Pondering of opening my own business

[Googleness]

Hello,
So in the far far past I used to repair computers for customers in private sector of things and didn't had any business as a customer. It was more like side income for my business back then (I used to import items into my country and sell them online\brick&mortar store).

Time passed I stopped indulging myself in PC repairs and worked in various of other jobs but lately I went to "college" (It's the most accurate way to translate.. mostly it's some kind of Microsoft certified study center\gold partner).

I had a PC & Network technician course + mcsa (windows 8.1) course integrated there for about 4 months +-

I now have my past experience and following diplomas:
PC & Network Technician (Issued by the college).
Participation in MOC MCSA windows 8.1 (Issued by Microsoft)
PC & Network Maintenance (State of Israel).

I plan to take the MCSA Certifications test (70-687 \ 70-688) in next few weeks probably and you can add that one to the lot.

So I tried to et into a job somewhere, maybe in Help Desk or some other kind of entry level role but so far what I've found in my local area is either [ISP Tech support] or some job which requires either many years of proved experience or knowledge with varied technologies (CCNA \ Linux \ Server management etc..).

So I was pondering as I have rather large house I can re purpose a part of it into Lab \ office and perhaps open my own full fledged pc repair business in more in depth way then I used to run in the past.
But I'm still unsure whether I should instead work as employ first somewhere to get experience\save money for that first or just open a business and be done with it.

I got some small circle of people which I got reputation with so I can form a first circle of regular clients before I actually open but for some reason (even though I got experience in running a business) I am still not sure.

what advice can you give me on the subject? your help will be most appreciated.

Thanks

 

[16k_zx81]

Read some of the established threads. This question gets asked several times each month. There was a recent discussion (last week) that was interesting. Same topic.

 

[Markverhyden]

Welcome. As mentioned there are many threads about this subject. But one of the first things you must do is put together a business plan. There is a saying over here that businesses/people do not plan to fail. They fail to plan.

 

[ChrisTech]

Why not try as a part-time operation, as I did?

If you have space at your home you can minimise overheads and build up a list of clients, hopefully get recommended and build up that important base of customers. Over time, when you feel that you can pull the plug on the day job, you can take that final leap of faith and hope for the best!

You also need to research your local competition (if any), just don't be put off as generally customers know when they've got a good service and reputation is everything. Also look at possibly advertising locally - but be careful, as advertising can be a bottomless pit of money and there is no doubt that you'll try some advertising and get nothing back - just keep trying different sources!

It's not easy, particularly if you do get a day job, but to work for yourself is definately worth it in the end. Good luck!

Chris

 

[Googleness]

Thanks Chris,
I actually thought about trying it a part time thing.

Perhaps a repair service at my local place and not at the client's location for competitive price.

I actually live in far side of my town in pretty isolated place the only business in my vicinity is the grocery store so I can probably count on people which want something close to their house.

 

[unclemarv]

Welcome and good luck. Lots of good people here to help you out.

 

[allstarit]

Im also a part time business owner and full time day job. Best thing i ever did was take the fist steps in starting my business. Been part time for about 2 years and its starting to pickup and become steady. I focus on MSP and slowly building up clients. Being part time allows you to still earn a steady income while building up the business

 

[Googleness]

I actually should start new job at Monday next week so I'll start planning at next weekend.

 

[Googleness]

Hello folks,

Ok minor update and few questions.


I did some checks and in my country the government gives a minimum wage even if I have my own business. So if I start working in my own business and I get 1-2 months at the start with low income I'll get the difference to the minimum wage from the government division which handles such things in here.


So I decided to open my business at the start of next month in few days as a full time job, I have the benefit of using my expanded family's large house so my expanses are minimal if any. And my father is an accountant – that's few hundreds saved right there.


I got my office\lab setup with all the tools needed and it's located in pretty good spot isolated from the rest of the house with its own entrance. I'll order the needed paperwork\business cards after I'll officially register with the authorities.


I've planned at the start to minimize as much as I can my expenses so I decided to sell "service" and in case I'll need hardware\software to purchase is for the customer when I'll need it. I got some nice big retailers for such items in 10-15 minutes' drive distance and they are very fair with their prices.


I'm contemplating whether I should purchase the items and resell them to my customers through my business and add some fee to it or just get the supplier issue the invoice on the customer's name so all warrantees will not have to go through me?

Also as stock goes I've seen there are large number of software companies (such as AV devs) which offer a reseller program. You think that as a starting business it will be beneficial to enlist for some good products I believe in programs or just tell the customer his option and offer the free software / open source "free" alternatives and focus on good service?


Also for payments I'll be using either cash or PayPal, which should be enough?
Using the Credit companies in my country in order to get the proper licenses and then getting the proper software\tools to charge credit cards + Checks guarantee service is significant sum each month.


Another issue I was wondering about is warrantee for the repair service itself - I read on some articles here that some folks will give a guarantee for 30-90 days for some services, you think that it is an important part that I should definitely include in my service and for how long?


And one more tiny thing,

I used to work long ago at my old business (used to sell merchandise online) with Ubuntu Linux. I was planning to offer my customers if they wish to reinstall their OS some Linux Distro as free alternative to Windows for free (just charging for the installation).

Beside the fact that I'll have to explain the difference and that some hardware/software might not work which Linux Distro will you recommend for such thing? I was thinking either Ubuntu (some sort depends on the hardware) or Mint... I really love Linux Mint.

