Should I start a tech support business?

[Hari Seldon]

I'm thinking of starting a home based tech support business. Mostly small things like teaching people How-Tos, troubleshooting, etc. I could make home calls, work locally. This is more for helping individuals. Like being a one man geek squad. I could also offer advanced services such as rooting.

What do you think?

Should I bother to start with a simple Square Space business page, which gives you some Google Ad words credits, etc. I would also post flyers at the local library community boards.

 

[jefboyardee]

Assuming you have a local area where you live an hope to find jobs, when it comes to stuff like home computer repair, references and reputation are everything. Whenever you get a job, do it right and do it cheap and give each client lots of business cards. Over time, your quality of work will spread across the land. And if you can sneak posters up near places like Best Buy, so much the better.

 

[dynomot]

I have been told I should do the same. I regularly have friends of friends calling me for help with slow running PC, phones they want teaching how to use etc etc. I don't charge at all but find friends of friends (some I've never met) offer me cash.

I say go for it Hari (that psychohistory thing not working out eh?), seriously if you can make a bit of cash and it grows who knows where it could lead.

 

[jefboyardee]

There's a retired guy across my town that is busier now than before he retired. He says Microsoft is always helping his business by releasing murky 'updates.' Doesn't touch Apples, just Droids when they trip over Windows. His business, run out of a spare room in back of his house, has just grown and grown over the years, all by referrals. I keep bumping into strangers here that know of him. I think it all started as 'something to do.'

 

[DropGut]

You need to have a good populated area and the market because if there are tons of old people than you should try it.

 

[dan330]

i had been in the pc/repair/upgrade business .. back over 20 yrs ago.. and back then it was a shrinking market.

tech is becoming more and more a .. disposable product.
my TV.. I got it for 2K.. 5 yrs later.. it can be purchased online for $400.
it needs to be repaired... but why? why spend $150 to repair.. just get a new one with warranty and new features.

Computers/smartphones/tablets.. for the general public.. is cheap and getting cheaper.
change so fast..
upgrades every year..
public is getting trained to ... treat them like disposable toys...

I don't know.. if your idea is a good one.
or a bad one...
I am only giving you some extra info to chew one.

good luck