Advice needed on starting a simple Computer support business

Goose · 13 Oct 2014 at 16:00

I'm currently unemployed in large part due to my health and I'm thinking of trying to get self-employed work helping people with their computers/laptops. Aside from putting ads in the local papers and whatnot I think a website is probably a decent idea as well. Unfortunately I have absolutely no experience of web design, hosting and how to actually get it seen by people.

I'm not expecting to make this a full on career or anything, I just want to see where it goes and if that turns out to be nowhere then so be it. If anyone can offer and advice i'd really appreciate it.

Thanks

anything I don't mind · 13 Oct 2014 at 16:01

I think most advice from people here will be negative as there is a general consensus that running such a business is more hassle than its worth.

Just put an add in the local newspaper but be careful as people expect you to fix their computers for free most of the time and when you cant' fix it, say a hardware fault, they will refuse to pay labour. You have to upfront about the costs from the start to prevent wasting your time.

Goose · 13 Oct 2014 at 16:33

anything I don't mind said:
I think most advice from people here will be negative as there is a general consensus that running such a business is more hassle than its worth.

Just put an add in the local newspaper but be careful as people expect you to fix their computers for free most of the time and when you cant' fix it, say a hardware fault, they will refuse to pay labour. You have to upfront about the costs from the start to prevent wasting your time.

My plan was to gear it more towards helping people setup a new laptop, general tutition etc. I dont have the knowledge to repair laptop hardware and I dont want to do desktop hardware in case of disputes and such.

gambitt · 13 Oct 2014 at 16:38

Be prepared for the inevitable "but my monitor worked just fine before you upgraded Office two months ago".

MooMoo444 · 13 Oct 2014 at 16:49

gambitt said:
Be prepared for the inevitable "but my monitor worked just fine before you upgraded Office two months ago".

"Turn it off and on again"
..
"Oh it works now!"

Can't give any advice OP, but GL

FunkyCowie · 13 Oct 2014 at 17:11

The problem is... every one knows a geek, brother/nephew/niece/sister/friend, who will do it for them for free.

Goose · 13 Oct 2014 at 17:20

FunkyCowie said:
The problem is... every one knows a geek, brother/nephew/niece/sister/friend, who will do it for them for free.

I dont think thats entirely true. I volunteered with Age Concern who run free computer classes for seniors and they had a wait list of about 8 months.