Setup computer shop

Your computer store can be in any number of locations. For this article we will be focusing on setting up a workshop for a PC Repair business. However, much of the information in this article also applies to other types of PC related businesses. There are quite a few considerations you should look at for selecting a location for your PC shop. First the area should be well lit, clean and dry. It should be located in an area so that it easy to transport whole computers and components in and out of the area.

For example, an office space on the 4th floor of a building with no elevator would not be suitable. Your work area should contain enough space for at least a workbench; a cabinet for spare parts; shelving for catalogs; books and other reference materials; space for test equipment and tools.

You will also need to determine the amount of space you will need depending on the amount of spare parts you will keep in stock and the amount of computers you expect to be repairing at once; estimate for more than you currently need as the space required will most likely grow as you get more work. When you are determining the location of your workspace you should also consider the concerns with electrical power. Your workspace should have enough power outlets and be located conveniently near your workbench and the power should be clean meaning that other appliances such as air conditioners, freezers, fridges etc..

The type of devices can cause electrical spikes which play havoc on computer equipment. Always keep your workbench clean, it is annoying when you bring a computer to your workbench only to find there is nowhere to put it down.

The best way to avoid unwanted workbench clutter is to avoid the temptation of putting tools down on the bench when you are not using the, even for a few minutes. A good tool caddy where you can easily drop tools in and take tools out will well with this.

To organize the computers you are working on such as who owns them, what the computer is and what is wrong with it, a whiteboard with a layout similar to the example below is a great asset. Stock — Why stock much of anything? Usually you will have several places you can buy supplies from in various locations so that you will be close to at least one of them when at a given client and can run for parts.

My 8GB is now full. Simple is best with small list of what you typically do. Web Hosting — also consider hosting sites for clients as this will offset cost of your own site at the least and might even generate a bit more for your company. It may take a bit of time but word-of-mouth is still the best advert and allows for control of quality of client. Besides, here in Canada, if your spouse has a job and your can survive on that income then the tax break is awesome. My wife was able to claim me for the first couple of years as a dependent which gave back most taxes.

If you have fear of you lack of knowledge of business operations…start with a small customer base and spend time easing into the business side of it and start reading small business literature.

A power supply tester is very handy, and some extra memory that you know is good to keep on hand. If you are mobile then this would be one of the first forms of advertising I would invest in. I think the most important thing is to legalize your business. Not only that, but filing as an S-Corporation gives you wonderful tax advantages.

Aside from that, having insurance is also a good option. You really need to pick a niche or target market first. An excellent, inexpensive way to promote a new business or an existing one is to attend Chamber of Commerce or Board of Trade meetings in your local community.

I will change to web hosting eventually. For my business, I did not see the need for business cards. However, I am not in the business of selling a product, so that is why. Overall, Great article and insights. Funny, in my country, or at least most clients said to me, the local call out guy, are the worst, on many occasions, formating without permission. I work for a big box or white box company, whatever you call it. I trained new techs, LOL, my first one burs-ted in tears, it was a simple psu problem.

Back to advertising. I dont think anyone needs too much money to start a business, according to me, or I may be wrong, just be honest with your client, dont tell the 80 year old granny she NEEDS a core2quad to surf face-book, where a virus removal, reload ect could have fixed it.

I agree honesty and keeping the client informed is the ticket to success. I started my business part time 12 months ago while still working full time. Taking it slowly helps you settle into the routine and gives you a chance to learn all those little things that you dont think of when starting up. Ive been using one for the whole time. Are you looking to start a computer business as a side job, or a source of supplementary income?

Or are you hoping to build the business into your full-time career? Either way, it is probably best to start small and determine the market and prospects for your business over a period of time. Building your business into a full-time occupation, however, may require further diversification of the products and services you offer, perhaps by selling parts, accessories, or entire systems.

Part 2. Keep up-to-date. Even if a major focus of your business turns out to be fixing obsolete desktops for customers not interested in making a change, you need to maintain your expertise on emerging technologies. Complacency in a field that changes as fast as computer technology can leave you behind the curve before you realize what has happened. Even if computers are your focus, expect people to seek help and guidance with all sorts of mobile technology, from phones to tablets to watches.

Make customer service your priority. When customers have a computer need or problem, they expect fast, efficient, effective service that is also explained to them in a way that can be clearly understood by even computer novices.

You need to be able to remain calm, courteous, and patient. Build your brand identity. A new computer business, like any other small business, needs to make a quick and lasting impression in order to survive. Even or maybe especially if you are running your business out of your home office, you need to establish a consistent brand that builds awareness and indicates quality and reliability.

Put some thought to your business name, logos, signage, marketing, etc. Create a professional look that presents your business as legitimate and lasting. Always hand out professional-looking business cards to existing customers, and consider offering referral discounts or rewards. Throwing in some free service or equipment is a small price to pay in order to build up your customer base.

Think about your business location. Weight the pros and cons of your options, keeping in mind your budget and your goals for the business. If you focus on computer repairs, working in your own shop may limit distractions and save you time and travel money, but customers may be more comfortable with you working on the equipment in their homes. Part 3. Start with a business plan.

No matter what business you are getting into, you should always start by developing a detailed business plan. See How to Write a Business Plan for a good primer on the process of creating this important document. Protect yourself and your business. Starting a legitimate business is not as simple as doing a little advertising and collecting money from customers. To create a business that can succeed and grow, you need to understand the process of legally starting a business, collecting and paying taxes, obtaining insurance and any permitting, licensing, or certification requirements, and becoming an employer should you eventually hire help.

You are better off paying the taxes and appearing and being legitimate. The U. Become a part of the community. Engaging with and supporting the community with your business can help to create a mutually-beneficial relationship. Be a supporting sponsor at community events with the requisite public recognition, of course. After we have the list, we look at the frequency of people that checked-in at the shop on their Facebook page. We multiply the average of the reviews on Facebook and Google with the number of reviews.

Then we do the summary to have the total score. We arranged them from high score to low score. They are providing IT solutions in both software and hardware to many home users and companies.

ICE Electronics provides the full range of IT equipment: desktop, laptop, server, network, storage and much more. Their online store can be paid on delivery or by wing or visa card. Gold One Computer offers online store and has a useful website that provides a lot of information to their customers. A friend has recommended it. They receive reviews on their Facebook page. You can find everything you need before you decide to buy something.

You can check the price and read the review of the product. They make a lot of videos to feature their products. The video becomes very popular these days. They offer free delivery for the center zone of the city. Honest is their business principal. They commit to providing professional services and high-quality products.