Should You Start A Computer Repair Business?

Starting a computer repair business is exciting, hard work, requires patience, and is rewarding. Unfortunately, 50% of small business fail in the first 5 years (U.S. Small Business Administration). Should you start a computer repair business?


Are you passionate about PCs? Are you strongly motivated to succeed?
If computer repair isn't something you like to do... don't even think about starting your own business! Why invest your time into something you don't care much for...? You'll end up giving up because this "cause" won't be worth the sacrifices you'll have to make. Nothing is easy, except for giving up. When things are slow or aren't going the way they should, you will need your passion and your strong motivation to help you through.


Does your spouse (or family) support you in starting your own computer repair business?
It might take months or over a year before your computer repair business is profitable. You will be spending many hours a day working on your business. Is this something that your spouse (or family) can handle? You might have to lower your standard of living until your business becomes profitable. The one thing you don't want on top of all the difficulties of running a new business is an unsupportive spouse (or family). This is equivalent to having salt poured on your open wounds daily. "Why are you wasting your time with... Why can't you get a real job? Stop wasting money on garbage! Etc..."


Do you have money to invest in your business? Can you afford to work for free?
You will have expenses when starting a computer repair business, starting from a business license to anything else you'll NEED. If you are just starting out, no one will know about you. No repair jobs = no income. Is this an investment that you can afford?


Are you a self-starter?
You will be your own boss, you'll need to plan your time, market your business, network with people, research, make everything happen, etc. If you need someone to tell you what needs to be done, go work for someone that isn't you.


Are you a good planner? Are you organized?
Poor planning only gives you poor results and is the primary reason why businesses fail. Besides all of the joy you'll get from fixing computers and chatting with customers, you'll need to take care of your legal obligations to your local government and Federal government. State taxes, Federal taxes, receipts, statements, expenses, appointments, business networking, pay bills, bill customers, and hundreds of other things!


Are you physically and emotionally able to run your business?
Running a business is hard work and requires a lot of energy and patience. Your business is not going to be a "9 to 5" operation. Even when you're not "at work" you'll be working (getting calls and marketing). Can you handle 12+ hour work days? There will be long days, slow days, customers that irritate you and are never satisfied, things will go wrong during repair jobs, and all types of stress.


Are you a people person? How are your customer service skills?
If you don't like dealing with people, they definitely won't like dealing with you... No customers = no money. Customer service skills also apply to "internal customers," your partner(s) and employee(s) if you have any. If your interactions with your internal customers are horrible, they won't last long. People talk. The best form of marketing is word of mouth and its free*. By giving your customers a pleasurable computer repair experience, and it will come back to you in the form of more customers. Do the opposite... and you won't last long in any business. Customer service skills can defuse negative customer situations and turn them into returning and referring customers.


Here is a list of a few reasons why businesses fail:

- Lack of experience
- Lack of money
- Poor money management
- Poor location (if you have one)
- Too much competition
- No enough business (services calls, etc.)


That being said... Starting a computer repair business is the right thing for the right person.

- You get be your own boss
- You get to manage your own time
- You get to do things your way
- Get paid to do what you love (on your terms)
- All of your hard hours of work will benefit you and no one else
- You can earn more working for yourself than someone else
- You will have endless challenges, learning experiences, and opportunities
- Financial freedom (if you succeed)


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