Starting Out on Your Own as a Computer Technician

Many of us just started working on our own
from the start, while other technicians gained much of their experience as an employee of a large firm. Others have previous business experience in other trades, including business ownership and management. Regardless of your background, if you’re just now starting out on your own, here are six steps to get you started on the path to success under your own power.

1. Calculate

Sit down and calculate everything. Factor in any managed services you plan to offer or use yourself, from internet service for your business to web-hosting plans for your technician website. If you don’t skip this vital step, you’ll have a much higher success rate. Yes, it takes time and research, but groundwork is imperative.

2. Tools

In the computer technician trade, tools will range from PSU testers to Ethernet cable tools, from USB drive tool kits to operating system discs and repair/recovery disks. Get a head start by downloading and creating the disks for the operating systems you plan to work with, if you don’t have them already.
One of the best technician tools is a USB drive. You might find it useful to keep a folder of common network card drivers, some registry cleaners, malware scanners, and anti-virus tools on your USB toolkit. A separate USB drive could be used as bootable Windows installation media. Don’t forget to keep some networking tools in your toolkit as well, such as wi-fi network troubleshooting tools. Take the time to update your tools as well.

3. Business Name

Will you be going into business under your own name or a variant of it? For instance, will you be doing business as Smith’s Computer Services or have you already come up with a catchy DBA for your services? There are arguments for and against using your own name in your business name, and there are pros and cons for both.
Using your own name for your business is a good option if you are fairly well known in the community. You’ve put your name on your business and it’s a reflection of your own reputation, and many respect that and might be drawn to your services because of your name’s reputation. On the other hand, some view using their own name in their business name as less than professional, or perhaps they feel their name is boring or doesn’t give their business name a nice ring.
There is much to be said for both sides. However, if you plan to use a DBA, make sure you fulfill the local requirements, such as filing a DBA with your local county clerk or other authority. It might only be $14, depending on the situation, but it’s something to make sure you get done if you plan to use a DBA.

4. Legal Requirements

I mentioned filing a DBA as one of the requirements, but there are other legal requirements in many areas. Do you need to register your business on a regional level? For instance, in the U.S., you may be required to collect Sales and Use Tax on your services and report it quarterly to the state you live in. I won’t list all the potential requirements as each region is completely different, but you should be able to easily locate government resources on every level to help you locate requirements you need to fill to comply with regulations.

5. Finances, Paperwork, and CRM

How do you plan to keep your books? In times past, simple spreadsheets using Excel or similar programs were an easy method, but now there are many finance software applications that make it a lot easier than figuring out what formulas you need to use in a certain field to get a certain output. If you need paperwork forms, check out the Technibble Computer Business Kit.
If you just need a simple billing software and records management, you might check out Freshbooks. The free version limits you to using 3 clients, which isn’t much, but the trial version will give you a taste of what is offered, and it’s a good trial ground if you’re still working out what your needs may be. For those who have their own web-hosting space and need an invoicing app, I recommend Siwapp. It’s a free and open source customer management platform that covers invoicing, recurring invoices, and keeps good records for you as well as tracking taxes and other information.
If you need something more comprehensive, check out the reviews on finance software, there are always new options arriving on the scene. While I can’t confidently recommend one over the other because every one I’ve tried has given me problems in one or more areas, I do suggest reading up the reviews to see what would work best for you. Every situation is different and depending on yours, what works for you may not work for someone else, even in the computer technician industry.

6. Advertising & Website/Blog

Hopefully by now you’ve already ordered your business cards and possibly started some form of advertising. There are multiple places to advertise online, both free and paid options, including Google Adwords, which many have had success with. Print up some flyers and meet one on one with business owners and managers. If you’re not sure where to start, check out Technibble’s ebook here regarding focusing on businesses and getting started in the business sector. Pass the word around about your new business. Call old acquaintances, friends, relatives, and just drop the word about the services you offer, without being awkward about it. It may be a bit slow at first but it will catch up.
If you haven’t created your website yet and you aren’t a web developer, you might want to check out Tech Site Builder 2. It’s an easy way to get a great technician website up and running in a few hours. Don’t put off starting your website until you have some business. The majority of internet users find services they need online, and that’s where you need to be to capture that potential business. Start a blog as well, search engines love them. Be sure to keep your web presence looking professional, up to date, and uncomplicated for your users.
The most important step of all is the first step, counting the cost and calculating everything. From there, everything else will fall into place. If you have some tips on starting up that you consider helpful, drop a comment below.

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