posted
I'm going to start my own computer repair business. I've mentioned this before, and decided not to because it seemed like more than I could handle. Lately, I've been doing a great deal of research on the Small Business Administrations Web Page. I'm currently working on a business plan, but I need help figuring out what kinds of things a new business needs to have (Aside from legal things and money) so I can determine start up costs. Basically, this is a brain storming thread. I need help figuring this stuff out because I've never been in business before and I don't exactly know what kind of things I'll need. I know there are a number of business owners here, and I'm asking for help. First, let me tell you what I've got on my list so far. (This is not me asking for help with this stuff, aside from general advice. I am listing these things so I can figure out what I'm missing, if anything).
1. I've found an office that I can operate out of (While I don't necessarily need this, it will help to have it since I have 4 techs willing to join me in this venture already) 2. I need a computer to operate the shop with as well as keep track of invoices and other important info. I'm not sure yet if combining the purposes of backup server and invoice workstation is a good idea. 3. I need furniture. 4. I need some invoicing software. I'll be getting Quickbooks to handle this stuff. 5. I need to find a lawyer to get all the legal workings of starting a business done (Advice on this would be useful. I've done some research on LLC's, but haven't found any helpful information on how one is formed in specific). 6. I need to find an accountant (Does anyone know how much an accountant's services cost?) 7. I need tools. 8. I need a logo. 9. I need a phone number. 10. I need a couple inexpensive advertisement methods. I'm currently considering puting fliers on people's windshields. I don't know if there are any legal considerations I need to make for this type of thing or if cars in parking lots are open game. Prior to advertisement in the Yellow Pages, I'm going to look into newspaper advertisements. (I'm open to suggestions on this). 11. I need business stationary (Business cards). 12. I need a Website (Obtaining a domain, webspace, etc.) 13. I've got a business name. In meeting with the guys who want to do this with me, we've decided on "Tech Solutions." I'm planning for LLC status. If anyone knows whether it's possible to start as a sole-proprietorship and then switch to LLC or something later, let me know (If I can do that, I can start doing stuff on my own and then bring the other guys in after I've gotten a good hang of the area market and an office). 14. I'm writing a business plan. 15. I need to figure out how to do trademarking/copyrighting and all that wonderful junk.
Okay. Is there anything I'm missing/overlooking? Any advice from the entreprenuerial veterans of Hatrack would be greatly appreciated.
Posts: 3003 | Registered: Oct 2004
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posted
I know this is totally off topic, but you need a catchy slogan and cute little mascot to entice children. If a child starts laughing during a commercial, which they often do, the parent may look at the screen and see the ad. Thus, they may do business with you. This does pertain to the fact of whether or not you were planning on doing tv commercials once business gets big enough.
Posts: 6026 | Registered: Dec 2004
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posted
I am working on a slogan as well. TV Advertisement is WAY in the future right now. Partly for the fact that We're going to be small time at first and it's too expensive, partly for the fact that TV advertisement in this area for local businesses is worse than listening to Vogon poetry (for you Hitchhiker's Guide fans out there )
Posts: 3003 | Registered: Oct 2004
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posted
I know a Boris who's an excellent PC technician. He also has dark hair (like another 85% of the world or so).
Tools you must purchase, and Websites I can't help you with. I've barely got my own running, and it's on a Hatracker's site - so I can't offer you much there, nor with phones. Go to a printing press for business cards.
As for trademarks and copyrights and all that crap, go to the US Patent Office Website.
posted
You need an accountant, as well. They will help you learn what you will need to do over the course of the year, in QuickBooks and out.
There will be a local agency/group/whatnot available to give some free advice. Talk to your local city government, they'll know. From their, try to come up with a business plan. Once you have that rough draft, go to an accountant that someone (preferably someone who owns a business) recommends and talk about that rough draft and try to form a more complete one. The accountant will help you with where you need to go from there.
Posts: 15770 | Registered: Dec 2001
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posted
You'll also want to consider the services of a bookkeeper, and yes, that is different from an accountant. The accountant is good for financial advice, setting up the company books, year end financial statements, and taxes. The bookkeeper is good for (and cheaper) day to day data entry, bank reconciliations, credit card reconciliations, collections calls, payables, expense reimbursement, and the like. If you want to save money and do it yourself, at least initially, then I would strongly urge you to either a. get some training in using QuickBooks b. get some education in basic accounting and/or c. get the bookkeeper in once a month to balance things even if you do the day to day data entry.
You think it'll save money by skipping a bookkeeper altogether. You'd be wrong. Unless you have strong skills in accounting. Which most people don't.
File cabinets with color coded file folders (ie green for financial statements, red for contracts, yellow for accounts payable, orange for accounts payable, and so on.) Consider hiring someone, even if from the local college in administrative or secretarial whatever, to set up a filing system for you. Again, you think you could save money by doing it yourself, but unless you're highly organized, you'll be swearing at yourself in fairly short order.
I speak from experience. Me being the one who organized the offices, did the data entry, cooked the books, er, um, I mean and generally fixed a year or five of accounting stuff in one fell swoop.
Posts: 8355 | Registered: Apr 2003
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It is not enough to just have a website, you also need a good search engine optimization strategy.
Many businesses get their referrals from google searches. You should google "seo strategies" and read up on stuff like meta tags, page ranks, link popularity, etc.
Your goal is to have your name show up on the first page of the google search results for "computer repair + name of your town."
Tech solutions is a great name, but it also means your name will be ranked fairly low on the alphabetically-organized Yellow Pages. What about Able Tech Solutions?
A good way to advertise yourself is to offer free services. Maybe you can give free seminars to small business owners about how to deal with spyware.
Posts: 4116 | Registered: Apr 2002
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posted
I would say that you should not put fliers on peoples cars. It just makes me mad when I get them and I just toss it anyway.
Posts: 747 | Registered: Aug 2004
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posted
Hmm. I know nothing about starting businesses but my sister makes websites for a living if you're looking to hire someone... Or to get an idea of prices etc. Her website is here. Good luck with it all!
Posts: 624 | Registered: Mar 2005
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