starting a business where to actually start?

[Rikki]

Bad idea.

Most PC repair places struggle really bad and the throw it out buy a new one mentality seems rife over paying a techie to backup, reformat, reinstall, put drivers in, do 1,001 windows updates then try to charge a decent hourly rate

 

[Burnsy2023]

Your first step: a comprehensive business plan. You need to go through and do research on your start up costs, cash flow, suppliers, prices etc. There are plenty of resources online to help you know what needs to be included and where to get the information from.

Once you have your business plan you can assess if you have enough money to start up and whether it's a good idea at all. Everyone here might be wrong, but you will never know unless you write a good business plan.

 

[Locky]

More money in buying peoples cast outs, refurbish them selling them on (this should only be a side job to your main job).

buying borked laptops and repairing them can have it's rewards.

 

[UncleRuckus]

A nice piece of market research you could do it go into town and ask the demographic when was the last time they bought a game from a shop... For me it must have been two years ago, easily.

 

[SmellyFingers]

Spend a couple of months on a business plan and then go to the bank with it for a loan. I like the idea of a video game store/ hang out for gamers and PC enthusiast. Would you have a row of computers hooked up to the internet for people to drop in and use? I say this because they tend to be good business. One round the corner on the high street, full of immigrants from open till closing.

 

[Richdog]

has anybody on here started their own business (mainly a small shop)
me and my best friend have been talking about this for years but never really had chance to do it, but now we do.

we dont really know where to start its going to be a video game store with pc repairs etc been looking online for wholesalers but all of them seem to want your company info before they will talk to you. obviously its pointless opening a shop without stock..

so any tips on where to start would be great. we only have £10,000 to get us started but the shop we are looking at is small and only £80 a week rent. any help is great guys.

Starting a video game shop in an environment where online sales are dominating, and major players with serious capital and buying power are going bust?

As for PC repair... it is also without a doubt one of the most crowded and competitive markets on this Earth.

And then coming here for us to tell you how to make this work with your limited resources... were you thinking OCUK could provide you with all the professional advice you need in order to get up and running? Draw you a business plan or something? How about doing your own research into the markets, and what you would need to get started, considering that YOU are wanting to start the business and are using someone elses money... surely that would be more useful to you?

Insert random doublefacepalm.jpg image here.

 

[R.P.L]

Starting a video game shop in an environment where online sales are dominating, and major players with serious capital and buying power are going bust?

As for PC repair... it is also without a doubt one of the most crowded and competitive markets on this Earth.

And then coming here for us to tell you how to make this work with your limited resources... were you thinking OCUK could provide you with all the professional advice you need in order to get up and running? Draw you a business plan or something? How about doing your own research into the markets, and what you would need to get started, considering that YOU are wanting to start the business and are using someone elses money... surely that would be more useful to you?

Insert random doublefacepalm.jpg image here.

He was only asking for some tips / advice - what's wrong with that? Forums can be a great resource for information sometimes. You make it sound like he asked 'would anyone here like to start up and run my business for me?'.

To the OP, I've often thought about going self-employed, but I've always bottled it. I think that, as some have mentioned, you need to have some selling point in mind that will make you different in some way to your competitors (and of course nick all their good ideas from them). It will be tough of course, but you'll never know unless you try! I'm sure Richard Branson must have been told to get a proper job once or twice when he was young

 

[Richdog]

He was only asking for some tips / advice - what's wrong with that? Forums can be a great resource for information sometimes. You make it sound like he asked 'would anyone here like to start up and run my business for me?'.

Didnt mean to sound overly harsh, but he said he didnt know where to start and clearly hasnt done much research... doesnt sound like a great start!

 

[Shilz]

More money in buying peoples cast outs, refurbish them selling them on (this should only be a side job to your main job).

buying borked laptops and repairing them can have it's rewards.

I do this daily from a shop premises but have built up my customer foundation from scratch mainly from repairs and no advertising. I also sell mainly to repeat business owners wanting cheap machines/laptops. I refurb them with spare parts from ebay and the hundreds of laptops I've acquired over the years.

Just for the OP I went in head first and didn't know how it will all plan out but to date im doing quite well with atleast 5-10 jobs a day. No hourly rates just one off prices. Retail is crap, really crap its only ever good when you get christmas coming round and people wanting new kit.

The hard part on the retail is you'll need a good trader to get your stock, at trade price.... Once you know what shifts well just keep selling it with better pricing for customers who come regularly to get the same stock. You'll keep the custom from high quality service and parts.

I make good money on compatible inks and cheap accessories here and there and link sell wherever I can. Oh and I work alone lol

 

[Zbornak]

I think the industry you will be trying to thrive in is too difficult, but I fully support you and your friend starting your own business. As already asked, what happened with the tattoo parlour?

 

[AshD93]

Also, without meaning offence to anyone on OCUK, if you're asking on here, I don't think you're ready to start on your own. For example, I'm starting my own business at 19 but only because I know what I'm doing. Asking for 1000's of opinions will get you nowhere. You need to be decisive (spelling?) and take action alone. OCUK won't hold your hand when it comes to running it and its a tough world.

 

[Zbornak]

For example, I'm starting my own business at 19 but only because I know what I'm doing.

Please, do elaborate.

 

[Hades]

Game shops are seeing their market eroded by online games, Steam and the likes of the rainforest.

