Starting Business: Computer Repairs etc.

[JTSystems]

Hi there.

I am currently 18 and at college, and have always liked th idea of starting up my own company.

Since my interest has always been in IT i have thought it would be a wise idea to make a living around something i really enjoy. As i am comming to the end of my course at college i am starting to look at routes outside of college.

The conclusion i have come to from speaking to people is that the best way to do things is by doing them your self, and that a setting up a business means you work for your self, and you get what you put in so to speak.

Now, i trully believe that i can fix any computer problem, hardware or software related. My reason for this is i have NEVER taking my computer to a shop to be fixed, have fixed 100's of computers for experience etc.

So i've got the knowledge on the practical part of my business, but i need to know what else i need.

What sort of company do i set up, LTD etc.? its all very confusing for me.
Do i need insurance, if so what exactly?
I understanding taxing and vat etc, and been able to claim back to an extent, and i have a little knowledge of business from selling motorbikes from china for a little while.

My plan is, to start at home, adverstise locally, get some interest and start fixing computers from home offering competitive prices, make a schedule for 'work times' etc.

make my money and use an accountant to organise tax etc.

but how do i go about setting up it legally, cheaply and effectively?

Thanks

 

[cjd]

The best place to start learning is here:

http://www.businesslink.gov.uk/bdot...en-US:official&domain=www.businesslink.gov.uk

The next thing to do is to get your name out in newsagent windows and leaflets and just start. The only thing you need to do initially is keep a complete record, with receipts, of sales and costs - later your accountant can get you more organised.

The main thing is to start fixing computers and get people to pay you for it - the rest is secondary. It's easy to get confounded by bureaucracy of small business life and forget that the basics, that business is doing work and getting paid for it.

 

[JTSystems]

Thanks for that, should really help..

ill put a business plan together over the next few months and probably come here for some more advice.

 

[darren atkinson]

Hi there,

I run my own computer support business along side a full time job in IT.

I think you have to consider whose computers you intend fixing? Your initial post sounded like you will be repairing computers at home, for other home users. I don;t want to be off putting but in my opinion you will not be able to make any kind of living from just supporting home users.

You have to look at attracting businesses to make any money from IT. There are just too many people who know a little about IT and will always be able to work for less than need for a living.

I have been going at my business for about 4 - 5 months now, and there is still no way I could earn enough at the moment to leave a full time job.

I am guessing you don't yet have a mortgage and family to support so you will probably need a lot less income than me though :wink:

My strong advice would be to skip making a business plan initially and just try and get some regular work, you might find that specialising in one area, such as wireless networking, works well for you. Once you have this regular work then decide what you need to base a business plan on.

If you arn't planning on getting a startup loan, which you don't really need in this field, then skip the business plan.

If you need any more advie feel free to pm me.

Darren

 

[james.hill]

I've only got one thing to say, and that's well done for planning on how to make your living now! Too many people just drift along and fall into any old job.

Good luck!

 

[davenny]

I may have missed it in your posting but how are you going to market and get clients.

Erik
http://www.usspin.com
SPiN - Super Powerful Networking has decided to Open Source its system; it is complete free to anyone who wants to start their own mastermind group. (Manuals, Materials, Website, Web-links etc.)

 

[eversun]

How I envy you.. I have always wanted to start my own business but I never got the chance. Well, what can I say, some people just have all the luck in the world, and that includes you.

Good luck!

 

[james595832]

Defo get some leaflets printed and get them through the doors of local businesses and homes.

And if you do get work ensure to give them a feedback form to complete and return at some stage to build your reputation.

 

[Eagle]

You'll be in a massively competitive industry - good luck.

 

[JTSystems]

Wow forgot all about this old post!

Things have changed, now have a more all round plan, marketing and advertising plan, the contactsin the industry and started the odd jobs, and i haven't marketed my self yet.

So things are looking really positive for me at the moment, hopefully i'll all be ready to go in the Q1 next year for one part of my business, so looking forward to it!

