No customers, please review

[kagman]

I have lots of love to give. Just ask around lol.... The bobbleheads are just a bit out of my price range for the time being. The place i looked at wants me to order at least 25 up front. Now they would make a great x-mas gift to give out to loyal clients I can thank my 17 year old cousin for that idea.

Eye candy, bobbleheads, etc im just full of ideas Now I have no idea where you can get vinyl lettering and/or banner work done. Look in the forums or ask around....

 

[Cerberus LLC]

Just letting the cat out

I have lots of love to give. Just ask around lol.... The bobbleheads are just a bit out of my price range for the time being. The place i looked at wants me to order at least 25 up front. Now they would make a great x-mas gift to give out to loyal clients I can thank my 17 year old cousin for that idea.

Eye candy, bobbleheads, etc im just full of ideas Now I have no idea where you can get vinyl lettering and/or banner work done. Look in the forums or ask around....

I'm not saying who but there is a gentleman who has offered to help me with SEO. Now I'm doubly glad to have joined this site. I'm looking forward to posting pictures of the office once it's set up. You might as well keep following this insanely large thread as the business progresses. I'll be moving into the storefront in 2 weeks. You guys are the best. Thanks so much.

 

[Cerberus LLC]

Interesting Business Ethics

So the woman that said I could have the rental unit as a store front, just told me this evening on the phone that she and her husband have changed their mind and they aren't going to rent the store front out.

This is disturbing coming from the lady who just told me she rented one of her apartments out to a "young girl with no job" Simply amazing to me.

I submitted her a thank you letter for giving me the opportunity, then I threw in an appeal to re-rent the unit. I'll let you know tomorrow how good of a salesman I am. lol

 

[kagman]

No.. that is so unfair...

 

[myPCTechs]

My business has grown 1300% in a little over a year. Keep in mind that you're going to need more than one method of marketing if you want to be successful in this business, or any business for that matter.

We personally employ SEO, online marketing, social networking, print, local networking, plus a couple of other tricks up our sleeves in addition to a full-time sales team.

It's not easy but keep trying. I have always firmly believed that anyone who has mastered effective marketing can pretty much make ANY business in any industry a success. After all, what is a business without - business?

 

[Peaceful]

So the woman that said I could have the rental unit as a store front, just told me this evening on the phone that she and her husband have changed their mind and they aren't going to rent the store front out.

This is disturbing coming from the lady who just told me she rented one of her apartments out to a "young girl with no job" Simply amazing to me.

I submitted her a thank you letter for giving me the opportunity, then I threw in an appeal to re-rent the unit. I'll let you know tomorrow how good of a salesman I am. lol

For that location I'd offer her double or even triple what she originally offered it for. What was it like $110 iirc?

 

[Cerberus LLC]

Misunderstandings and loss

For that location I'd offer her double or even triple what she originally offered it for. What was it like $110 iirc?

It was $125 and I have agreed to go no more than $300 per month on it with my business partners. That is what she told me she used to rent it out for. I have a sneaking suspicion that she just wants to rent it out for more money anyhow.

She is old and there was a huge misunderstanding about the word LANparty. She overheard us talking about it and she all but shut down. She said "how many people do you think have this LANbox. I was like "Xbox 360" and probably every kid in this town. Then she was like kids? I don't want this to bring bad people around. It was useless at that point to try to explain anything to her. She just wasn't listening.

In retrospect, unless I'm damaging the property or she places specific terms stating the usage of the property, she had no freaking business telling me what I was and was not going to regarding having a lanparty to bring the community together and increase my sales. Honestly, if she doesn't respond I don't care.

I have been driving around with one of my business partners looking for another location. There not as cheap but I'm not going to let her stop me from having a store front lol.

I would suggest to anybody thinking of getting a store front, to keep your mouth shut about your business ideas. Not everybody understands or cares what your about. This is proof positive and it probably cost me a very good opportunity.

 

[AustinB]

Bad people? LOL. I couldn't think of a less harmful party than a LAN party. People are going to drink energy drinks and sit in front of a computer all night.

 

[callthatgirl]

Took me 5 months to get consistant clients and then it was only about 4-6 a week. I got my first office almost a year into it. I have since then grew and got a new office and am now doing the 2nd location.

I think there were many great thoughts and ideas in this thread, but I have to agree, the clients will call you no matter if you have an office or not with proper marketing. I can't tell you how many clients I met at coffee shops, etc to get their computers. It was the hard work I will never forget.