Computer repair shops will start to see their customers reduce over the next few years as many customers turn to tablets and no longer have PC's to repair.

 

[AtreuS]

I work with my friend at his indi games shop and we are doing just fine. The money is in second hand console games, nothing else.

We also buy and sell electricals/pcs/laptops/consoles and phones... thats where the main solid money comes in... the second hand games is the profit.

Repairs are slowing right down now in the pc area but a steady flow of consoles needing repair keep it worth doing. Phone unlocking and repair can also turn some good money assuming you are prepared to learn and splash out for the kit upfront.

Forget pc games... zero profit.

Like i say the money comes from chavs selling games they just bought because they need money for food/drugs/whatever and will sell you a £40 console game for a tenner which you then sell for £25-29.99 while its still popular!.. We had a guy selling assassins creed 3 back to us today for a tenner as he needed rent money! he only got it from us on monday

 

[AshD93]

Please, do elaborate.

Done market research to know if they area is worth trying to make money from which it is. The market is only getting bigger, with more people wanting similar services carried out. And the potential audience are the type that will pay for this service.

Got a rough idea of prices I should be charging for my services looking at competitors (which tend to over charge) which I'm taking advantage off.

Drawn up basic forecasts based on a low sales amount and still would make profit even after factoring energy costs, stock and so on.

My market area isn't already saturated with other competitors.

Already have potential customers lined up and booked in and set up means for business contact. Also started advertising using various means including business cards and social media.

Created accounts with companies to get cheaper stock (so the customer is satisfied among other things).

Organised from the start, using invoices for customers and having all relevant financial paper work (the misses is doing more of that side though, I just made the templates and give her all details).

I can also talk 'business ********' as it were. I have a habit of convincing people to get extras done (which has been the case recently).

I could go on but a) it's only a small business (I'm focusing on studies but doing stuff properly) and b) I see no need to prove myself to you. Just be rude not to answer.

Also, if there are any mistakes above, I'm on the iPad so may have hit keys by mistake.

Edit: A lot of business is common sense so I've probably missed bit you may find vital out but I've already considered.

 

[SmellyFingers]

Game shops are seeing their market eroded by online games, Steam and the likes of the rainforest.

Computer repair shops will start to see their customers reduce over the next few years as many customers turn to tablets and no longer have PC's to repair.

I hope not because that's just ridiculous.

 

[Burnsy2023]

Done market research to know if they area is worth trying to make money from which it is. The market is only getting bigger, with more people wanting similar services carried out. And the potential audience are the type that will pay for this service.

Got a rough idea of prices I should be charging for my services looking at competitors (which tend to over charge) which I'm taking advantage off.

Drawn up basic forecasts based on a low sales amount and still would make profit even after factoring energy costs, stock and so on.

My market area isn't already saturated with other competitors.

Already have potential customers lined up and booked in and set up means for business contact. Also started advertising using various means including business cards and social media.

Created accounts with companies to get cheaper stock (so the customer is satisfied among other things).

Organised from the start, using invoices for customers and having all relevant financial paper work (the misses is doing more of that side though, I just made the templates and give her all details).

I can also talk 'business ********' as it were. I have a habit of convincing people to get extras done (which has been the case recently).

I could go on but a) it's only a small business (I'm focusing on studies but doing stuff properly) and b) I see no need to prove myself to you. Just be rude not to answer.

Also, if there are any mistakes above, I'm on the iPad so may have hit keys by mistake.

Edit: A lot of business is common sense so I've probably missed bit you may find vital out but I've already considered.

It looks like you've done a lot of work. You're welcome to send me your business plan if you want me to look for areas of development.

 

[Morbius]

so any tips on where to start would be great. we only have £10,000 to get us started but the shop we are looking at is small and only £80 a week rent. any help is great guys.

Research your potential market. Find out what people want and what would tempt them back in to using a shop over downloads. You're not going to be able to compete with the big players so your best bet is to find a niche into which you can sit. For instance, the local game shop here also does tabletop RPGs. They have a large landscape made on a huge table and they hold tournaments at the weekends.

Make a decent business plan. You need to know how the figures are going to work. It might take you a few years before you make a profit but you need to be certain that you can get there.

 

[Basher]

Game shops are seeing their market eroded by online games, Steam and the likes of the rainforest.

Computer repair shops will start to see their customers reduce over the next few years as many customers turn to tablets and no longer have PC's to repair.

AMAZON.

Also, the decline in PC repair isn't something that will happen in the next few years, it's been happening already for a long time. It has little to do with tablets etc, much more to do with the economics of fixing something that is so cheap to completely replace ...

 

[Hades]

I hope not because that's just ridiculous.

Why would it be ridiculous? If someone can use a cheap tablet for browsing, shopping, email, facetime/skype, etc, then over time I suspect that the traditional PC repair business would start declining.

Yes most of us on this forum will continue to have a PC or laptop. But people like like mum would prefer to get rid of that old ugly box in the corner. when it breaks they may be inclined to simply not replace it if the tables has replaced the functionality it offered for them.

Although not exactly an analogy look at the traditional role of a TV repair man in the 70's. I recall us having to get a guy around every few months to take the back off and solder something or replace a board. It seemed like a lucrative business looking back. But nowadays the TV is simply an appliance and when it fails we simply buy another one as they are relatively cheap.