Unprofitable vs. Profitable Services for Techs

The Tech industry is a vast field, with a wide spectrum of devices. Mobile devices, proprietary machines and operating systems, server management, networking… if you have the experience and tools to cover every contingency, that’s great. But is it profitable to cover every angle of the Tech industry? How can you determine whether or not it would be profitable to step into a new field? What are profitable services for Techs in your community?

For instance, Macs are one of the more expensive options when it comes to consumer machines. It’s a different operating system. They often contain more expensive parts than your usual PC. They’re not sold in all the retail stores that sell PCs. Software solutions are different and perhaps more plentiful for the PC over Macs at this point in time. Security is a major concern for PC users, but less of a concern for Mac users. But these aren’t the only concerns for Techs. Each community, region, and device will be different and have a different set of factors. Here’s a simple checklist to help you decide whether or not it would be profitable to step into a new field. Sometimes it may be better to leave those services to a specialist, if one already exists in your area.

1. Popularity

If a device is becoming more popular in your area, that’s a sign you may want to consider offering services for it. Getting into services for a certain line before you know how popular they’re going to be is a bit of a gamble, so keep an eye on current trends. At the moment, the trend is mobility. Tablets are increasing in popularity day by day, and more focus is being put on being able to use tablets instead of PCs as office machines. But this isn’t the only factor we’re considering, and it’s not the only device we’re considering, either. The same holds true for laptops and ‘all in one’ machines that are experiencing a boost in popularity as well. If it’s not popular you probably won’t see many of them come through your shop, and it wouldn’t be worth trying to cover with your services.

2. Client Type

Yes, this is going to be like stereotyping, but it’s important. There may be clients who buy one device one week and then give it away or box it away when another one takes their fancy, or when it gets a scratch on it. Then there are others who treasure their device and want it fixed even if it costs half to two thirds of what they paid for it. Who would you say makes up the majority of your current client base or potential client base in your community? It wouldn’t be profitable to try and cover services for clients who simply dispose of their devices when they’re tired of them.

3. Device Class

There are tablets, and then there are ‘tablets’. A friend just gave me an ‘mp3 player’ they couldn’t figure out, and it turns out it’s one of those fake iPhones that doesn’t have any communication abilities whatsoever, and just mimics basic features such as video and audio playback. Some devices are going to be worth repairing, and some aren’t even worth an hour of your time trying to get the plastic case open without destroying the device. If you’re seeing an influx of cheap devices, they may be popular, but they’re not even worth considering providing services for them. On the other hand, there are some really nice tablets out there with good quality parts and they’re easily repaired, so make sure you consider what class the devices belong in. Of course, if you’re just offering ‘tablet repair and servicing’ you can distinguish between the good and the bad when they’re brought in. The same holds true for laptops and netbooks. Some are worth repairing, and some aren’t worth the time because it would cost almost as much to repair it as it would to replace the model with a newer model. The decision of offering services for devices like these is fairly easy if you have a grasp on retail prices and a bit of experience with repairing similar devices.

4. Manufacturer Reputation and Policy

This follows along the point mentioned above, but in more depth. For instance, Apple has AppleCare, and a very pro-consumer return and replacement policy. Other tablet manufacturers may have a great warranty policy, but not follow up on it, and you can easily dig up reviews on each manufacturer online before stepping into covering a certain manufacturer’s line of products with your services. If a great device has poor warranty service, you might see a potential for covering that device with your services, since that’s the next least expensive option before replacing the device. In that case, it might be profitable to consider offering services for those devices.

5. Cost of Tools and Experience

Some product lines may require different tools and along with that, perhaps a bit of a learning curve for Techs. There’s Android, Linux, OS X, Symbian, Windows of course, and varieties of each. If you’re stepping into a different device line, you need to ask yourself if you can afford the time spent learning the device inside and out, a new set of tools that you may or may not see a return on, and still cover what you currently offer as a business. The best way to learn that new device is to grab one and play around with it, and take it apart so you know what you’ll need to repair if someone brings you one. Of course, there’s always the tutorial videos and guides mentioned in this article here such as those found at www.ifixit.com and www.directfix.com, and while they don’t currently cover everything, there is a growing database that may be all you need as far as knowledge to get started repairing those devices.

Other Services

There may be another service you’re considering, such as laptop refurbishments or selling refurbished PCs. Generally, if you can find them offered online for less than what it will cost you in time to fix it yourself, it’s probably not worth it. Yes, you could probably market them to people who aren’t aware of what they cost online, and there may be some exceptions to the rule such as high end laptops that only take a few hours to repair before being almost as good as new again. If you have a clients or customers who would consider those machines as viable options, refurbishment may be a viable service offering for you, with the right machines, of course. Another avenue for refurbished machines may be donations to local charities or non-profit organizations such as public libraries. It generates community goodwill for your business and is a method of advertising that might bring in more customers, so while it may not be directly profitable, it’s another option for refurbished machines if you can’t find any buyers.

In the end, once you consider all the above factors, you may discover that what works for someone else won’t work for you or for the community you provide services for, but it may give you some ideas for other services you can offer for popular devices in your community or perhaps offerings you hadn’t considered before. If you have any tips for stepping out into a new line of services, drop a tip below for fellow Techs.