 

[JoyDivision]

Just a little tip You say you offer web site design but have not posted your website in your sig, just your mobile .

 

[profitxchange]

Whilst you may not be producing a business plan - I would suggest you at least set out some finacial objectives for year one - say turnover of £75k and monitor progress - it will help you maintain a balanced perspective around using your time to not only deliver but also develop business.

 

[JoyDivision]

To be honest may not even achieve a turnover of £7000 a year in this business .

As about 80% of turnover should be profit as its a service based industry £75k will make you very very rich.

There is a market out there but its a competitive one, you have to make sure you're the best.

I assume you have also thought about the risks involved? It is a very very stressful business because as soon as things go wrong you have to sort it out and your own cost. Most my hassle is wireless networks so because of that I charge a lot more than my hourly rate when doing them.

 

[JTSystems]

^ ah thanks for all the great tips, yeah i know the risks involved.

Its really handy, as since originally posting this thread i now work in an IT distribution company. So the sale of computers and parts would be very easy for me.

I haven't done a business website as of yet, and have not created a portfolio, i have one site which i need to complete the SEO on, and another which i need to build, once these are complete i will be creating my own website along with portfolio and other information.

Its great working in distribution as i manage most of my competitors products, as in, i tell them whats what and what price, so i know the market very well.

Everything will start off part time, while i am working at this company, and once there is a decent enough profit to live off will quit.

Obviously i offer a widerange of services to make up for the competitive market, at first won't be a problem as business will be slow, but once it picks up it will be very busy!

 

[Ambriel]

With regards to a computer repair business, I think a lot depends upon where you live and whether there is any competition.

We're based in the middle of nowhere and often get telephone enquiries from people asking if we 'fix computers', which we don't. There's clearly a market in our locale but whether there is in yours I can't say.

I suspect that from a business point of view there's probably not enough money in it to make a full-time wage, but there probably is enough to make it a supplementary income to another job.

 

[JTSystems]

Ok, thats fair enough if i am doing just computer repairs, would you not say combine that with computer parts sales and website design that i will make a decent sum of money

 

[JoyDivision]

One problem is you need to specialize in one area, this one mistake I made at first. I have not had a single job for web development because this is not what my company's reputation is in.

If I wanted to venture into that market I would have to run a separate company. You don't get garages that also fix roofs do you?

 

[webit]

Get people to drop off machines rather than site/home visits - that way you can work on other machines whilst OS are being loaded etc.

DC

 

[spidersites]

If your looking for a low cost website, I have a template designed for IT businesses. Check out http://www.ukfreepages.co.uk/browsetemplates.php?page=categories&category=Tech

You can create a site based on this template very quickly using our online editing system.



regards
Richard Pearson

 

[JTSystems]

One problem is you need to specialize in one area, this one mistake I made at first. I have not had a single job for web development because this is not what my company's reputation is in.

If I wanted to venture into that market I would have to run a separate company. You don't get garages that also fix roofs do you?

Well i see your point, but i already get business for web design and computer repairs around my local area, i am well known for it, so business finds its way to me - not been big headed because its only a site every now and then.

However when i launch the company all the sites i do will link to me and people will see that i offer other services as well..

I am not looking for a full on business in any one area at the minute, as i have a full time job, im not pressured into making the business succeed in the first few weeks of starting up.

What i must focus on is having everything in order, a routine on how to manage the company and ensure that everything is up to scratch before the launch.

I do realise business will be quiet when i first start, which in a way i really need to touch up and work on other parts of the company..

Should also aid SEO, i am thinking of putting each section of the company on seperate sub domains for example webdesign.jtsystems.com so can have completely indipentant search engine submissions, increasing the lilkely hood of my company been visited.

I apprecaite the comments i really do, aids my thinking and trying to cover every avenue before i waste time setting up stuff in the wrong way.

Thanks guys really apprecaite it all