Any advice for a beginner?

[Andrew]

I've been reading these forums for a couple of hours now and can honestly say this is the best resource I've found so far, it's answered a lot of questions I was wondering about, given me a lot of new links to look over and even put some new perspectives on the role of pc technician!

I'm 17 and currently entering my last year of college. I've taken two computer related courses, business studies and a couple of other subjects. Right now, there's a lot of ideas I'm running through my mind. I'm thinking of going straight from college into setting up a PC call out service. I live with my parents and therefore would be able to invest time into working up a decent clientele without too many worries of overheads etc. Reading Andyuk2007's post (forums/showthread.php?t=3091, I'm not allowed to post URLs yet) makes me think I'm in a similar situation to him (same name too!) and I found that whole thread quite useful!

I'm just generally wondering what advice you have for me in terms of this idea?

Is it just stupid?

Are there any technical problems, in particular, that I should look out for or be prepared for on the job?

What equipment, software or general tools should I carry with me?

I plan to hand out flyers and business cards for advertising, get my ad in the local advertiser.. are there any other advertising i should consider? There is the possibility of a canvas banner on a busy roundabout- i can get the banner printed free as a favour from a friend, positioning on the roundabout is somewhere around £100/month, would this be a good investment? The roundabout is next to the only entrance a large supermarket, on a main road and the road next to the banner is often held up with traffic jams, guaranteeing a few extra looks.

In terms of market research, my only competition is a computer store that offers in-store repair services but not a callout service, the nearest call out technician i've found is 10 miles away..do you think that's a good or bad sign?

I live in a semi-rural area, while there are two towns within a five mile radius, with a population of about 24,000, then there's an area of small villages with populations of around 700 over probably 50 miles²- does this sound good enough? I do intend to do a little more research as the year progresses.

I can be generous with pricing as I live with my parents and, while I read many times that undercutting prices by too much may look suspicious to the customer, surely it's going to be beneficial to have a slightly lower (10-15%?) price than the competition while I'm just starting out?

In terms of certifications, what are there I can/should take? I know about the Comptia A+ certification, it's annoying as the nearest place I can find offering the training and exam is some distance away but if it's worth while then I'd be willing to commute for a bit. I'm also considering a "PC Repair and Upgrade" diploma from the community education centre, it costs about £450 all together, would that be worth it?

Any other tips or things I should be thinking about right now?
​

Thanks a lot to anyone who helps! Really, any input would be greatly appreciated!

Andrew

 

[The Birddog]

You need experience first. Although some people will take you seriously, many will see your age and therefore inexperiance and I think that would harm your business.

PS. Its people like yourself, with zero business / customer relationship experience that gives the trade a bad name. Sorry if that offends.

 

[NYJimbo]

I've been reading these forums for a couple of hours now.....

Are there any technical problems, in particular, that I should look out for or be prepared for on the job?

What equipment, software or general tools should I carry with me?

Andrew

Spend a couple of days reading all the threads, copy all the info you can about software we use, links we recommend, tips, tricks, etc.. Don't ask for all of this in a private thread like this, nobody wants to rehash all of it all over again. Good luck.

 

[seedubya]

The Birddog is spot on about the "Bad Name" thing. I don't mean any offence either. Just for talk's sake imagine your dad calls out a mechanic to look at his car. Well, the guy calls himself a mechanic even though he hasn't done a single "professional" course or qualification NOR has he the experience that comes with the apprencticeship system NOR has he spent 10 years working on his own and all his friends cars to the point that he might as well have done most of an apprencticeship. He does have a couple of car maintenance courses done and he's not completely ignorant and he's a reasonably nice guy. However, 5 hours into a repair that would only have taken a real technician 20 minutes your dad won't care how nice he is. He'll be mad as hell and very reluctant to call out anyone again. Now imagine about half of the people in the industry are like this guy and you see the problem.....

IF you really want to work in computer/network/technology maintenance and repair then you have started the right way. However you need some experience, 2-3 years would be nice and you need to do the A+ or equivalent. I am 11 years into this and still learn something new every single day.

