Who provides local computer support - your help please?

shadow4509 · 18 Apr 2008 at 13:17

Ok I know quite a few people on here provide some sort of local computer support/technician service around their area for various people. I'm looking to setup a similar service in my area (south devon) and basically wanted some advice on what you offer to your customers.

I'm in my second year of a Computing Degree and have been building, repairing, playing and general messing with computers for the last 7 years, i'm also a qualified telecommunications engineer (cat5, cat6, fibre optics).

Obviously i'm not expecting to get rich doing this but it is something I would like to do during my days off Uni and in the evenings, basically to complement my work at Uni and because I want as much experience as possible. I would rather be spending my time working in and around computers, I have applied for I.T/Computing jobs around my local area but they are few and far between and companies are not willing to let me work part time in order for me to complete my degree.

For anyone who offers this service could you give me any advice on the following:

Charges (call out and per hour)
Expenses
Services offered
Advertising
Anything else you can think of?

Thanks in advance

LordSplodge · 18 Apr 2008 at 13:20

I wouldn't bother - the rewards are not worth the hastle.

fonzee · 18 Apr 2008 at 13:23

seeing as your in my catchment area... i think you should charge loads

im cheap and get the job done. people like me for this.

get some business cards made up asap.

shadow4509 · 18 Apr 2008 at 13:25

fonzee said:
seeing as your in my catchment area... i think you should charge loads

im cheap and get the job done. people like me for this.

get some business cards made up asap.

Your in Cornwall and provide support for South Devon (i'm in the Torbay area)?

LordSplodge · 18 Apr 2008 at 13:27

fonzee said:
get some business cards made up asap.

..and accounts, and a registered buisness address and so on and so on. All that for a few quid to clear a computer of some spyware and then be expected to support every little problem.

Buisness to Buisness is where it is at in my opinion, you can prove me wrong, of course!

fonzee · 18 Apr 2008 at 13:28

shadow4509 said:
Your in Cornwall and provide support for South Devon (i'm in the Torbay area)?

ah not that far up. but i work in plymouth and have done work in that area.

your safe

Wallace · 18 Apr 2008 at 13:29

Go into purple shirt land and see the services they offer at extortionate prices, it'll give you an idea of what level you should be pitching at.

fonzee · 18 Apr 2008 at 13:30

LordSplodge said:
..and accounts, and a registered buisness address and so on and so on. All that for a few quid to clear a computer of some spyware and then be expected to support every little problem.

really worth it for a job on the side?

i had advertisments intially but 90% of my clients are from word of mouth so i dont bother now.

shadow4509 · 18 Apr 2008 at 13:34

Fonzee, if you don't mind me asking, could you give me a rough idea of what you charge? Do you charge a call out fee or do you just charge per hour?

fonzee · 18 Apr 2008 at 14:02

have emailed you buddy

RichIbizaSport · 18 Apr 2008 at 14:22

Id also be very intersted in doing something like this, in my 2nd year of computer science and would like to do something remotely productive with my spare time