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PC Repair Business - Hints and tips

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  • chrisb1357
    chrisb1357 Posts: 836 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 500 Posts Combo Breaker I've been Money Tipped!
    I think i am going to give the IT Support to home users a miss after spending the last few days reading up about it on here

    LOL

    Chris
  • motorguy
    motorguy Posts: 22,611 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper
    chrisb1357 wrote: »
    I think i am going to give the IT Support to home users a miss after spending the last few days reading up about it on here

    LOL

    Chris

    We're thinking of starting a therapy group...
  • nrg13
    nrg13 Posts: 12 Forumite
    Well,

    It's been a few months - here are last months figures for you to salivate over!

    TURNOVER:
    Hourly Rate 140
    Hourly Rate (half hour) 80
    Sale of goods 276.23
    Virus Removal (Single/Multiple) 80
    Windows XP Reinstallation 150
    Total: 726.23

    LESS COST OF SALES:
    Materials Purchased 424.04
    Total: 424.04

    GROSS PROFIT: 302.19

    LESS EXPENSES:
    Advertising 162.66
    Bank Charges 10.53
    Professional Fees 84.24
    Telephone 41.92
    Total: 299.35

    NET PROFIT: 2.84

    Sooooo. Not the best month then! Only joking though - a lot of the cost of sales (i.e. £300) are on stock - I've got two spare PSUs, 2 motherboards, 4 different types of RAM, two LAN cards, two USB-2 PCI cards, etc etc.

    I've also spent money on copywriting and design work, so will have a new ad campaign this month hopefully (10,000 leaflets to the local and surrounding areas)

    Not giving up hope - I just need 10x the business!!

    All the best,
    nrg
    I hate Royal Mail!
  • toasterman
    toasterman Posts: 758 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 500 Posts Combo Breaker
    nrg13 wrote: »
    <snip> EXPENSES:
    Advertising 162.66
    Bank Charges 10.53
    Professional Fees 84.24
    Telephone 41.92
    Total: 299.35

    NET PROFIT: 2.84
    <snip>
    I've also spent money on copywriting and design work, so will have a new ad campaign this month hopefully (10,000 leaflets to the local and surrounding areas)
    And not a duck house or a moat cleaning bill in sight.
    Just intrigued - what does "professional fees" include?
    And the advertising @ £162.44 - is that a local paper, or is that the cost of the leaflets you mention? Or some other form of advertising...?
  • Trespasser
    Trespasser Posts: 44 Forumite
    pgilc1 wrote: »
    LOL. And its YOUR fault they didnt back up important docs & pics to CD or USB stick.

    Don't forget that you are a robbing git, fancy wanting to charge them for a legitimate windows XP.

    Their 'mate' down the pub will give them a copy for nothing.
  • nrg13
    nrg13 Posts: 12 Forumite
    edited 2 June 2009 at 10:40PM
    toasterman wrote:
    And not a duck house or a moat cleaning bill in sight.
    Just intrigued - what does "professional fees" include?
    And the advertising @ £162.44 - is that a local paper, or is that the cost of the leaflets you mention? Or some other form of advertising...?

    Professional fees - copywriting and subscription to accounting software. Advertising = local paper. To design, print and distribute leaflets would be around £800 (£600 on future runs) but with a 0.2% response I'll generate business worth £900, or £300 net.

    The copywriting is hopefully money well spent - if I can get the response rate nearer to 1% (which I hear is the average) I can expect around £4k worth of business.

    I'm hoping for 2.5% - £10k worth of business. Woo!! :T
    I hate Royal Mail!
  • Trespasser
    Trespasser Posts: 44 Forumite
    slewis1972 wrote: »
    Hi All

    Been in IT like 10years and thinking its time I consider buying a pc repair business eg small shop that does consumerables, some equipment but also heavy on the actual repairs eg hardware and software. Considering the queues I see in pc world, I think its one of those markets that going to be viable as everyone child will soon have a pc for school, and you know what kids are like.

    I do this now in my spare time and when I push it, I do get quite a few calls and mainly are from people that are too busy to sort themselves or dont have the aptitude.

    Anyway - is anyone in the business full - time working from themselves and any advice they can give? has it been a rewarding change or had they wished they had never done it?

    Thanks

    Scott


    I gotta put my say in this.

    Yes... I set myself up in April (legally) before that I have been a 'pc fixer' for 10 years or so doing friends, friends of friends, and family (god forbid) for strictly cash jobs.. I have managed to build up a small but appreciative customer base over this time by nothing more than word of mouth. The only reason I could do this is because I dont have a mortgage, I dont have a car on finance, I dont have kids, and I just cant be bothered keeping up with the Jones' and their 2.4 children with two Bmw's on the block paved drive.

    It can be a stressful job, probably more stressful than some people say. Also ....yes the hours are crud, yes I know at the moment I may take home less than a Indian sweatshops tea boy.... but you know what, the funniest thing ?

    Its mine! The good jobs, the not so good jobs ..... and the moaning, ignorant, self oppinionated, arrogant, lying, decieptful, tight fisted new customers I have collected so far ........ its all mine and I love every stressful minute of it.

    But the best thing?

    The best thing is I don't have some academic moron in a shirt and tie dictating terms to me, I can honestly say I dont miss the office politics either, I can sit and have a coffee for 5 minutes watching the office girlies go by without having to explain why I'm doing nothing and .... I get Fridays off ....... because I can, I'm the boss.
  • chrisb1357
    chrisb1357 Posts: 836 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 500 Posts Combo Breaker I've been Money Tipped!
    I am now back after few weeks away from the forum. I am still out of IT work coming off Jobseekers as i cant go on Income based due to GF being on SSP and i am still thinking of starting the IT side up. I dont own a house and i dont have much funds to get me going

    Chris
  • Trespasser
    Trespasser Posts: 44 Forumite
    chrisb1357 wrote: »
    I am now back after few weeks away from the forum. I am still out of IT work coming off Jobseekers as i cant go on Income based due to GF being on SSP and i am still thinking of starting the IT side up. I dont own a house and i dont have much funds to get me going

    Chris

    You dont need many funds, just maybe a few flyers and some business cards, time, and determination not to work for another none-appreciative 'bottom orrifice'. As you say .... you dont have a mortgage, but the only thing you do need is a supportive partner ......... and I mean SUPPORTIVE ! Mine (bless her) is a little angel and does many things for me, from finding suppliers and products to banking trips 3 times a week. If your not going to get support from your other half the job will be a bit harder.
  • chrisb1357
    chrisb1357 Posts: 836 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 500 Posts Combo Breaker I've been Money Tipped!
    How does such person work out a good rate to charge customers per hour. Myself can just give a figure but i dont want to do myself out of money or over charge people

    Chris
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