Just my 2 cents, wait a bit, you may outgrow that little shop faster than you think!

 

[Cerberus LLC]

Oh My Goodness. Check this out please

I got lucky today. The old woman with the little storefront never called back so that store is gone. However, I was at the right place at the right time and I spoke in the right tones I guess.

I'm going to have an office in one of the most premier places in all of Wilmington. The man I am leasing the office space from is one of the most wealthy and respected men in about 3 counties. He is a real estate mogul and a mover and shaker in the business world. He offered to move his own name from his double office doors to a single door. He said that he will put my name in gold leaf letters and my logo on the other large glass door. He also said that he would put my name and logo inside the office on a HUGE plate glass window.

The office furniture stays, I have my own private entrance, I have my own board room for speaking with clients, I have full use of his current secretary. He has me now as his personal I.T. guy. His server is in my office behind a locked door. He has computer monitors just stacked up in this office and said that I can use them if I wish. I have to purchase nothing for this move.

Somebody was watching out for me that is for sure. You have seen the pictures of the little old "cute" storefront that I was denied. I can't wait to post pictures of this place. It's unbelievable. There is a waiting room for clients with a very nice couch and chairs. I even have a pre-filled candy dish lol.

He asked for $675 but I will negotiate $550 and I'm confident he will accept. That is a flat fee. I do not pay for internet, water, electric, trash, sewage. It is all inclusive for that price. And location? Oh boy. I'll post pictures as time allows. I'm going to be insanely busy with getting my new hires together and making this extraordinary move in a very short time. To say I'm excited is an understatement.

Thank you all for listening to me ramble on.

 

[Cerberus LLC]

Took me 5 months to get consistant clients and then it was only about 4-6 a week. I got my first office almost a year into it. I have since then grew and got a new office and am now doing the 2nd location.

I think there were many great thoughts and ideas in this thread, but I have to agree, the clients will call you no matter if you have an office or not with proper marketing. I can't tell you how many clients I met at coffee shops, etc to get their computers. It was the hard work I will never forget.

Just my 2 cents, wait a bit, you may outgrow that little shop faster than you think!

Thank you Lisa. I'd love to call and chat with you sometime about my current posting. There is much I'd like to discuss with you. I have already moved to a larger location? It's on the previous page. PM me when you are available ok? Thank you so much.

 

[Hooked]

I got lucky today. The old woman with the little storefront never called back so that store is gone. However, I was at the right place at the right time and I spoke in the right tones I guess.

I'm going to have an office in one of the most premier places in all of Wilmington. The man I am leasing the office space from is one of the most wealthy and respected men in about 3 counties. He is a real estate mogul and a mover and shaker in the business world. He offered to move his own name from his double office doors to a single door. He said that he will put my name in gold leaf letters and my logo on the other large glass door. He also said that he would put my name and logo inside the office on a HUGE plate glass window.

The office furniture stays, I have my own private entrance, I have my own board room for speaking with clients, I have full use of his current secretary. He has me now as his personal I.T. guy. His server is in my office behind a locked door. He has computer monitors just stacked up in this office and said that I can use them if I wish. I have to purchase nothing for this move.

Somebody was watching out for me that is for sure. You have seen the pictures of the little old "cute" storefront that I was denied. I can't wait to post pictures of this place. It's unbelievable. There is a waiting room for clients with a very nice couch and chairs. I even have a pre-filled candy dish lol.

He asked for $675 but I will negotiate $550 and I'm confident he will accept. That is a flat fee. I do not pay for internet, water, electric, trash, sewage. It is all inclusive for that price. And location? Oh boy. I'll post pictures as time allows. I'm going to be insanely busy with getting my new hires together and making this extraordinary move in a very short time. To say I'm excited is an understatement.

Thank you all for listening to me ramble on.

Just interested, where is this money coming from? Also, a storefront requires someone to be there to make appointments for you when you're away. Who do you plan on filling that role?

 

[Cerberus LLC]

Just interested, where is this money coming from? Also, a storefront requires someone to be there to make appointments for you when you're away. Who do you plan on filling that role?

Which money are you referring? The rent money comes from my business bank account. I have a total of 3 in shop employees and two that are mobile. I will be in the office/shop along with one technician.

I am hoping to employ a full-time secretary for the phones but I don't anticipate the phones ringing off the hook for the first few months. I'll have to adjust according to cash flow I suppose. It may be a while before I can afford this luxury.

