I need a bit of advice (Freelance PC work)

Danda

Danda

Member
Ok so I cant say I am a "Computer Genius" but I know more than an average user. I cannot find a job in my region due to cut back on jobs and the fact I haven't really worked at a "Real Job" before.

Ive done freelance PC repairs and Id say I done a good job. I never received any complaints and had a few previous 'clients' that came back and asked me for help on their PCs whenever they had problems.

Now I am planning on expanding myself to other neighbors within my area so that I may assist them and make a few bucks on the side. I have a positive attitude and always helpful to my 'clients' whenever they have questions. I always give them options and solutions to their problem(s).

But I am afraid of a few things:
- A problem I cannot fix
- My pricing, whether it be too low or too high
- Not shown as "professional" enough
- Given bad reviews if my service is not good enough
- Out smarted by another person who may be better with computers than I.

I have a few people to contact for a "Second Opinion" but I am afraid to expand myself because of said reasons above. Do you guys got any tips about this? I dont want to present myself as an amateur and a fool to other people. I would greatly appreciate any tips.

A few other notes: I am in College, going to my 3rd year soon, currently working for a degree in "Computer Science" and "Microsoft networking". I been doing the Freelance work for about 2 years and want to work for other companies in the future (Intel, Microsoft, etc).

Thanks again guys

-Jovanni
 
Hey Jovanni,

Its good you have the concerns you do, but as long as you are up front with your clients/neighbors, you'll be alright. Computer repair ultimately boils down to if you have seen the problem before, and remembering how to fix it, or knowing how to find the answer on the internet.

Most of the questions that I have answered on this board, could of been answered by the person asking the question, if they had just known how to utlize google. As long as you can master that you will be ok.

Something to consider, I have a high hourly rate, but I also give flat rate on certain things.
Reinstall Windows: Bad Hard Drive is $75 for the drive, and $150 flat to reinstall, and update
Virus Removal: $100, includes 1year of spysweeper

And if I can't fix it, I don't charge. Just be sure to give up fast, because this one hurts after 3 or 4 hours....
 
soflanetworking said:
Hey Jovanni,

Its good you have the concerns you do, but as long as you are up front with your clients/neighbors, you'll be alright. Computer repair ultimately boils down to if you have seen the problem before, and remembering how to fix it, or knowing how to find the answer on the internet.

Most of the questions that I have answered on this board, could of been answered by the person asking the question, if they had just known how to utlize google. As long as you can master that you will be ok.

Something to consider, I have a high hourly rate, but I also give flat rate on certain things.
Reinstall Windows: Bad Hard Drive is $75 for the drive, and $150 flat to reinstall, and update
Virus Removal: $100, includes 1year of spysweeper

And if I can't fix it, I don't charge. Just be sure to give up fast, because this one hurts after 3 or 4 hours....
Click to expand...

Thanks so much for the advice. I have seen problems Ive encountered and fixed them. I learn alot when I fix a clients PC and I like it when I learn. I am just afraid I will encounter a problem cannot solve and neither can my friends who can give me a second opinion.

And is it really that expensive to reinstall windows and completely update it/ I did all that with two laptops for $120 USD. I went too each perhaps?

A friend of mine told me that to look up Geek Squads prices (not to insult anyone that works in GS here) and whatever they offer, offer cheaper. That way you can guarantee them coming back, should the work be done.

And where do you buy the Anti-Virus? Send me a PM on that if you can, I need one soon.
 
Danda said:
Thanks so much for the advice. I have seen problems Ive encountered and fixed them. I learn alot when I fix a clients PC and I like it when I learn. I am just afraid I will encounter a problem cannot solve and neither can my friends who can give me a second opinion.

And is it really that expensive to reinstall windows and completely update it/ I did all that with two laptops for $120 USD. I went too each perhaps?

A friend of mine told me that to look up Geek Squads prices (not to insult anyone that works in GS here) and whatever they offer, offer cheaper. That way you can guarantee them coming back, should the work be done.

And where do you buy the Anti-Virus? Send me a PM on that if you can, I need one soon.
Click to expand...

I don't work for the geek squad but I do work for best buy, and I will tell you. Don't even worry about charging more than them. Charge what you feel the service deserves and I'll guarantee you it'll be less than the GS.

A couple of their prices:

data transfer (up to 9.5 gb) - $100
over 9.5 gb - $150
diagnostic - $50
virus removal - $250
format - up to $400 depending on what else needs to be done

But then again, they are comfortable charging those prices cause if something goes wrong they can simply give customers a new PC.

For a virus removal (without reformat) I would charge $50 and throw on some free antivirus.

