Saturday & Sunday

[JoeTech]

You are on the right track sapphire and I am happy for you, just don't go too hardcore with the cheap living and working 24/7 and try to enjoy yourself some because while it is great to be prepared, you never know what the future holds.

I had a couple friends that are in there 40's now, but spent there 20's and some of there 30's living super cheap and working 24/7 and never taking time to enjoy those years at all. Sure they made a ton of money and were set to be able to live the dream and retire when they hit 40. Then the housing market crashed around 2008 and they lost 3/4ths of everything. One of them went into severe depression because all that hard work was for nothing now and his biggest regret is that he can't get that time back.

 

[sapphirescales]

Wow, you weren't kidding! Congrats!

Thanks!

You are on the right track sapphire and I am happy for you, just don't go too hardcore with the cheap living and working 24/7 and try to enjoy yourself some because while it is great to be prepared, you never know what the future holds.

I had a couple friends that are in there 40's now, but spent there 20's and some of there 30's living super cheap and working 24/7 and never taking time to enjoy those years at all. Sure they made a ton of money and were set to be able to live the dream and retire when they hit 40. Then the housing market crashed around 2008 and they lost 3/4ths of everything. One of them went into severe depression because all that hard work was for nothing now and his biggest regret is that he can't get that time back.

I pay a lot of attention to markets (it's one of my hobbies). I could see 2008 coming. It was obvious as heck. That's why I waited until 2010 to buy a house. I wanted no part of that bloodbath. My house has increased in value quite a bit since I purchased it back in 2010, but I know it's only temporary. In fact, it might sink to a lower value than I purchased it for in 2010. The fact remains however, that I've lived rent free for 6 years now. My house would have to drop by a significant percentage to cause me to actually lose out. We're on the brink of another large recession, this one is going to be even worse than 2008 in all likelihood. I'm just glad that I have some financial security. But I will NOT gamble on stocks or housing. If you do, chances are you'll be wiped out at least once in your life. That will nullify any "gains" you've made by investing. You want to "invest"? Buy property. That's the best investment there is.

To be honest with you, computers are more than my job. They're my hobby. I'd do my job for free. Sure, I probably wouldn't work as many hours if I weren't getting paid, but I'd still happily do my job. I've been working on computers since I was 10 years old. I really can't imagine not spending every moment of my time on one. Even on my days off, I'm using my personal computers. LOL.

 

[EveVirtual]

Really depends. I don't mind doing work on the weekends, because those are really the busy times for any "Retail" job. I usually take Weds off, if I'm inclined too, and close early on Sunday, but for an in-home call, I'm open either way, if the job is worth it.

 

[wickedmojoit]

My shop services walk-in and drop off traffic. I don't consider us retail but our shop has retail visibility on a main strip.
We do a short day on Saturday, 10-3 and we are closed on Sunday.
On Saturday it's drop off and pick up only. No bench work is getting done.
Residentails like the option of weekend hours.
Our first 2 years when it was just me and my husband I did Saturday by appointment only. We live about 10 minutes from the shop so going back and forth wasn't a big deal. It worked great doing by appointment.

 

[nlinecomputers]

I work from home and I only handle businesses and most all of my business clients are offices that aren't open on the weekends. So I am not either. If you really want my butt on the weekend my rates are double. That tends to make it Monday Morning.

 

[Briggsy]

I'm happy to work Sundays - simply because I find Sundays boring anyway - plus none of my competitors work Sundays - and I've gained their customers by being available when their computer has died on a weekend and I've been the only tech available to fix it. I've gained loyal customers that used to be competitors customers that way too because they needed me in an emergency, they were impressed with my work and prices, and chose to remain with me rather than going back to their original guy - so that's a nice confidence boost too.

Computers are my hobby as well as my job - so it never bothers me working weekends. I generally have a Wednesday off from visits instead - and tend to keep that as a workshop only day - or use it to catch up on paperwork, accounts, tech research, software tool updating or slipstreaming latest Windows updates into my OS install ISOs.

 

[amktechsolutions]

Monday through Friday I work a regular 9-5 job, then run my business from 5pm to 10pm...Saturdays and Sundays I'm normally open for business from 12 noon to 10pm. I set this up so that it just gives customers extra flexibility on the weekends to contact me to schedule appointments and fill up my schedule for the next week.