If you start out on your own immediately you will probably f**k up every second job for the first few months, then it will only be every 3rd job. Eventually after a couple of years you'll be getting most of them right. However using customers as guinea pigs to learn your trade is not right AND by that time you'll have a gotten a rep. as a chancer or amateur which will kill your business anyway.

Would you consider attempting to set up as an electrician without the proper training and experience (Beside the fact that it's illegal to do so)? Why then would you consider this? Our job is much MORE complex (though less dangerous or responisble) than that of an electrician. Much of that complexity is down to the lack of regulation.

I wish you well in your endeavours. You will be welcome here when you're gaining your experience and when the time comes to go out on your own you'll be ready and everyone here will be ready to help you.

Finally, it's a free (European Superstate) country. You may do as you please, since this industry is completely unregulated. Everything above is only my opinon. I'm sure others may feel differently.

They however are wrong

 

[Andyuk2007]

I agree with nyjimbo its best to read the previous threads about what software we use e.t.c theres a ton of information on this website, you might find the Technibble computer business kit useful http://www.technibble.com/products/computer-business-kit/

 

[hawks5999]

PS. Its people like yourself, with zero business / customer relationship experience that gives the trade a bad name. Sorry if that offends.

As one of the typically more critiquing/critical people on this board, even I have to say that this comment is a little heavy handed. To be fair, it's comments like this that give some of us technicians and engineers a bad name as elitists.

Andrew read through this entire category:
http://www.technibble.com/categories/starting-out/


Read this post:
http://www.technibble.com/how-to-get-computer-repair-clients-a-case-study/

Read through this entire section of the forum - start with the most viewed and work down:
http://www.technibble.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=6&daysprune=-1&order=desc&sort=views


Recognize your weakness (experience) and focus on home users exclusively for 1-2 years. Exclusively means that when you fix somebody's computer and they are amazed and say "can you come to my office and..." you answer: "At this stage in my business, I'm focused only the residential market as I don't want to expose myself or your business to the liability of my lack of exposure in the business market. However, I would refer you to XXXXX to address your business needs." You will have established a good reputation with that approach. Know what you know and know what you don't know and know the difference between the two and you will be a customer service expert. After a couple years of fixing people's problems at home then venture slowly into the small office/home office.

Go slow, don't get in over your head. Build a base of "satisfied" customers by only doing work that you can do and not trying to take on things you can't. Over two years you should build up a base and reputation and then you can ask for referrals into new areas. During this time, 50% of your job is to read everything you can about running a business. Find a business mentor. Ask around your equivalent to a Chamber of Commerce, solicit business educators around. Read "The 4 Hour Work Week". Don't get enamored with the rich lifestyle that is sold throughout but focus on the parts about asking audaciously to meet with people to learn. Buy lunch for as many business owners as you can to ask them about how they run their business. What has worked and what hasn't. Approach it all with a humble wonder. You'll be amazed at the people who will want to share their success with a young guy who is interested in hearing them.

On the technical front, keep doing what you probably have been doing. Experiment (on your own kit), explore (read all the technical magazines and white papers as you can) and explain - tell somebody what you are learning who is not technical and make it simple for them to understand. In do so, you will get a better understanding and you are practicing to be able to speak to your customers who don't know a gigabyte from gigahertz and don't want to. Hone your speech to not use technical terms. Then go study (online or from a bookstore) for certifications. Get A+, Net+. Then get some Microsoft Certs. (hint: go to chinatag.com for exam study guides).

To everyone who says he doesn't have experience and will give us all a bad name, I say bullocks. Truth is the late teenagers of today have more comfort level with computers than any generation before. Andrew was 4 when Windows 95 came out. He's probably been on a computer since that time or a few years later. It's more first or second nature for him than for anybody over 30 (and if you are not over 30 don't give me the "you're too inexperienced!!!" argument). His ability to quickly grok computer technology will be much better than us more experienced folk. No doubt he lacks business experience and probably business sense. But the fact that he's asking questions before just rushing out to do it indicates that he's got the right idea about gaining the business knowledge and experience.