Also, if everybody is out of the office, everybody has their iPhone's on them. I have a phone system that will ring all of our iPhone's or just the ones I specify in real time while the office phone is ringing. It's not call forwarding. That way if somebody gets to

the office and it rings, they have instructions to turn off that service and take the calls themselves. All technicians have an application to book our customers online via iPhone as well.

 

[Hooked]

Which money are you referring? The rent money comes from my business bank account. I have a total of 3 in shop employees and two that are mobile. I will be in the office/shop along with one technician.

I am hoping to employ a full-time secretary for the phones but I don't anticipate the phones ringing off the hook for the first few months. I'll have to adjust according to cash flow I suppose. It may be a while before I can afford this luxury.

Also, if everybody is out of the office, everybody has their iPhone's on them. I have a phone system that will ring all of our iPhone's or just the ones I specify in real time while the office phone is ringing. It's not call forwarding. That way if somebody gets to

the office and it rings, they have instructions to turn off that service and take the calls themselves. All technicians have an application to book our customers online via iPhone as well.

Oh, wow, I had your business at a much different state in my mind than it is. I didn't think that you'd have employees if you had never had a single service call. Or is this a different business? I do admit I more or less skimmed after the first three pages.

But that sounds like a great opportunity, do you expect much foot traffic just from your business location? Maybe you should have some sort of sign that says you look at laptops/notebooks on short notice if you have an office next to the corporate icon where you're from. If I were in a hurry to give a presentation and my laptop w/ my presentation decided not to boot, I'd be looked for the quickest fix.

 

[callthatgirl]

I'm going to guess that he has been working on this business for awhile and is now launching/launched, prepared with techs and is now worried there are no calls and needs a storefront to be more hand/foot clients.

Right? That's what I did when I started out, but then I found out quickly that I needed clients for myself first, then I could hire people. That took 2.5 years to do and my first employee was my secretary and 2nd was in an in shop tech to help with drop offs. If I had the money in the 2nd year to be more financially aggressive with marketing/adverising, I would be 2-3 times busier than I am now. I have no doubts with that as I have compared marketing plans with my main competitior who is also one of my hardware referring partners. (as I don't do hardware). His budget is monsterous compared to mine, but he does 4x the work load too a week. I am working on doing some more advertising now in the 4th quarter of this year. I have more staff ready now and can grow finally.

Anyway, I can help, call me at the number I PM'd you.

 

[Cerberus LLC]

You were correct

Oh, wow, I had your business at a much different state in my mind than it is. I didn't think that you'd have employees if you had never had a single service call. Or is this a different business? I do admit I more or less skimmed after the first three pages.

But that sounds like a great opportunity, do you expect much foot traffic just from your business location? Maybe you should have some sort of sign that says you look at laptops/notebooks on short notice if you have an office next to the corporate icon where you're from. If I were in a hurry to give a presentation and my laptop w/ my presentation decided not to boot, I'd be looked for the quickest fix.

No, you were correct. This is why I keep posting to this particular thread. Things are evolving day to day. It has been a diary of sorts really. Since the first posting of this thread, I have made many changes. My employees are family, best friends from high school and college, and my brother-in-law. They all understand the potential of my business and all have agreed to be employed by me. Although I have been getting a trickle of business since the first posting, they are all aware of the time it takes to grow and be fully viable. Being in my particular area, there is an extraordinary need for my services. I don't know if it's timing, the economy, or just luck.

Foot traffic? Yes indeed. And tons of it. I will be directly across the street from one of the largest and most respected attorney firms around here. Across the street from our new Police Station, just down one block is the Courthouse. Up the street from there about 4 blocks is the Hospital. A few feet from this office is the Chamber of Commerce and a very large bank. This is pretty much the hub of this town. I honestly couldn't have found a better place. It is fantastic.

It's weird because instead of a huge banner or neon signs that says "computer repair" I now have the power of this existing business that has been around for almost 40 years. My name will be respectfully placed in gold leaf right on the front door. It will be like I have been there the whole time along with the respect of this mans empire. It's just weird and surreal somewhat. He actually told me he wanted my traffic to come in, sit down, and just be there. This adds to his business exponentially as well. We are helping each other out on many different levels.

 

[Cerberus LLC]

Right again

I'm going to guess that he has been working on this business for awhile and is now launching/launched, prepared with techs and is now worried there are no calls and needs a storefront to be more hand/foot clients.

