If you would classify your self as a “computer geek” then this business idea might just be for you.
We have all heard of the famous Best Buy "Geek Squad", and what they do you could certainly do too.
A survey conducted in the United States reported that approximately 89 percent of Americans had the use of a personal computer, and of those 81 percent had internet access.
A similar study conducted in the U.K. reported that more than 15 million residents had internet access.
In Australia in 2007 it was reported that 5.1 million households had a computer and internet access.
Now imagine that each computer has at least one problem over its lifetime.
Who is going to fix them - the computer's owner? In most cases, no! Most computer users lack the skills needed to fix even the most basic problems.
Their computers are full of viruses, incompatible software, and lists of sneaky programs running in the background taking up their systems resources and slowing it down.
They don't know a disc defragmenter from a partitioned disc drive.
While most of these users sense that their PC is not running at its possible peak performance, the idea of loading up their whole system into their vehicle and carting it off to a repair shop is just too overwhelming.
Not only is traveling anywhere with their PC a chore, but the possible embarrassment that often occurs when trying to communicate their computer's problem with a technician is just more than most people can bear.
They know something is wrong but they have no clue what it is.
In addition, without the technical ability to describe their problem adequately, they fear looking like an idiot. No one likes that.
Your computer repair service should offer respectful, friendly service to people experiencing computer problems.
You can also offer to install additional programs to prevent future problems for a small additional fee.
Your services can include things like helping a person connect to the internet, repairing virus problems, de-fragmenting their hard drive, helping them use things like cameras and mp3 players that need to connect to their PC by way of USB cable.
People also typically need help deciding which of the programs that they have unintentionally installed on their computer should stay and which need immediate uninstalling.
With this business idea you should be able to charge $50 to $100 dollars an hour for your services.
It would be a good idea though to first check the going rate other computer repair service companies are charging in your area.
Since you will be traveling to your customer's home or small business location, you should be able to charge a little bit more than the average big box store charges for repairs and consultations.
When visiting a customer's location, remember to always dress professionally and wear a smile.
Always treat them respectfully and try to reassure them of the importance of their problems.
We know that often the true problems are user errors, but help them to understand how to work with their computer without humiliating them.
Reassure them that others have much the same problems. You will have a loyal customer that will call you again the next time they have a problem.
Lastly, you will need to let your potential customers know about you!
You should provide a website for your potential customers to access.
Your website should include photos and detailed descriptions of the services that you provide. Check out
RentNerd.com
for an example.
People are more likely to turn to a business with a friendly face associated with it, than just an advertisement with the name of a company and an impersonal phone number.
You may also want to advertise your per-hour services by running a visible advertisement in a local phone directory, list your business with an online business directory, and possibly also print up flyers and post them in places around town that receive a lot of foot traffic.
Be sure to include popular lunch places and coffee shops!
Most postal offices and grocery stores also have bulletin boards that they will allow you to place an advertisement on.
Be sure to take advantage of any public bulletin boards in your immediate area to find the people who are looking for you and your services.
Some especially good ideas from the article would be some community education classes and donating your services.
This is a great way to get local exposure and good word of mouth buzz going about your service.
This is one of those small business ideas that might be a good fit for a computer whiz teen to do as a part time income earner, but it can certainly be a full time business too if you have the skills and technical knowledge required.
And if you would rather not try and start this business idea on your own, you could partner with a national service provider such as
TechSpoon
or
TechNerd.