 

[mrapoc]

I'm contemplating whether I should purchase the items and resell them to my customers through my business and add some fee to it or just get the supplier issue the invoice on the customer's name so all warrantees will not have to go through me?

This is where you either markup the price to cover the chances of warranty faff or not. Sometimes it isn't worth it.

Also as stock goes I've seen there are large number of software companies (such as AV devs) which offer a reseller program. You think that as a starting business it will be beneficial to enlist for some good products I believe in programs or just tell the customer his option and offer the free software / open source "free" alternatives and focus on good service?

Up to you where you draw the line. I don't condone free AV but I will happily recommend Libreoffice if they need a basic editor...until I get office 365 resell potential from messagestream that is

Also for payments I'll be using either cash or PayPal, which should be enough?
Using the Credit companies in my country in order to get the proper licenses and then getting the proper software\tools to charge credit cards + Checks guarantee service is significant sum each month.

Look for something similar to iZettle and Gocardless in your country. They are great!

Another issue I was wondering about is warrantee for the repair service itself - I read on some articles here that some folks will give a guarantee for 30-90 days for some services, you think that it is an important part that I should definitely include in my service and for how long?

I don't yet. They will probably go get reinfected within the hour. Hmmmm

I used to work long ago at my old business (used to sell merchandise online) with Ubuntu Linux. I was planning to offer my customers if they wish to reinstall their OS some Linux Distro as free alternative to Windows for free (just charging for the installation).

Beside the fact that I'll have to explain the difference and that some hardware/software might not work which Linux Distro will you recommend for such thing? I was thinking either Ubuntu (some sort depends on the hardware) or Mint... I really love Linux Mint.

Linux and end users doesn't usually end well. Although it is getting better..let me know how you get on however I can see it eating into profits and taking longer supporting the end user at the end of the day.

 

[Googleness]

Thanks for the tips.
website is ready all paperwork is ready now I just wait for my shipment from the printing house to arrive and I'll be fully open for business.

Cheers

 

[Googleness]

Hello Everyone,
I think it will be more beneficial if I'll post here instead of opening a new thread.

So updates,
I've opened my business number of weeks ago.

I've so far:
1. Set up my workspace which is isolated from my home so I can invite customers over if need be.
2. Created website.
3. Created social profiles (Facebook, Google+, Google business page, twitter).
4. Added my website to large number of indexes.
5. On more physical aspect I've hanged signs throughout my local town on boards, bus stops (there is place for ads there) and distributed around 600 flyers.
6. I'm also carrying around business cards and magnets which I spread around after bit of conversation with people.

Lately I've started to est a bit paid ads on Facebook and Google AdWords - which I plan to analyze in order to see their worth.
Beside those steps I've consulted with our local small businesses governmental foundation, which helps people who starts their business and I've implemented their advices. Mostly.
I've got good reviews from past customers and all of them were pleased with my services.
I was also the top student in my class (where I got the certs) and I got a recommendation letter from the college for it. All my certs are availble online at my website as well.


Communication wise I've supplied:
1. Social networks personal messages.
2. Phone number.
3. Fax.
4. eMail.
5. Skype.
6. WhatsApp.


Right now I'm also offering “Free” consulting for home users which wish to know how to back up their personal data, this issue is major concern of mine because many people – actually EVERY ONE who contacted me so far for my services didn't had any kind of backup.
Actually an Architect client of mine lost 3 years of data because she didn't backed up anything at all.
So I thought it will be nice to offer this service free of charge as it takes me few minutes at most and save the “Doom & Gloom” conversation when I ask “You backed up your data?” .

At any rate to the business at hand.
I plan to deliver around 50-100 additional signs and 300-400 flyers\ads to residental mail boxes at the towns around my local town where I'm set up (we got really good highways I can get anywhere around this parts in less then 10 minutes).

But,
I don't get calls as much as I wanted, I seem to lack customers and I'm really lost here on what else I can do in order to get some more customers as starting business.

One tip I got was to build some “Business support plan”, in which I'll offer “bank” of hours to businesses and other services – so far I've avoided this as I planned to do an in depth research before I'll offer any of those as I don't wish to commit into binding contract which I may not be able to fullfill.

What tips can you offer me, or stories from your starting days can you share which may help me get some more customers?

Also I'm in no monetary issues as I've planned this business with the most minimal expanses and so far I'm on the profiting side (still humble but profit none the less).

Thanks!

 

[Googleness]

Hi there. would it be possible for you to share a link on this?

found the page in English,
http://www.btl.gov.il/English Homepage/Benefits/Income Support Benefit/Pages/default.aspx

In short I report to the NIIoI and if my income is lower the the minimal income set by the government I receive a supplement from them and if my income was higher in the end of the year I pay it back but it's helping to keep you floating until your business is up and running.

 

[ohio_grad_06]

What we did since I do mine part time also. Rent a small space from another business, office supply store print shop is perfect. Let them take in drop offs for you, provide the paperwork that needs to be signed. We converted our telephone to a cell phone so it can always be with us as well. When this cone in you can pick them up and take back to work on.

 

[Kitten Kong]

found the page in English,
http://www.btl.gov.il/English Homepage/Benefits/Income Support Benefit/Pages/default.aspx

In short I report to the NIIoI and if my income is lower the the minimal income set by the government I receive a supplement from them and if my income was higher in the end of the year I pay it back but it's helping to keep you floating until your business is up and running.

Cheers, Sorry, I thought you were in the UK, when I saw the minimum wage part of the post. Then realised your not.

I'll add my comments in the morning, as I'm just about to call it a night.