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Considering IT business, where to start?

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  • Business Computing
Last response: in Business Computing
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August 1, 2014 6:39:36 AM

Hello everyone. For a long while now, a group of friends and I have been fantasizing about owning our own PC-based business. At the moment, we build PCs for anyone interested and maintain them, doing light IT work.

My question is, is that has anyone been successful going down this path? I truly wish to start my own business and go to school,however I am concerned about exactly how we are going to make a profit out of this business. I just can't see it being very profitable building computers and doing it work. I've considered Bitcoin mining, but that doesn't seem very profitable anymore, or at least not in the future.

I know a business that wrote their own program to scan and fix systems of viruses, malware, and other things like drivers etc. All that they do is maintain their program and implement it on their client's PCs. What kind of schooling should I take to learn how to do that?

Bottomline, how can you make money with a PC?

Thanks in advance for any replies!

More about : business start

August 1, 2014 6:57:37 AM


Know how to make $10,000 in Tech ?

Start with $20,000. :) 

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August 1, 2014 7:06:04 AM

Well, you live up to your username! Hahaha
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August 1, 2014 7:48:06 AM

I started building and repairing computers when I was in middle school, I've been doing it ever since (roughly 16 years). I went to college for IT and Business. I started my own computer repair store and in the 5 years I've been officially open, I have managed to turn it into a nearly $400,000 a year business in a county with about 20,000 people.

Don't read that and think I make anything close to that. I don't. In fact, if you add up all the hours I work (sometimes as much as 100 hours a week) and how much I make, I work for less than $20 an hour. Which is significantly less than I was making at my former jobs.

The thing that really helped me was my background in networking and server administration. I have worked for Apple, IBM and a few other places where I was a systems/network analyst and administrator. Several local businesses were in need of a proper network (Domains, Active Directory, VPN, etc..) and through a few contacts I made my pitch to design, implement and maintain their network and systems and they accepted my offer. They were very pleased and soon enough word got out about my company and it's been growing ever since.

I capitalized on that with local business and city/county contracts. That is where the majority of the money comes from.

Of course we also do the usual stuff too, virus/malware/spyware etc.. for home users.


If I had to guess, building and selling new home based systems makes up for around 15% of the total business. Home user repair is around 30%. Selling various parts is around 5% and the rest is from service calls and contracts.

I also have 5 great employees and that allows for everyone to be very flexible.

Our hourly rates are $55/h for in house repairs and $75/h for service calls, networking rates vary from $65 - $105/h. Consider most people had to drive an hour away to take their system to the Geek Squad and pay over twice as much for the same repair.



So yes, it's possible to make money repairing computers. Just be prepared for long hours and little pay initially.
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August 1, 2014 8:06:10 AM

You will need initial capital to work with as at first you will have more expenses than revenue.
I did PC repairs for a year on my own and eventually could not keep up with the costs.
You will need various insurances and an accountant.
Also bear in mind at first when you replace parts or sell something, you will have to put your own money in to purchasing first and then it can take days or weeks for clients to pay.
Basically don't think of this as easy money, because it's not.
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August 4, 2014 9:30:01 AM

Build up a technology background before creating a tech business. Unless its creating an application of your own you will need experience and reputation before people trust you to do certain things. So I would say work in the industry for a bit, figure out what you like to do the most and make an idea from there.
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August 21, 2014 6:26:08 AM

You can start with your PC business using the market research at http://qualitytrade.com/ -business e commerce portal. This will help you find the quality suppliers, wholesalers and manufactures of the products. I am using the same and highly recommend this.
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