What to charge for maintenance contracts

[graham12367]

Hello,

I have just started a new pc repair business and I plan on doing monthly, quarterly and yearly maintenance contracts with my clients. This maintenance would include me logging on remotely to their systems and doing the usual preventative maintenance and windows upgrades to keep their systems running optimal. One question is: How many times should I log onto their system and do this maintenance? Example: Monthly contract- twice a month or once a week? Second question is what rates sound fair and competitive for the market? Please give me an example of monthly rate, quarterly rate, and yearly rate?

Love this site and thanks for any help or suggestions you might have.

Graham

 

[Jory]

Logging in once a month should be sufficient unless something really critical comes up.

For charges I'd just do my hourly rate with probably a 25% break since it's all remote work I can do at any time of the day. I might give them a break for multiple computers too.

 

[cmonova]

thread

This thread covers "service contracts" also....
http://www.technibble.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2926

 

[Wheelie]

Think of it this way: if you're working for someone at a discounted rate (doing the remote thing from home) ... you could be out working at your full hourly rate. I just let them call me in when needed and I get paid my hourly rate.