Right? That's what I did when I started out, but then I found out quickly that I needed clients for myself first, then I could hire people. That took 2.5 years to do and my first employee was my secretary and 2nd was in an in shop tech to help with drop offs. If I had the money in the 2nd year to be more financially aggressive with marketing/adverising, I would be 2-3 times busier than I am now. I have no doubts with that as I have compared marketing plans with my main competitior who is also one of my hardware referring partners. (as I don't do hardware). His budget is monsterous compared to mine, but he does 4x the work load too a week. I am working on doing some more advertising now in the 4th quarter of this year. I have more staff ready now and can grow finally.

Anyway, I can help, call me at the number I PM'd you.

Thanks again Lisa. You are correct as well. My employees have been with me from the start. They just weren't moving until I had a finished product. When I posted the thread it was as you had stated. I'll call you.

 

[vdub12]

I'm going to guess that he has been working on this business for awhile and is now launching/launched, prepared with techs and is now worried there are no calls and needs a storefront to be more hand/foot clients.

Right? That's what I did when I started out, but then I found out quickly that I needed clients for myself first, then I could hire people. That took 2.5 years to do and my first employee was my secretary and 2nd was in an in shop tech to help with drop offs. If I had the money in the 2nd year to be more financially aggressive with marketing/adverising, I would be 2-3 times busier than I am now. I have no doubts with that as I have compared marketing plans with my main competitior who is also one of my hardware referring partners. (as I don't do hardware). His budget is monsterous compared to mine, but he does 4x the work load too a week. I am working on doing some more advertising now in the 4th quarter of this year. I have more staff ready now and can grow finally.

Anyway, I can help, call me at the number I PM'd you.

I have heard you mention this a few times and I have never commented on it.

You said you don't do hardware. So if a customer has a bad stick of ram or a bad video card do you just send them packing. I don't get what you mean by this at all. A good share of my business is hardware replacement. Hard drives especially. They seem to be dropping like flies lately.

If you don't mind me asking, whats the deal? Why don't you like hardware? It has a huge earning potential. One example is about every other tuneup I do I sell a stick of ram. Thats money in my pocket.

 

[NWPhotog]

Actually Microsoft and Apple had no infrastructure when they first started out....lol. Hell not even Micheal Dell had the infrastructure in place back when he started building computers in his dorm room. lol

You are smart enough to know that it takes a very long time to get a business off the ground and have the customer base to support it.

Exactly. All three examples the OP pointed to started as I said. They had an idea which created lines of customers pounding on their door. They added infrastructure only as they had to. All you need to start a computer repair business is a screwdriver, business cards, and GREAT customer service. If I had to pick one it would be the last. Business partners, employees, advertising, an office but no customers?! All that is is puffery. That is not said to hurt but to be honest and get back to reality.

Customers HAVE to be the center of your business. Their wants and needs have to be yours. No customers, no business. You start by telling family and friends you fix computers and ask them to spread the word, then flyers, etc. Work on the web site is good but it won't support your business by itself. Think hard Before spending every dollar. Until you have business income expenses are a luxury you can't afford. If you want to be around in 6-12 months you have to start thinking like a real business person.

 

[callthatgirl]

Hijack for a moment to answer Vdub.

I started out working in the college labs in 1995 supporting the students with software glitches/printing, etc (Apple and VAX). The college I worked at had hardware/network techs so anytime there was a hardware need, I just passed it over to them. In 2000 when I worked in the corporate world, same situation...I had desktop/network guys to help. At the Mayo Clinic, I worked at the helpdesk, we had another desktop dept. Until 2007, I was only doing software repair, I barely knew how to open a computer. When I started my own business in 2007, I almost never had a hardware issue come across me until one day, I found a glitch and called upon my referring partner at the time who told me it was a motherboard issue. Not my thing, I really do not know that end of repair. That referring partner never gave me back calls (Outlook, etc.) so I found a new referring partner and he does give me back call (home visits and Outlook types). It's a very fair and balanced way to do business. With over 700 clients and about 70% of my work being remote based, I am not doing bad with just "software support"

To close, for me to learn hardware to make a few extra bucks, isn't worth it. I may bring on a tech who is efficient in hardware and carry stock, but for now what I am doing is working. I may only give my referring partner 1 call a week. That means, as software repair business is doing the just based on software repair. I don't get how you guys get so many hardware calls either, but maybe it's my marketing that draws in my clients now. Who knows.

But to be fair, I do know how to replace RAM, CD/DVD players and hard drives, extract data, etc. I just don't mess with the rest.

I may be the first software repair business out there, but I am sticking to what is workin'!