Just my $.02

 

[The Birddog]

As one of the typically more critiquing/critical people on this board, even I have to say that this comment is a little heavy handed. To be fair, it's comments like this that give some of us technicians and engineers a bad name as elitists.

Hawks,

You wouldnt want a 17 year old installing a gas boiler at your home just because hes read a couple of books on the subject would you?

To say he should just go out and work with no experience is just unethical, how can you suggest just a thing, I thought you were a professional. Is this how you started? I don't think so.

 

[robert152]

Hawks,

You wouldnt want a 17 year old installing a gas boiler at your home just because hes read a couple of books on the subject would you?

Apparently you didn't catch the last paragraph in his post. This has NOTHING to do with boilers, it has to to with computers. And like Hawk said, today's youth have more experience and technical know how than ANY previous generation. Hawk presented a wonderful post full of VALUABLE information. So Birddog, please, if you aren't going to help the guy out don't critique others.

I can relate to the age thing though...The shop I work at, the oldest person is 26. We are referred to as the "Young Guys Shop." But it's funny, we have been here for 8 years and are more respected and have a very nice clientele pool. We may be young, but we KNOW what we are doing and the people can see that and refer to us constantly.

So Andrew, age will be a factor, but don't let it bother you. Just read all the posts you can and stick with it. Good luck.

 

[Simmy]

You wouldnt want a 17 year old installing a gas boiler at your home just because hes read a couple of books on the subject would you?

No, because an inexperienced engineer working on a gas boiler is dangerous, which is why you would use an approved company who is CORGI registered (The UK watchdog for gas safety which proves they have the appropriate knowledge to work on gas boilers - not sure what the US equivalent is).

Surely you can see you can't directly compare the two jobs?

I don't see a problem with a 17 year old working for themselves as a computer tech. You'll gain loads of experience in a short space of time and make some good money for a 17 year old.

 

[Andrew]

Thanks very much, douglas, for your links, pointers and kind assurance and thanks everyone else who had something friendly and helpful to offer. I fully expected to get comments about my age and inexperience, it's fair enough and cheers to anyone else with some input, it's all useful and I've learnt a lot bits already.

In response to Birddog, while I know where you're coming from and that customers most probably won't see it my way, I feel hawks made the best point in my defence; what 17 year old has been playing with boilers for 10 years? I really haven't just come to this decision on a whim and have had an interest in computers for a long while.

I do some work for a local web development business, mainly programming odds and ends for them, I also host four websites of local businesses; I know there's a big, big jump between house calls and business calls but regardless, I see this existing reputation as a slight advantage on finding work, even though I do intend to stick to house calls. I also consider this some good customer relationship experience; lots of communication, as I'm sure lots of you will know, is vital when programming for someone.

Having looked through this forum, scanning every page for interesting points I've already learnt quite a lot that I've not found so easily on other sites. For someone my age, I feel terms like "fully insured" would be important to some clients (obviously not to those with important data) so i'd definately try to go about this in the most professional way possible and make people aware of that. I've also looked into the Comptia A+ exam and will have a look into Net+ and microsoft certifications, if for no other reason than to boost my confidence.

Looking past the inevitable questions of experience and age (although, for all the difference it makes, I would be 19 when I plan to begin), I don't see much else in the way of objections. I apologise for posting a thread of questions; I was just happy to have found a decent resource

 

[The Birddog]

Apparently you didn't catch the last paragraph in his post. This has NOTHING to do with boilers, it has to to with computers. .

Yes, but you should be asking for the same sort of money and you should be providing a professional service. Someone with ZERO experience and who is 17 should not be doing it and I'm sorry but these sort of people are giving the trade a bad name, whether you like it or not. We are all here to do business and we need to protect ourselves. I dont question his ability one bit but he will make mistakes, and a lot more than people who have experience. I'm just trying to help like everyone else.

He should at least get some experience or he will end up with a bad rep and unable to work in his own town. I've seen it happen before.

 

[The Birddog]

No, because an inexperienced engineer working on a gas boiler is dangerous, which is why you would use an approved company who is CORGI registered (The UK watchdog for gas safety which proves they have the appropriate knowledge to work on gas boilers - not sure what the US equivalent is).

