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Small Business Experience

#3
Around my campus, the only computer repair is done by either Apple in the mall or the Best Buy Geek Squad bit. It seems like a fairly obvious void. I've done a bit of feeling around, and I feel like a profit could be turned at around the 2nd-3rd pc repaired per week, and I've had 10 or so calls since I put my feeler flyers out. So far no money has exchanged hands, as I know I need a proper license and the tax bit.
 
#4
Right, so you've been repairing computers and making money under the table? It's cool. Why not operate like that? I doubt you'll be able to compete as you are until you've established an enterprise that is strong enough to stand against the geek squad and genius lab anyways.
 
#6
Structure is important:

Home

Not only is your particular expertise important, but the entity that you will operate w/in is also worth researching. Of course you could be a sole proprietor, but that's not ideal. The proper entity will help shield you from lawsuits and also provide tax advantages.
 
#8
bassrique said:
Structure is important:

Home

Not only is your particular expertise important, but the entity that you will operate w/in is also worth researching. Of course you could be a sole proprietor, but that's not ideal. The proper entity will help shield you from lawsuits and also provide tax advantages.
Click to expand...

I'm 100% certain I can do most if not all of the work, and because I can screen before I take on a job, that helps me as well.

I know that there is some legal stuff to take out of the way, with me having to report anything illegal I find on the pc's.

Thanks for the link man!
 
#9
Flat fee (labor) repair was popular with the shop around the corner. I suspect that the $50 minimum labor charge was running too many people away. Their location was 1/2 block from a city college.

If you not paying rent at first, that might help. A county business license is probably necessary in your area, and possibly sales tax on parts or certain items that you may run through a small inventory. If sales tax is necessary, you'll find that the state wants those forms filed on time, and if there's no taxable sales, filed with zeros on the form and file them on time!

Biggest advice I could offer on the operations side in the beginning...Try to handle any work within a few days to a week. Would a cash business work in the beginning? (no checks or credit cards).

People may put pressure on you by trying to get immediate turnarounds. If they are testy, let them know your time guesstimate, and tell them you have other people ahead of them! Don't let wiseacres push you around to satisfy their personal agenda of having the work done yesterday. It's not reasonable, or fair. Some customers are trouble from the start...
 
#10
bassrique said:
Structure is important:

Home

Not only is your particular expertise important, but the entity that you will operate w/in is also worth researching. Of course you could be a sole proprietor, but that's not ideal. The proper entity will help shield you from lawsuits and also provide tax advantages.
Click to expand...

Eh, yes and no. There's advantages to each level. I prefer limit liability, myself.
 
#12
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#14
I'm planning on running it strictly cash because checks and cards will only complicate things. As far as labor is concerned, I don't think that would be taxed, although if I install any products, I will have to charge the state sales tax.

The good thing about computers is that work can be done on more than one at a time. A Defrag only requires a button push and monitoring a pc occasionally for an hour or so.

I will be rent free as well. I have a good friend who is willing to let me work on his commercial property so long as I buy him a beer on Fridays and the like. We both benefit from it, he gets extra people in his door, and I get a place to operate for the time being.
 
#17
fdeck said:
AFAIK the only advantage is that it's the simplest possible entity.

Right now every state has its own regs for LLC's. You have to find out how LLC's work in your state.
Click to expand...

AFIAK, being a LLC means you have to at least work as a partnership. No sole proprietorship is allowed.

But state laws vary, so I may be wrong.
 
#19
Make yourself an invoice template. Clearly state at the bottom how long you warranty your work for and any exceptions that could void the warranty of your work. It's probably not an issue when you are trading computer work for sex, but you need to protect yourself from people who cause problems to their computer and expect you to fix it free if you worked on it previously. For example, the people who can't stay way from malware.

If you are going to be selling parts too, you'll need to collect the tax and pay it back to the state. You'll also want to partner up with a vendor who will treat you right on pricing and customer service to get your parts.

-Mike
 

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