How to Start a Home-based Computer Repair Business

by Ryan Arter

Overview

Business News Daily sees a new segment emerging in this field. The new trend is tablet repair. They rank this in their top home-based ideas for 2012. Also worth noting is that “Computer Maintenance” topped their list of new home-based jobs on the rise and this covers anti-virus software installation and desktop cleanups. A very large segment of business that will be covered in this book on how to start a home-based computer repair business and will also include cell phones which will give the book a larger appeal and set it apart from its competition.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781493001682
Publisher:	Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, Inc.
Publication date:	07/02/2013
Series:	Home-Based Business Series
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	192
File size:	2 MB

About the Author

Ryan has been working in the service and repair industry since 1994, where he began his career working for a monitor and floppy drive repair shop.  That led him to repairing Apple 13" RGB Monitors and Apple AI (auto-inject) and Apple MI (manual-inject) floppy disk drives as an Apple Program Manager. . .and he worked with technicians to repair THOUSANDS of items. This experience let him expand into the Apple market in which he is proud to be a part of today.

After several years of learning and planning, and with a gutsy move out to the middle of the country in Kansas City, he loves sharing and growing his knowledge in the field. After working on iPods, then iPhones and with his thorough knowledge of Macintosh Portables (he is an Apple Certified Macintosh Technician) he started Mission:Repair with one goal in mind. To service customers in the most professional and "service oriented" way that he knew how.  The staff at Mission Repair just treats customers as Ryan wants to be treated. That's the magic potion!

Mission Repair is the leading service company for all of your electronics repair needs.  Their goal is to stock the thousands of parts necessary to revive your failing iPod, iPhone, MacBook, or Cell Phone, and we employ Apple Certified Macintosh Technicians (new employees are in the process of becoming fully Certified Macintosh Technicians) when possible so clients can rest assured that their devices are being handled by a professional.  They carry a long line of Apple service products and the most popular repair kits for iPods, iPhones, Blackberry smartphones and many cell phones. With parts in stock and a purchasing department constantly looking for new deals and large quantity purchases, they are committed to providing our customers top quality Apple repair solutions at stunning prices. 

They are keeping it simple.  Just look at their website.  They don't try to "dazzle" you with false claims, misleading ads or irrelevant text.   Their business is straight forward:  They offer Premium iPod, iPhone, Apple Laptop, Cell Phone and iPad Repair Services in an honest and fair manner.  They are in this long-term business to help their customers achieve value from their products while avoiding the high prices of buying brand new replacements.  That's it.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgments vii

Introduction ix

01 So You Want to Start a Home-Based Computer Repair Business 1

Your Love of Electronics 2

Computer Repair Is a Service Business 3

The Life of an Owner/Operator 4

Do You Have What It Takes to Be a Repair Technician? 6

Training & Certification 7

The Repair Technician Schedule 10

Find a Niche: PCs? Macs? Tablets? 11

02 Envisioning the Business 17

Start-Up Considerations 17

Sole Proprietorship, Partnership, or Corporation 24

Naming Your Business 26

Customer Service Is Key 33

The Difference Between Amateur & Professional Home-Based Repairs 34

Family Support 40

03 What You Need in Your Home Workspace 41

The Perfect Space 41

Business Telephone Service 50

Software 53

Tools of the Trade 55

Workstation Organization 58

04 Writing a Business Plan 59

Why a Business Plan Is Important 60

Cover Sheet 60

Table of Contents 60

Executive Summary & Statement of Purpose 61

Mission 62

Company Description 63

Start-up Summary 64

Market Segmentation 65

Operations 66

Personal Balance Sheet 67

Financial Plan 68

Appendices 69

05 Getting Started 71

Building Your Website 71

Build a Relationship with Your Bank 84

Insurance 86

Keeping a Clean Customer Database 87

Your First "Test" Order 88

Time to Make a Sale 95

06 Business Details 97

Determining Your Price 97

Type of Services 100

Selling New Goods 103

Selling Refurbished Inventory 105

07 Financial Planning & Management 107

Income Statement 108

Cash-Flow Projection 109

Balance Sheet 113

P&L Statements: Numbers to Live By 117

Personal Credit versus Business Credit 118

Vendor Relationships 120

Cash Your First Paycheck 123

08 Taxes & Record-Keeping 124

Accounting 124

Federal & State Taxes 126

Expense Reports & Receipts 128

Paper Files: A Necessity 129

Legal & Ethical Issues 130

09 Marketing Your Business 131

Assess the Competition 132

Why Your Services Provide Value 135

Marketing 101 137

Networking 142

Social-Media Marketing 142

Traditional Marketing Ideas 145

Nontraditional & Unique Marketing Ideas 147

Blogging, Blogging, Blogging 150

Publicity 154

Other Advertising 158

10 The Internet & E-Commerce 161

Search Engine Optimization 166

Reaching Your Market 167

Getting Listed in Directories 168

Link Exchange 168

Building an E-Mail List 169

Online Auctions 170

11 Business Endgame 172

Status Quo: Is It for You? 173

Growing Your Business to New Heights 173

When It's Time to Sell 175

Concluding Thoughts 177

Appendix 179

Index 182

About the Author 188