A complete reformat I would charge $100.

And I'm the same as the person above, If I can't fix it, I don't charge. And one thing to keep in mind, fixing a PC is easier and less stressful if you setup a work station in your own home and fix them their instead of doing house calls (I charge extra for house calls, cause you have to realize, at home while you are letting processes on the PC run their course you can go about your own business where as at the customer's house you are forced to just sit there and watch the scans/diagnostics run).

So there is my bit I've been doing PC repairs for a couple years myself.

Oh and some advice and others may disagree, but to get your name into different regions, offer new customer discounts
 
Troncoso said:
I don't work for the geek squad but I do work for best buy, and I will tell you. Don't even worry about charging more than them. Charge what you feel the service deserves and I'll guarantee you it'll be less than the GS.

A couple of their prices:

data transfer (up to 9.5 gb) - $100
over 9.5 gb - $150
diagnostic - $50
virus removal - $250
format - up to $400 depending on what else needs to be done

But then again, they are comfortable charging those prices cause if something goes wrong they can simply give customers a new PC.

For a virus removal (without reformat) I would charge $50 and throw on some free antivirus.

A complete reformat I would charge $100.

And I'm the same as the person above, If I can't fix it, I don't charge. And one thing to keep in mind, fixing a PC is easier and less stressful if you setup a work station in your own home and fix them their instead of doing house calls (I charge extra for house calls, cause you have to realize, at home while you are letting processes on the PC run their course you can go about your own business where as at the customer's house you are forced to just sit there and watch the scans/diagnostics run).

So there is my bit I've been doing PC repairs for a couple years myself.

Oh and some advice and others may disagree, but to get your name into different regions, offer new customer discounts
Click to expand...

I really appreciate the tips you've given me. Im just really nervous that I will make the customer shy away from me because of the prices, due to economic problems. And I am preparing a work station soon. You guys have no idea how much this helps, I really appreciate the tips and advice once again.

And House Calls, meaning they call you and you step them though their problem?
 
A few thoughts from the other side of the Atlantic!!

1. Have confidence. Customers will soon spot it if you are not that confident when you arrive.

2. Have a slightly lower rate for Senior Citizens. Not much but a little. My hourly rate equates to approx $50 per hour, for Senior Citizens that would be approx $40 per hour.

3. Have a No Fix No Fee policy. This basically means that if you dont know how to fix it, the customer doesnt pay. It doesnt mean that if you diagnose hard drive failure (for example) and the customer doesnt want to go ahead then they dont pay. You are not a free diagnostic service.

4. Be prepared to walk away from jobs. I have had some teenagers looking over my shoulder saying things like "I wouldnt do it like that". It lasts a few minutes before I give them the choice of letting me fix it or them fixing it. If they carry on, walk away.

5. Know what your competitors charge and charge the same or less without "giving it away".

6. Carry a few spares, i.e. PSU, Router, Wireless cards, monitor etc with you. If you can change a part and get the PC/laptop working it shows the customer that they have defective parts. I also leave my test monitor with a customer while I get them a new one (if they want to get one themselves it doesnt stay!!).

Hope this helps
 
What I am about to say will mean nothing to our American members.

The other day I was in my local Wetherspoon (A chain of pubs) and a lady in her late 50's I would imagine that had seen me before talking to other computer guys approached me and asked if I could get her online in the pub with her Kindle, the pub has WiFi.

I asked her if she had an account with The Cloud (Wetherspoons provider via BT) and she replied she did not.

I then proceeded to make an account for her with her sat at the side of me and eventually said there you go all you have to do now is log in when you visit a Wetherspoon.

Her husband then asked if I could visit them at home as they were running Vista which was slow etc etc.

Gaining confidence is what it's all about.
 
I very much appreciate the tips you guys are giving me. I will use these tips to y advantage, because I dont want to mess up. Im the type of person that if I do something, it has to be perfect (Job wise).

if its not, then I screwed up badly. But I will keep those tips in mind. Thanks again!
 
You guys should be lucky you do not live in Croatia.Here people actually call me and they ask me to fix their computers for FREE because they can't pay me.Hell even 20 dollars for the entire format,Windows OS installation + all the drivers is too much here where I live...

You would not believe,but people here where I live are so stupid.If you charge them for the repair wether it is hardware or software,you are no good to them anymore because it is not free or 1 dollar price.

