IT home help services

jinx_uk_98

Hi Guys,

I'm thinking of starting a small home help service for computer related problems. I will focus on non technical speak making thing clear for the users.

It’s my intention to provide some of the following services
1 - Wired & wireless network set-up
2 - security
3 - servicing
4 - upgrades
5 - email & web set-up
6 - child protection/safety
7 - training

Has anyone here ever used such services? If so what was your experience like good or bad? value for money or not? What is expensive? I’m not sure on the pricing, what’s reasonable price to charge?

If you've never used one why not? what fears, if anything do you have over such service?

thanks guys any feedback appreciated.

Kev

Martin81162

I have never used a service like this because I can build my own pc's but my girlfriend almost used somebody until she heard the call out charge which was about £70 and that was for turning up. I think pricing is very important, you have to make a living but don't milk it.

Try looking through your local papers for the competition and see what they are charging.

Little_John

Good luck there are thousands of them that advertise in local papers, have a read and see what your competition is first.

90% of your job will be clearing spyware, viruses and worms ect or reinstalling windows as it has gone so far south everywhere is north.

offering child protection and saftey and maybe training are grey areas, it isnt possible to guarentee that a child wont see !!!!!! or speak to the wrong person on msn so unless you are going to be able to block those types of things completly then dont offer the service. yes advise them on software to prevent it but never say you can block it, because as soon as somthing happens they will be on your back. and with the sue first ask questions later way the country is going your customer will come after you.
Training, people will want to know everything about the software, anything they want to know later they will phone you and ask expecting the reply for free.

the things that are good are wireless networking it scares the pants off people but dont supply the hardware advise them and stick to the equipment you know is reliable,

Security what are you planning on doing? install a firewall users and passwords most homes dont require password security.

Servicing give it a clear out replace fans ect or have a maintence deal where they pay a monthly fee for support and your time?

make sure your insured for damage you may cause or you will have to pay to repair things especially if you plan on doing any network cabling drilling through a power cable makes you jump my mate did it on a site once.

Prices again check the competition, people like no call out fee's, free diagnosis ect but remember you need to make a living out of this if that is your plan so dont go undercutting yourself and dont annoy the other people that do it in your area as it doesnt take much to spread bad things about people especially in the IT world.

MSE_ForumTeam1

electron wrote:

To the BG who removed my post, Please Dont

Unless you want me to post My site and Prices, what do you prefer to have?

It wasn't a BG it was a member of the forum team. Advertising is not allowed on the forums be it in public or invitation to PM. Please don't do it again.

scheming_gypsy

Little_John wrote:

90% of your job will be clearing spyware, viruses and worms ect

That's the one part of it that makes you wonder why you bothered. People will get another virus etc and phone you up telling you that it's 'still' happening and you didn't fix it etc etc.

albertross_2

MSE_ForumTeam1 wrote:

It wasn't a BG it was a member of the forum team. Advertising is not allowed on the forums be it in public or invitation to PM. Please don't do it again.

Am I missing something? The post I saw wasn't an advert to offer services, it was an answer to the OP's question...

"what’s reasonable price to charge?"

jenniferpa

Little_John wrote:

Training, people will want to know everything about the software, anything they want to know later they will phone you and ask expecting the reply for free.

Having worked in the dim and distant past in software support I can assure you that Little John is spot on with this.

Another thing to remember is "never underestimate the stupidity of the customer".

Have you ever worked in the field of customer support? It's not at all the same as it seems from the outside looking in. It's a little like people who say I know about food, I'm going to open a restaurant!

Jennifer

jinx_uk_98

thanks for the feedback.

i currently work in User Support and am more than aware of some the stupid things they do (which is why I think this might work)

I think as long I get some sort of confirmation from them that the issue has been resolved then that should cover it.

i'm thinking about give them a window of 24hrs, if they haven't notified me by then the call will be considered closed.

cheers for the comments so far.

electron_3

MSE_ForumTeam1 wrote:

It wasn't a BG it was a member of the forum team. Advertising is not allowed on the forums be it in public or invitation to PM. Please don't do it again.

Ah ha, It wasnt even advertising it was a simple way of showing someone how to price things without advertising on this site, I kept well within the rules and sent a PM that helped the OP much more quickly and precisely than sticking up my price's here, from my own site.

Hope That Helps.

zappahey

Little_John wrote:

Prices again check the competition, people like no call out fee's, free diagnosis ect but remember you need to make a living out of this if that is your plan so dont go undercutting yourself and dont annoy the other people that do it in your area as it doesnt take much to spread bad things about people especially in the IT world.

This is a particular bugbear of mine. People happily pay £60 per hour to get the oil changed in their car but expect PC repairs to be close to free.

electron_3

zappahey wrote:

This is a particular bugbear of mine. People happily pay £60 per hour to get the oil changed in their car but expect PC repairs to be close to free.

Or the old....


I could do it cheaper myself, well go on then fag breath..