An inexperienced engineer working on a PC is expensive! When you advertise for techs to work in your business do you state 'no experience needed'? I don't think so.

I can't quite believe some of the comments I'm reading on here. More cowboys around than I thought. Disgusting.

 

[Andrew]

Ok, I understand what you're saying but what can you offer that's constructive?

Any suggestions as to what experience; you've made the comment I need to get some but where from? This is why I'm asking about courses and certifications I could get.. these obviously don't amount to anything in terms of what I'd be coming into on the job; "something new everyday" is the general theme I'm getting from people, but what else is there? To get experience I surely have to be out there doing something?

 

[The Birddog]

Sorry if that offends.

I am just trying to state the truth Andrew. Being nice and watching your words will get you nowhere, fast.

Heres how I think you should go forward.

Don't advertise, start by word of mouth only, fix computers for friends and family members only. If you start to say you are running a business you will soon lose heart when something goes wrong and people will not take you seriously. When your at a customers premises scratching your head without a clue how to solve the problem you will feel like jumping in a big hole and your customers will pick up on this, you will lose you reputation. When you are comfortable move on with a local pages/newspaper ad. Advertise for home users only. Don't get out of your depth. Do the A+, N+ in the meantime. These will never count for more than experience though, proves my point even more.

Businesses need to be built slowly, gaining reputation. Jumping in like some of the others on here are saying to do is just reckless. You will not have a business two years down the line..

I know some people are not liking what I'm saying but I'm right. Give yourself some respect, thats all I'm saying.

PS. Good luck.

The Birddog

 

[Andrew]

Thank you very much. I see entirely where your coming from and don't plan to start at the deep end. Like you say, being stuck at someone's house without a clue would be very embarrasing and very bad for reputation. I'm already doing bits and pieces for friends and family, over this year I'll just try and increase the amount of help I give.. be a little more imposing with discussions of computer troubles.. just see where that gets me for when I leave college. I'd still like to be as prepared and possible and know what I must do for then, thus I'm here now, trying to get a decent idea of how to go about this .

 

[Simmy]

I was 20 and inexperienced when I started working on my own and 3 years down the line I'm still here. And when I say inexperienced, I mean I only knew what I had learnt from messing about with computers for most of my life. I hadn't even had a full time job! But I didn't damage any computer I worked on.

The fact is, an inexperienced 17 year old can jump straight into this line of work on their own (Bryce started out at a young age too I believe). They can't jump straight into being an electrician/plumber.

I purchased my customer base from an old chap who was about to retire. He had alot more "experience" than me (he'd been running for 20 years or so) and I'm fairly certain I was more capable than him, even back then, after seeing some of his work.

Don't be put off by the comments in this thread Andrew - Birddog is mistaking truth with opinion. You're asking the right questions to get started and Hawks has made an excellent post as usual. Get stuck into it - I learnt bugger all throughout my degree and college, but I learnt a hell of a lot in my first 6 months of trading.

 

[Nathan H]

The best advice I can give is "Google is your friend,"

Never be too embarrassed to ask a quest on this forum, someone will answer you and chances are many of us will have been in that situation at one time or another.

Experience is the key. You have loads whether or not you may see it, (Read your own posts)

Your intelligent enough,-(you asked us for help!)

To gain more experience and a start on your reputation you could offer a free service / repair advice or a how to session in the college recreation room, Students can ill afford things like expensive IT Repair guys, and you'll feel less daft talking to someone your own age compared to someone your parents age, who will look down at you.

Just make sure they know up front you are doing it for free and you don’t offer any guarantees. This could lead into paid work if you want it to.

 

[gunslinger]

Its a bit off topic but I have seen over the years there is a small window of age when people both young and old will respect you. Seems to start about age 30 and go until about age 45-50. When you are in your teens or twenties the older people will say you are "still wet behind the ears" then you are over 50 and younger people think you are to old to know what the hell is going on.
Its a sad fact of life but no matter how much you know your age will be a factor.


