What other service do you provide that bring in a monthly residual?

[gh1544]

We have been approached by internet providers, dish network, and cell phone companies. We know of another computer place that provides internet surfing in their store for a set rate. We have also thought of providing classes for our customers. What services do you provide to offset your repair services to generate more income?

Michelle

 

[Tony_Scarpelli]

We have been approached by internet providers, dish network, and cell phone companies. We know of another computer place that provides internet surfing in their store for a set rate. We have also thought of providing classes for our customers. What services do you provide to offset your repair services to generate more income?

Michelle

Recycling old PC technology and selling used parts.

I have a $12 per month ad under Recycling PC's. I get about 20-40 pc's dropped off each month. I take workstations/servers for free and guarantee they do not end up in a dump. I charge $5 for each monitor or printer. I keep the parts I can use and sell them. Many of the systems are of sufficient speed that I restore their OS and sell them. Now I am getting mostly 3 gig P4's with XP or Vista. Since they are free I do well selling them for $199. I also get some duel cores which sell for about $299. I get laptops which start about $199. I have not bought a printer or printer cartridge in about 6 years as I just keep one of the recycles for our purpose. I have some mobile Junkie guys to actually schread the stuff down and recycle it and they pickup what I don't want, for free on a weekly basis.

 

[gh1544]

We do a lot now and need to streamline our services.

We do rebuilds, builds and sale used computers, we sale computer parts we also do cd/dvd buffing, replace powercord tips and keyboard keys, transfer vhs to dvd conversions, screen replacements, data recovery, dc jack repair and reflows. We also have done 3rd party repair on the military base here. To name a few. We would like to do some no brainer type work basically signing costumers up for something and recieving a bonus/commission check. A kiosk with dvd rentals, something.

 

[Tony_Scarpelli]

If you have a little cash to start it up "Cartridge and toner" refills is profitable. It creates traffic for your other business as well. You need to dig in and learn it as a separate business but you can house it and run it together, just remember that it has its own set of "critical success factors"

You may be able to start out buying wholesale online and then eventually buy the equipment to fill your own.

 

[RegEdit]

I'm thinking about doing certain musical instrument repairs such as replacing backlights on synthesizers. On old vintage synths like the Korg 01/W the back light slowly fades out.

 

[Kitten Kong]

I offer online IT backups. The residual income from this can be quite a lot of money, depending on how you market yourself.

Also I am a MS authorised refurbisher. Basically I receive computers from companies, schools etc, wipe them, upgrade where ever possible and reload the OS. Then resell.

From a marketing point of view this is a real godsend, as my site is way up the google rankings for this. SEO is easy with the keywords on this side of things.

 

[classonepc]

Cat5e cabling, network setup. New home construction wiring for phone and internet.

 

[Steve202]

I offer online IT backups. The residual income from this can be quite a lot of money, depending on how you market yourself.

Also I am a MS authorised refurbisher. Basically I receive computers from companies, schools etc, wipe them, upgrade where ever possible and reload the OS. Then resell.

From a marketing point of view this is a real godsend, as my site is way up the google rankings for this. SEO is easy with the keywords on this side of things.

How many PCs do you do a month Nige and where do you advertise the service?

I had a load of refurbs last year but since the beginning of the year, I've only had a few and it's something I want to get into.

 

[Kitten Kong]

How many PCs do you do a month Nige and where do you advertise the service?

I had a load of refurbs last year but since the beginning of the year, I've only had a few and it's something I want to get into.

It all depends on what comes in from the companies Steve. I also do recycling and refurbing from the local primary schools in my area.

Last month I had 8 desktops, and 6 laptops in from schools. I advertise the service in email campaigns, and letters to all my contact list.

Some months I don't get a thing in, and others I am inundated. Even if you do not get any refurb machines in, advertising the fact that you are a authorised refurber, brings you decent points in google. Also clients can check the refurber site, to see who is authorised in their area .

 

[Steve202]

I'll take a look at the MS refurb options. Do you have any problems with WEEE?

 

[Kitten Kong]

Definately have a look at the MS refurb Steve. It doesn't cost a penny, and they offer a lot of marketing materials for you also.

Re the WEEE, it is something I am looking into. I am covered for having the waste in transit, but thats as far as I go. Will pm you shortly if thats ok. Open forum etc

 

[Steve202]

That will be great Nige

 

[Tony_Scarpelli]

I'm thinking about doing certain musical instrument repairs such as replacing backlights on synthesizers. On old vintage synths like the Korg 01/W the back light slowly fades out.

My brother would love this. He wants to start a music instrument company.

 

[Tony_Scarpelli]

Most of my business clients are willing to pay 1 hr a month for me to come check their backup system, do a test restore and make a good backup for them. I probably have at least six companies that tell me to come out when I can to do this.

It is a good service to sell. No matter what backup solution they use, having their IT guy come check it is good insurance.

Another thing you can sell is the service of going out and creating a complete disaster recovery backup. This is one that boots a new hard drive server or workstation and completely loads the NOS/OS software, configurations and data as of the date of creation. In a disaster they would do this recovery before restoring their data. It might be as simple as Ghost to a USB drive with a bootable floppy or CD, or it might be a DVD set depending on how you make it. Probably gets you a couple of hours per client.

Another service is to come out and look at all your systems, upgrade power supplies the #1 hardware failure; thermal treatment-heat another big issue; cpu fans; case fans. Preventive maintenance when things are slow. Some companies will do this.

If you are really slow offer Free Checkups with no minimum diag time.

 

[ProTech Support]

When I first opened my retail store I also was in a mad-dash to add services. One of the best moves I made was offering website design. Come the end of the year, I made more off the design then I did repairs. Later down the road I started doing the website hosting, which is where I am at today. Just be careful with it though, because if you are one-man shop design turns into its own full-time job.