remote support only tech offering

[irishtech]

is it worth it.

thinking of doing this for a while and see if i can make any money out of it.

anyone got a example of websites they have designed to offer this so i can get an idea of how to lay mine out.

i was thinking of going with screenconnect but this what happens if i reboot the PC do i need to reconnect with screen connect and start a new session.

does screenconnect work in safe mode?

whats the best way to get paid in remote support, i was thinking a paypal link with a special code generated on time and date of the request.

i work full time so this would be more of an evening venture for a while. i was thinking of advertising as remote spyware and virus removal service and a spring clean your computer service?


thanks for any suggestions?

 

[rsarceno]

is it worth it. thinking of doing this for a while and see if i can make any money out of it. anyone got a example of websites they have designed to offer this so i can get an idea of how to lay mine out.

Irishtech, remote support is a good thing. Here is my process and website for rmt support http://www.snccomputerrepair.com/onlinesupport.php

I or the other tech have to login to my website if were available to help online. If no one is available then the page will display no tech available. I did the web using PHP.

Here's how the process works for SNC

1) The client post a message
2) The message is forward via text to all login technicians
3) The first tech who assign the ticket to himself gets the credit
4) The tech contact the client and establish remote session (using RemoteZilla). For two reason. Confirm we can establish remote session and perform basic diagnostic to get an idea what the issue is.
5) The client is given a quote and will have to pay via credit card before serice is perform. Paypal will place a hold on the credit card but not the actual charge.
6) The tech review the website log if paypal payment have been place.
7) The tech do what needs to be done.
8) The tech will either release the hold and process the whole payment, release only partial of the payment or release all the payment back
9) Only I can make payment via paypal. My tech can only accept or release payment. Once the transaction is done, I keep my cut and give the tech his cut.

I don't really have tech. I have technical friend who work as sub contractor.
There's not much overhead once everything is all setup. I wrote the program so it didn't cost anything. I used RemoteZilla which includes free updates. Each tech invest on MagicJack so they can call anywhere in the USA for a flat rate of $20 yearly. Just one service calls and it already pay for MagicJack Paypal online change per transaction. No monthly fees. All my firends have unlimited text/data on smartphone so there no additional cost.

 

[Knightsman]

Get your panties unknotted. Recommending that someone to do their own homework is neither unprofessional nor rude. Turning someone else's thread into a soapbox for your own complaints is. Got a problem? Take it to the mods or message me personally but grow up about it.

I think it was a bit harsh, I honestly didnt see much wrong with his post. its an online forum, professional in a sense of how he acts, not so much on how he writes his sentences.

He is new, his search skills are new. I have always hated seeing people get mad at a new person for not using the search function. A veteran, yeah, but not a new person that we can add to our community. we all had to learn at some point that we can get our answer most times by searching.

All in all, irishtech, this is a great forum, ehousecalls is a good guy. He hasnt had a good year.

welcome to the forum.


My advise is to not just do remote support, you will lose customers that way (if you want to stay local). I do remote support and onsite support, and that gives me a well rounded plan to support more clients. It also brings in more money. But there are a lot of people who only do remote support, and they make a lot of money, but you have to be able to attract more than just local clients.

 

[callthatgirl]

I built a business on remote support and it works for us.

Here is my remote support page, http://www.callthatgirl.biz/remote-support

We take payments on our main website through paypal.

If you're looking to do night/weekend remote support, it's a good deal for home residential folks as they are at home night/weekends. Good market, if you can figure out how to get those clients in.

We us LogMeInRescue, it's worth it if you need to do a lot of remote supports and want to log into many computers. Should pay for itself once you are good to go with consistant clients.

Hope that info helps!

 

[cantech]

Irishtech, remote support is a good thing. Here is my process and website for rmt support

I or the other tech have to login to my website if were available to help online. If no one is available then the page will display no tech available. I did the web using PHP.

Here's how the process works for SNC

1) The client post a message
2) The message is forward via text to all login technicians
3) The first tech who assign the ticket to himself gets the credit
4) The tech contact the client and establish remote session (using RemoteZilla). For two reason. Confirm we can establish remote session and perform basic diagnostic to get an idea what the issue is.
5) The client is given a quote and will have to pay via credit card before serice is perform. Paypal will place a hold on the credit card but not the actual charge.
6) The tech review the website log if paypal payment have been place.
7) The tech do what needs to be done.
8) The tech will either release the hold and process the whole payment, release only partial of the payment or release all the payment back
9) Only I can make payment via paypal. My tech can only accept or release payment. Once the transaction is done, I keep my cut and give the tech his cut.