I understand what some are saying about advertising and hurting "real techs" business. I have had this happen to me. There is a local site for this part of the state that I used to advertise on. I got good results for about a year. All of a sudden all these kids right out of high school started posting adds. There was 3 then 5 then 18-20 of them. All within 10 miles of me. Some of them would offered to do the work for free just to get their foot in the door. When it got to the point I was only getting one or two calls a month from this site I gave up on it. These kids cost me thousands. I called a few of them asking some basic questions and almost without fail they knew very little. How to run Ccleaner and reinstall windows was about it.


I guess my point is , don't be one of these kids. Use word of mouth and stick with mostly family and friends, charge very little until you gain experience.

 

[The Birddog]

At last Gunslinger, someones talking sense. Cheers.

 

[hawks5999]

Hawks,

You wouldnt want a 17 year old installing a gas boiler at your home just because hes read a couple of books on the subject would you?

To say he should just go out and work with no experience is just unethical, how can you suggest just a thing, I thought you were a professional. Is this how you started? I don't think so.

Whiskey Tango Foxtrot? You thought I was a professional and then later you simply paraphrased my post?

As a matter of fact, I got started out quite differently. I was 23 and working in an office that grew from 2 to 15 computers in about a year. I became the de facto "computer guy" in the office by means of a finger point and a "You will be the System Administrator" declaration (who me?). My experience with computers up til that point consisted of:
Making a Commodore 64 count to a billion in 4th Grade. (10 a=1, 20 a=a+1, 30 print a, 40 goto 20, run)
Owning a ColecoVision Adam in 7th grade - awesome for playing Gateway to Apshai - didn't do much else with it.
Working on a Mac Classic in Journalism class (11th Grade) - mmm, Pagemaker.
Taking a semester in 12th Grade of Computer Studies - learned to use WordStar, a green screen, dos-based word processing app and played DOS Wheel of Fortune
---Nothing for 5 years---
Playing around with the computers in the office before becoming the "System Administrator". Chances are mighty freakin' high that Andrew is now more technically experienced than I was when I started my career as a "computer guy".
12 years later and I still hit situations where I don't know what to do. I'll go sell real estate if I get to the point that I'm not faced with a challenge on a weekly basis working on technology.

I realized about 4 years ago that experience was a little overrated. Working for a larger tech firm I put together a team for a deployment/data transfer of about 600 workstations in a very high profile law firm. We had several "experienced" technicians and a few no-experience guys. I hired one of the no-experience guys myself based on a referral from his dad, my friend. He was 17 and his previous job was (i kid you not) collecting carts from the parking lot of a grocery store. Turned out, Daryl was the best, fastest and in the end most knowledgeable of the whole team. Daryl was able to work on 5-7 machines at one time and when I QC'd his work it was flawless. The guys who had been in this field for 3-5-7 years were... meh. We ended up cutting 3 of the more "experienced" (and more expensive) guys from the team and added 2 of Daryl's friends - with the same experience and (honestly) same previous job. Both of them rocked it. One went on 2 years later to lead teams supporting 20,000 production servers in one of Microsoft's Tukwila Data Centers - at 20 years old. Daryl is now managing application repackaging for deployment and imaging via SMS in an environment of 10,000 PCs - at 21.

When you consider that kids are networking computers at age 14 for LAN parties and fixing their (cousin|grandma|sister|aunt|neighbor)'s computer at 15, by the time they are 17 all they really lack compared to anyone else on this board is business experience. Sure, you maybe don't know which IRQ is reserved for LPT1, (but oh wait, who cares?) and maybe you can't figure out how to restore an Exchange database store (home users don't care). But a large percentage of home user problems are: My computer is slow, I keep getting popups saying that I need anti-virus, can you connect my 3 computers to our printer, I lost an email, my computer is slow, can you help me get pictures off my camera, I can't open a picture someone emailed me, my computer is slow, I can't change my home page away from <hijacker du jour>, windows won't start, my computer is slow.

I'll bet Andrew can handle himself in that market for awhile.

And as others have said... he's not installing a gas boiler... it's a PC, not rocket science... not brain surgery... not gas boiler installation.