 

[cypress]

Monday through Friday I work a regular 9-5 job, then run my business from 5pm to 10pm...Saturdays and Sundays I'm normally open for business from 12 noon to 10pm. I set this up so that it just gives customers extra flexibility on the weekends to contact me to schedule appointments and fill up my schedule for the next week.

Yup same here.

 

[glricht]

Although this thread is about being open Sat/Sun, there's also been discussion about working hard now in order to reap the benefits later -- and that's what I'd like to address.

A little backstory: I worked for IBM and AT&T for almost 30 years and then got laid off (no pension, no benefits, nothing - don't ask). Couldn't find another job as nobody wanted to hire a 50 year-old. Decided to open this business in 2003, and along with the work ethic learned in my corporate life, we've been blessed and successful for over 13 years.

We're an onsite-only business working out of my house with about 60% residential and 40% SMB. Due to geography, over 50% of our calls are 10 miles away or more. I used to schedule appointments M-F with the first appointment between 8-9am and the last appointment starting no later than 5pm. Because of travel time, there were times I would leave by 7:30am and not get back until 6:30-7pm. I would occasionally work on Saturday, but never on Sunday. Lots of hours, but felt I needed to do it as it was our only income.

All that changed this last February. Got home about 6pm on a Friday, laid down for a quick nap and woke up at 11am on Saturday! Don't remember much after that except that it really scared my wife and I ended up in an ambulance being taken to the hospital. Was suffering from acute dehydration and walking pneumonia. Stayed in the hospital for 3 days while they got things under control.

Met with my primary doctor two days later and during the conference, he looked me straight in the eye and said: "Would you like to know the REAL reason for what just happened?" Of course I said yes. He said "You're not 25 years old any more! Stop trying to burn the candle at both ends! SLOW DOWN!"

I decided to make some major changes.

I now do service calls only 4 days a week. On the "off" day, I work at home doing paper work, maybe a few remote access sessions, but no travel. My "off" day is usually Friday, but if I have an appointment that can't be done other than a Friday, I'll take a different day off. I don't schedule Saturdays or Sundays at all. Also, I've reduced the number of calls I'll accept per day -- especially if there's a lot of driving involved.

The interesting thing is that although I'll get a backlog of calls to be made, I can schedule them to minimize the amount of travel. I've also raised my rates so I'm making about 90% of what I used to make. At first, it was tough telling people I wasn't available for a few days, but I've grown to realize that work isn't everything.

Why am I posting this? Because amidst the hustle and bustle of running a business and servicing customers (whether in-shop or on-site), we all sometimes lose sight that there's "life" outside of work. Nobody's been on their death bed saying "I wish I'd spent more time at work"!

 

[Dave Pete]

For years we were open 9-7 Saturday, and 12-5 Sundays, as we have a significant retail presence as well as repair. In the last 2 years however the retail side as fallen alot, and we have Closed sundays and only do 9-5 on Saturdays now. Saturday mornings see significant repair drop offs. Sunday's used to have 4 or 5 people waiting in line for us to open, then not much the rest of the day

 

[Vyper28]

I work 7 days a week as needed, but I refuse any and all residential work. I do businesses only and as a result I usually get weekends off. I'm married now so family time is important.

I disagree with your method sapphire, but thats just a difference in oppinion. Im npt worth 600k, about half that, but I've only been in business for 18 months. I've been to Japan, Disneyland, had a wedding, and we are going back to Disneyland this month. I would argue the opposite, I want to enjoy life while my body will allow it. I want to travel while I am healthy and young enough to truly enjoy it rather than wait until a walk around Tokyo leaves my arthritis flaring up or a day at Disneyland is just too much for my tierd bones.

 

[jfm]

I used to and stopped for 4 reasons ;

1. I noticed that most calls during the weekends were price shoppers and mostly crappy clients.
2. I use my weekends to do the past week's paperwork and prepare for next week, I'm more efficient this way
3. And I have more than enough job coming in from 9 to 5 week days anyway that keeps me busy from 9 to 22h00 for 7 days !
4. Weekends callers are usually unwanted customers for me.

 

[Kitten Kong]

For me, weekends are sacrosanct. Usually during the summer especially, we are usually out most weekends.

Either competing in dog agility, or training.

During winter months, again at least the 1st Sunday of each month we are competing.

If we aren't competing or training, then I will answer the phone, but will not do any work. And like others will book clients in for the following week.

