Avoiding Emergencies. When many technicians start out they find themselves paying out of pocket for a client's new computer because the technician accidentally did something wrong. After it happens once it rarely happens again, however, it's best to avoid this situation entirely. Precautions that should be taken are as follows:
- Liability Release Forms. A quick Google search can pull up hundreds of different liability release forms that PC repair shops use to protect themselves. Unless you did something absolutely ridiculous, one of these forms can protect you too from liability for further damage.
- Comfort Zone. Never try a new repair or technique on a client's computer unless they tell you to give it a try. If you are unfamiliar or uncomfortable with a repair or technique, let the client know. This way they have a chance to back out. It's better to lose one repair job than to break a client's computer and have the word spread that you don't know what you're doing. Reputation is everything.
- Backup. If possible, image a client's hard drive before starting repairs. Although this does significantly lower turnaround time, it allows the technician to restore the computer to the condition the client left it in if anything goes wrong.
- Accounting. Always keep records of your earnings and expenses. You can go all out and purchase software to do this or use a simple spreadsheet--either way it is necessary. Last thing you want is to be contacted by the IRS.
Tools (Hardware). A basic hardware toolkit for diagnosis and repair are composed of at least the following items:
- Anti-Static Wrist Band (always uses one when touching parts or components)
- Compressed Air (in a can or from a compressor)
- Flash Drives (multiple for data client data or tools)
- Hard Drives (for data backups)
- Screwdriver Set (minimum a Phillips and a flat-head)
- USB to IDE/SATA Adapter (for data backups or recovery)
- CCleaner (removing temp files and cleaning registry)
- Malwarebytes Anti-Malware (the technician license is fairly inexpensive)
- Microsoft Security Essentials (for clients how don't have an antivirus)
- NT Offline Password and Registry Editor (for clearing Windows passwords)
- ProduKey ( Office and Windows product key recovery)
Business Structure. Don't start looking for a storefront quite yet. There is still a lot of money to be made working out of your home. For a starting setup, just a designated area in your home with stable Internet access, a desk, and comfortable chair can take you a long way. If you find yourself working on multiple desktop computers at once, a cheap KVM is definitely a worthwhile investment. If you are working on several laptops at once, it may be worthwhile to move to a larger workbench or table. Possibly most important, Google Voice is your friend. With Google Voice you can adjust when you want to accept work related calls, you can archive all texts sent to and from clients, and it is easy to paste templates into the texting web app informing clients that their computers is finished.
Charging. How to charge and how much is a highly debated topic amongst technicians. You never want to sell yourself short, but then again if you ask too much, clients will just buy a new computer instead. One of the best things you can do is see what repair shops in the area are changing and then undercut those prices to help get your foot in the door. Keep in mind how to price your services as well. Most services are best to charge by the hour. What you may have thought was just a quick fix could take hours, so it's best to protect yourself. However, if you're charging someone to install hardware like ram or a new graphics card, a flat rate would be more appropriate. If you can't find out what repair shops in the area charge, here's a general guideline for pricing:
- Beginners (you're still getting your foot in the door, still learning a lot, just picking up a gig here and there, and only have small client base): $15-$30 per hour
- Intermediate (you've obtained a certification Comptia A+, computer repair is more than just something you do on the side, and you've established a decent client base): $30-$50 per hour
- Expert (you've dedicated yourself to computer repair for several years and have a large client base): $50-$120 per hour
Advertising. Gone are the days where money was required to get your name out there and bring in clients. Some free methods of advertising are as follows:
- Word of Mouth. Surprisingly word of mouth will be where most of your clients come from. However, keep in mind that this is only effective if you do good work and you are good with clients.
- Social Media. Don't be shy about what you do. Let your friends, connections, and followers know that you mean business.
- Craigslist. It takes just a couple of minutes to make a post that can reach a lot of potential clients.
- Local College or University. Talk to the IT Department there and give them a stack of business cards. With any luck, they will hand your cards out to students and faculty experiencing issues.
- Local bulletin boards. Print off a flyer promoting services you offer. This may not pay off tremendously, but it never hurts to try.
Miscellaneous Tips. Just when you think you know everything there is something else around the corner. Luckily this is a good thing. Here are some tips to help increase your earning potential:
- Keep Old Parts. Collect all the parts you come across that are known to be good and not obsolete. With a little time you can accumulate enough parts to build a "refurbished" computer that can be sold to a client.
- Keep RAM in Stock. Adding extra RAM into a computer before repairing it can make the process a lot less painful. Furthermore, if the client decides they like the increased speed, you can sell the RAM at a marked up price.
- Learn Data Recover. Data recovery is a valuable skill that is not too difficult to learn. Clients often will pay anything to get their files back. Just do some research, and you could potentially cash in big.
- Automation. Once you develop procedures for repairs like PC tune-ups or malware removal, learn how to automate as much of the procedures as possible with scripting. Automation could potentially allow the computer to repair itself after a couple initial clicks.
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