and stuff.

I don't really favor the idea of having to give up all the money I've ever made so I can rebuy someone's PC for them. I could just put on the ad that I'm not responsible for any damage done to their computer, but I'll do my best to fix it should it ever happen, right?

And wouldn't it cost a ton for all those versions of Windows? Especially if you might need more than one of a certain version?

drewboi · Post by **drewboi** » Mon Jan 21, 2008 5:57 pm

give this a read.... http://www.tweak3d.net/joomla/tutorials ... technician ... the part i agree with the most is "8) Formatting is never an option."

Kirk · Post by **Kirk** » Mon Jan 21, 2008 6:10 pm

0m3g4Muff1n987 wrote:What? He was being serious. I'm pretty sure. Uh...

No, I was being sarcastic..

Vaati · Post by **Vaati** » Mon Jan 21, 2008 7:23 pm

Kirk wrote:
0m3g4Muff1n987 wrote:What? He was being serious. I'm pretty sure. Uh...
No, I was being sarcastic..

That made me laugh a little bit.