Weekends to me are family time. I hardly see the boss during the working week with one thing or another, so weekends we spend our time together, doing what we love, and are good at doing.

It's partly because of this, my dog and I have been asked again (4th year running now), to be a part of the English Para-agility team, traveling to Europe to compete on behalf of our country.

 

[Your PCMD]

I am open 5 days a week. Mon-Fri, although I am available on Saturdays, however, like @jfm mentioned, its mainly price checkers and "I need it done right this second" people. And also, weekend service is charged at a premium. Service call plus time and a half.

The first question I always ask is "how long or when did your issue occur?" and 99% of the time, it occurred during the weekday. This tells me they didn't care to get the issue resolved then, so now their in panic mode.

I love my business and I love getting calls to do work, but I always love my time with my family. My wife needs attention too and you know the saying. Happy wife, happy life!

Now there is one time a year I do extend my business days to include Saturdays and that's from Black Friday (day after thanksgiving) until December 24th, because customers do their shopping for the holidays mostly on the weekends here.

I never work on Sundays.

 

[GTP]

What I was mostly interested in knowing is if anyone with a retail location/home is open on Saturdays or Sundays for drop-off or pick-up.

Yes, I do this. I don't "work" weekends but I do help customers with small "over the phone issues" if needed and am available for drop off/pick up.

 

[buzzcut]

Lately I've had clients drop off their computers (home) but they will still have to wait for Monday morning for me to take a look at them. I had 2 yesterday and 1 two Sundays ago.
Sundays is my NFL sunday

 

[MikeLierman]

Monday through Friday are our busiest days. I keep my shop open on Saturday with shortened hours (10am-4pm). Because Saturdays are slower it's a chance to catch up. I plan the next week, check on ordered parts, review my techs repair notes to ensure I didn't miss anything we need to work on (such as procedures, flow of repairs, and efficient use of time diagnosing).

I try not to work on Sundays, shop is closed. But usually end up running up to the shop to catch up on paper work, plan the next week, review the month, review performance of advertising, performance of services, review our goals, study up on things I need to learn, etc. As a business owner, I've accepted that I will end up working twice the amount of hours as one of my guys. Depending on the week, I may work 70-80 hours.

However, it's always important to never overwork yourself. Some Sundays, and even some Saturdays, I won't be in at all. Personal life needs attention to. It's a balance that needs to be watched to avoid burn out.

Sent from my Pixel XL using Tapatalk

 

[Poetik92]

I'm young and I can do it. I'd rather bust my rump now when I'm young, then HAVE to do it when I'm old and really can't. I'll probably slow down once I hit 30 or 35, but by then I should have a net worth in the millions and I'll be able to slow down.

I'm cheap. The only furniture in my bedroom is 2 $25 IKEA tables and a stand for my main desktop. I sleep on the floor on a Japanese futon. If you want to be able to make it as a young millennial these days, THIS is how you have to live. And you have to make a ton of money too.

The one thing that's going to save me is that 99% of people my age don't want to do hard work and they don't want to sacrifice. Instant gratification. I'm not a goldfish. I can delay gratification. And when I'm 60 I'll look back at these times and smile. And look at my peers in pity. They look at me with pity now, but it'll be reversed 35 years from now.

I also fall into the 1%. Currently 24 and most my age really dont want to work much at all. I've got a family to feed and bills to pay that coupled with the fact that I actually enjoy running my business and doing repairs makes it easy to work like this.

My business is run out of my home and I'm open everyday of the week. My personal computer is in my office where I do the repairs so It's common for me to have work up on one or both screens with personal junk strewn about in seperate windows. I also find it difficult to just STOP working on repairs at a cutoff time and will often work until 2 or 3am. Usually this is when I get my maintenance clients tune-ups done

 

[HCHTech]

My standard answer when people ask me "how many hours do you work?" is "well, all of them, I think." It's definitely a trade off, but I'm growing my business and getting close to the point where I don't need to work so hard. We have a lot of residential clients, so we have to work Saturdays. I save my Sundays for admin work, but I also begin and end my regular days with accounting & such.

I try to schedule a day off during the week at least a couple of times per month. Other than that, I'm working. Someone I admire told me once that "you don't start to make real money until you are selling other peoples hours, not your own". I'm only half way towards that goal, but it's something to strive for.