An Easy Guide on How to Start a Computer Repair Business

You must first ask yourself who your clients are.

It is important to identify your clients. These are usually home users or small businesses. Small businesses make great clients, I have found. I prefer to target small businesses with 10 or less PCs (some clients have more than 20 PCs, which includes the server).

Although I have some home users clients, my main business is with small businesses. Clients who are small businesses know they require specialized services for their business, and will pay a fair amount. Home users may not see it this way. Many home users are used to having their neighbor’s kid help them with their computers for free or at a significant discount. While this is great, small business clients need someone who can better understand the technology requirements of small businesses, such as networking, servers and printers, file sharing, security, and so on.

You can have a small business client as a realtor (working from your home or office), an appraiser Company, a lawyer or small legal firm, manufacturing facility or hospital, or a small doctor’s practice. Any business owner is a potential client. The size of your client will depend on how well you know the technology needed to run the business. Small businesses may not need a server. A few laptops, a printer and a DSL connection are all that they require. Others work remotely and have multiple printers and an email server.

You might not be a good fit for a client if you don’t know the technology used in their office. Once you’re familiar with the technology, you can determine how much attention and time a client will require. A meeting with the client is a good way to determine this. Ask them about their needs and expectations. To get an idea of the service they expect, ask them questions.

I have seen IT/computer techs get in over their heads. It is important to know what you are capable of handling. You should let potential clients know if you find a client who uses a Linux server. It is much more expensive to damage someone’s server than just turning down a client.

Take some time to think about who your ideal client might be.

1) In what profession do they work? If it matters,

2) How many computers can you handle per client? The more computers they have, the more attention they will need. They will likely have a dedicated server, so make sure you can take care of it.

2) Location – Define your service area. What distance will you travel? If you get a job, are you open to traveling outside your local area? Is there an additional travel fee if so?

4) The amount you charge will filter out many people. For whom is your rate appropriate?

I work with a variety of clients. I’m not a specialist in any one area. I’m more of an “all-rounder”. The family doctor is different from the podiatrist (the doctor who treats feet).

However, specializing can be a great option. One of my friends has an IT company that only deals with doctor’s offices. It’s evident in everything, from their logo to their name. They know who their target client really is. They are also familiar with the technology used in doctor’s offices. Visit Computer Repairs Wishart specialize in SEO services for businesses that are wanting to have a sustainable future by making presence online.

Others only work for law firms. They often have the software and systems that lawyers only use.

My rates, or what I charge per hour or service, are never reduced. My rates are set in stone. If a client claims that I am “too costly” or “more than my last computer guy”, and they don’t want to pay my rates, they are not my client. Clients who pay my rate are happy to do so and have no issues. My rate will not be reduced. It is a decision that I feel justified by my work experience and the time and money I can save my clients.

This is important before you go out looking for clients. Be flexible about your availability. If you are part-time, when is the best time to see clients? Only weekends and evenings? Your skill set.

Don’t be afraid to reject a potential client if they aren’t the right fit.