Repairing computers on the side?

[PlasmaMuffins]

So i just got my A+ certification and i was thinking of a way to earn some extra cash. I figured i could post a advertisement in the local news paper. I'm basically looking for some guidance from anyone who has actually done this , as in how much you charged an hour , or if it you did standard rates for certain things help on the ad would be nice as well. I'm thinking something like this



COMPUTER REPAIR
Software installation, Reinstalling Operating Systems
Installing Hardware , Trouble shooting Software/Hardware problems
Cleaning Infected computers
** Custom PC Building **

[Paul Komski]

If you are any good and pleasant to get on with, word of mouth will do nearly all the advertising for you. Far more so than any qualifications.

Especially while you are new to the business try and think of ways to induce new customers. You might, for example, say that you will do a diagnosis for free and then quote by the job or by the amount of actual time. Some sort of guarantee for certain types of work can be a good idea. If you do that consider making an image of the repaired system!

The actual specific rates to charge is not easy but I would ask local repair shops how much it would be to bring in a PC that you wanted something standard (like to have Windows reinstalled) performed on it. That should give you some parameters.

Charge too little (perhaps ironically) and there are those that won't come back or use you at all because they will think you can't be any good. Too much and that will be counterproductive too.

How to advertise will depend very much on your locality, but having flyers or business cards that you deliver or that people can pick up may be money better spent than local newspaper advertising. Some jobs may well require call outs (typically problems getting internet access) so indicate the scope of where and what you might do in those areas.

[jlreich]

Definitely scope out the price lists at local shops including the big stores like Best Buy and see what they charge. That will give you a pretty good idea of where you stand and where to set your prices. Many shops will have a website with standard price listings so that will save you from going out and actually visiting the shops. There will be some that you will need to call or visit.

Word of mouth is indeed very powerful. I do often see flyers posted on boards at groceries stores and the like. How well that works I don't know. I have never done any advertising but have gotten quite bust at times. I actually had to stop side work for a several months because I was too busy at my regular job and it was severely cutting into my family life.

Once you get going you will find you will have a lot of repeat customers. From the lady with kids always screwing up their system to the guy who can't quit visiting porn sites.

There will be hardware failures, and there will be upgrades and builds, but in my experience your biggest tasks, and biggest money maker, will be cleaning out malware. If you are not proficient at this then you need to be ASAP.

One thing I don't like is going to the customers house. I do everything I can to encourage customers to bring their systems to me. But there are the occasional customers that insist you come to them. I make it very clear my rates are double for on-site service. If they want to pay me big money to sit and watch a few scans for two hours, well its their money...

One important piece of advice I can give you is to realise your time is valuable. You have worked hard and invested a lot of time to learn how to do this stuff. Don't feel bad for charging your minimum, or more, to do something you find simple like replacing a stick of ram, or changing a setting that the customers kid changes by accident, or simply cleaning the dust bunnies out.

[PlasmaMuffins]

Thanks for the input guys I was wondering , since I'm doing this out of my house should i do a pick up and delivery or should i have them drop it off and pick it up? Also , i had recently visited a local repair shop they charge 75$/hour so i figured i could charge maybe 30-40 seeing that I'm 17 and not doing this professionally. Yea i was thinking maybe a standard charge for various things such as upgrades. For example, Memory upgrade ** Cost of Memory + 30$ **Simple things like that don't even take about an hour. And i was also thinking a free diagnoses aswell to basically pull them i suppose.

[sassie05]

I was wondering , since I'm doing this out of my house should i do a pick up and delivery or should i have them drop it off and pick it up?

This will depend on your local city/county laws.

Where I live (CA) the local ordinance for working out of your home and for that type of business restricts you to part time (not defined) and no traffic to your home.

[PlasmaMuffins]

Thanks for all your help guys. I actually was just mentioning to people at my job about how I'm doing this and there are a lot of people who need there computers fixed. I got my first customer this Saturday , he wants me to go to his house and Export his Win ME outlook address book to his X P address book.Was thinking i would charge about 40$/hour.