I don't really have tech. I have technical friend who work as sub contractor.
There's not much overhead once everything is all setup. I wrote the program so it didn't cost anything. I used RemoteZilla which includes free updates. Each tech invest on MagicJack so they can call anywhere in the USA for a flat rate of $20 yearly. Just one service calls and it already pay for MagicJack Paypal online change per transaction. No monthly fees. All my firends have unlimited text/data on smartphone so there no additional cost.

How do you setup paypal to place a hold on a credit card and then to release it? I can't seem to find a setting for that in paypal. ?

 

[rsarceno]

How do you setup paypal to place a hold on a credit card and then to release it?

You are presented with three steps when you setup your payment button,
On the third step "Customize Advance feature (optional)
check "Add advance variables"
then add this variable in the box
paymentaction=authorization

Make sure you read the policy. I think you either have 30 days to process the payment otherwise it will be return to the client. I think you can also charge more than what the client deposit. I don't agree with it but the option is available. I've never use it. It I make a mistake on my quote, it my lost.

Good Luck

 

[callthatgirl]

You have to be set up for business with Paypal to get that option (I believe). I have a virtual terminal I use for those payments, authorize or sale.

It's worth the money!

 

[cantech]

Paypal calls it "Authorization and Capture"

@rsarceno: Thanks a lot. I see that option in website payments standard. And with that info I was able to find more info. Paypal calls it "Authorization and Capture". In the website payment standard integration guide it also shows how to do the capture and process the payment.

@call that girl: The virtual terminal does seem like a good investment. I didn't realize that the monthly was so low and for a couple of percent more you can take credit cards over the phone.

Thanks ya'll

 

[callthatgirl]

Yeah, many will say you should go with a mainstream banking company like FirstData or whatever, but I just like Paypal, love their customer service and how easy it is to take payments, the other companies have so much freaking paperwork, contracts, etc...paypal is simple and you can easily do anything!

And when it comes down to a %, I figured I didn't care...I deduct all the fee's anyway. I'm glad you are considering it! I love it. Btw...I only authorize 3 people in my company to take a credit card over the phone, the rest all have clients pay on our website. We don't have cash registers.

 

[tallship]

Yeah, many will say you should go with a mainstream banking company like FirstData or whatever, but I just like Paypal, love their customer service and how easy it is to take payments, the other companies have so much freaking paperwork, contracts, etc...paypal is simple and you can easily do anything!

And when it comes down to a %, I figured I didn't care...I deduct all the fee's anyway. I'm glad you are considering it! I love it. Btw...I only authorize 3 people in my company to take a credit card over the phone, the rest all have clients pay on our website. We don't have cash registers.

My sentiments exactly. Yet I do have a couple of other merchant accounts for processing, but it's so much hassle, and I just have to laugh when a customer says they won't use paypal to pay me....

I just say, "Okay, no problem, you can pay using your credit card. your invoice should be in your inbox", and it's from PayPal, LOL.

Another easy one to set up is ProPay.com, also a little pricey, but worth it since I really don't like monthly fees - especially when I typically only use the alternate merchant accounts once or twice a month.

There are some others too though, that you might want to consider, if you do overseas service. Some folks CAN'T do paypal. Payson.com and Sofort-Bank.com are easy to set up accounts with and cover most of europe, while AlertPay, Moneybookers, and a couple of others work too (one of those is now 'Serve.com').

Since our primary business product isn't selling parts, the merchant fees aren't such a bit matter to concern ourselves with, it's simply factored into the cost of sale.

Oh, @callthatgirl, you have a nice and approachable website that says, "I'm a local service provider". Very campy and americana indeed

Kindest regards,

.

 

[tallship]

Irishtech, remote support is a good thing. Here is my process and website for rmt support http://www.snccomputerrepair.com/onlinesupport.php

Your site appears to be offline at this time. I'm interested in checking it out when you get it back online

Kindest regards,

.