Once one client told me: "How can you charge me 25 dollars for a simple Windows reinstallation together with all the drivers and antivirus softwares?"
And then I answered him: "If it's so simple then why don't you do it?Besides you have no right to complain because crapy 25 dollars is nothing for all the work I will do for you."
The client then answered: "You should be shame of yourself.How can you charge so much for just this?"
Then I told him: "Are you saying that 25 dollars is TOO MUCH for all the work I will do for you and spend 2 days on it???"
The client then got nervous and said: "Yes it is too much!You should do it for free rather than charging me so much!
Then I got pissed off and finally told him: "If crapy 25 dollars is too much for you to pay for ALL the work I will do for you then no offence sir,but fuc!!k you!"

And then I just left home lol...

Do you now realize how lucky you all are :D ?

Also there was one old lady who called me in 06:30 AM to tell me that I should be a shame for charging this.
I mean what the hell lmao?! She actually expects from me to do ALL the work (hardware,software,programming) for everyone for free???
HAHAHAHAHA!

Here if you charge them just FEW dollars for anything,they will automatically think that you do not know anything about this...
Stupid I know xD xD xD

Welcome to STARS's world in the shitty Croatia xD

Be lucky you don't live here xD

Of course there are some normal people who WILL pay you for your service,but most of them want it for free.LMAO!
 
Dude, if you're the only guys around the area who does PC work, they'll come to you. Dont budge if they chew you out, just say "Thats my offer and thats how much my services is, if you dont like it please find someone else".

They'll come to you if theres no one else. Whats your asking for is dirt cheap compared to what my other buddies charge.
 
Oh one important thing to keep a good image: Don't practice on the customer. By that I mean don't try doing something you aren't sure how to do.

It is hard for me to get people to trust me because there are people that will actually google how to do some repair (like install windows) then go out and charge people to do it, not even knowing what to do afterward like installing the drivers or don't even back the customer's files. These people give free lance techies a bad name and make it hard to find work
 
Troncoso said:
Oh one important thing to keep a good image: Don't practice on the customer. By that I mean don't try doing something you aren't sure how to do.

It is hard for me to get people to trust me because there are people that will actually google how to do some repair (like install windows) then go out and charge people to do it, not even knowing what to do afterward like installing the drivers or don't even back the customer's files. These people give free lance techies a bad name and make it hard to find work
Click to expand...

Thats why I always ask for a second opinion. Thats what I am worried about too, seeing a problem I cant fix. Sure I can just not charge them if I cant fix it, but that itself puts a bad image on me, in a sense.

But yet again better to show you dont know how to fix it, than to muck up horrible and really show you dont know how to fix it.
 
Danda said:
They'll come to you if theres no one else. Whats your asking for is dirt cheap compared to what my other buddies charge.
Click to expand...

Oh really you think?!:mad:
LoL.I know lol.I agree with you.Maybe I am too cheap and they complain even more.Maybe I should charge them 1000 dollars for just formatting the HDD completely and then they would actually respect me lol.
Croatia sucks lol!Not to mention that our damn schools and hospitals mostly still use Windows 95 and 98 LMAO!
 
S.T.A.R.S. said:
Oh really you think?!:mad:
LoL.I know lol.I agree with you.Maybe I am too cheap and they complain even more.Maybe I should charge them 1000 dollars for just formatting the HDD completely and then they would actually respect me lol.
Croatia sucks lol!Not to mention that our damn schools and hospitals mostly still use Windows 95 and 98 LMAO!
Click to expand...

..... Gods speed man...
 
I am lazy to read the whole thread but this idea just popped into mind in reference to expanding.
You could do a recommend a friend offer with your current customers, say if they recommend a friend they will get a discount on there next problem, you could even do it for free if they refer a friend.#
You could also set up a website to advertise your services.
 
CrayonMuncher said:
I am lazy to read the whole thread but this idea just popped into mind in reference to expanding.
You could do a recommend a friend offer with your current customers, say if they recommend a friend they will get a discount on there next problem, you could even do it for free if they refer a friend.#
You could also set up a website to advertise your services.
Click to expand...

That's kind of what I'll do. This is my policy on prices:

If I offer to fix it, half off
If they ask me, full price.

The only people I offer too are those who are in a new demographic or region that my name isn't in yet.

It also helps a lot to have business cards. If you give them to new clients it'll be way easier for them to give word to others about you.
 
Troncoso said:
That's kind of what I'll do. This is my policy on prices:

If I offer to fix it, half off
If they ask me, full price.

The only people I offer too are those who are in a new demographic or region that my name isn't in yet.

It also helps a lot to have business cards. If you give them to new clients it'll be way easier for them to give word to others about you.
Click to expand...

This. I like this idea so much. I will use this to my advantage. Thanks alot man I appreciate it!
 
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