- Visitors can check out the Forum FAQ by clicking this link. You have to register before you can post: click the REGISTER link above to proceed. To start viewing messages, select the forum that you want to visit from the selection below. View our Forum Privacy Policy.
- Want to receive the latest contracting news and advice straight to your inbox? Sign up to the ContractorUK newsletter here. Every sign up will also be entered into a draw to WIN £100 Amazon vouchers!
Reply to: White van PC man
Collapse
You are not logged in or you do not have permission to access this page. This could be due to one of several reasons:
- You are not logged in. If you are already registered, fill in the form below to log in, or follow the "Sign Up" link to register a new account.
- You may not have sufficient privileges to access this page. Are you trying to edit someone else's post, access administrative features or some other privileged system?
- If you are trying to post, the administrator may have disabled your account, or it may be awaiting activation.
Logging in...
Previously on "White van PC man"
Collapse
-
By the way, PC World charge a few pence short of £70 for a home visit PC health-check.
-
Originally posted by MrsGoofyep, could be a money earner. All you need to do is work out how to get the leads.
i.e. when PC World (spit!) sell Mr Crosby a media center, telliing him he can interface with his wireless and his latest Blue-Ray shiny disc thingy and he just needs to pay PC World (spit!) lodas of £ to do it for him.
How will you get in there first ?
No idea but... surely this is an avenue to explore, especially in the coming years with all this home integration? I mean, if it was possible to be a white van man person doing this and earning 40Kish would that not be better than being a contractor forever chasing contractors, forever relocating, forever worrying abou IR35?
If PC people could become future equivalents of plumbers, sparks, kitchen fitters then surely that would be a more enjoyable type of business to be in - your own boss in the true sense, working with a 15-20 mile radius and having customers come to you?
I am not saying it would be easy. I am not saying that it is viable now - I do not know - but it might just be the business of tomorrow??? If so, the how discussion is important isn't it?
Leave a comment:
-
Originally posted by PropertyCrashUKBut what about all this MS Media Centre, Intel Viv stuff? That is all about the digital home? Home integration? Isn't that going to make the PC white van man role a real money-making business?.
i.e. when PC World (spit!) sell Mr Crosby a media center, telliing him he can interface with his wireless and his latest Blue-Ray shiny disc thingy and he just needs to pay PC World (spit!) lodas of £ to do it for him.
How will you get in there first ?
Leave a comment:
-
Originally posted by erroristaPersonally I would advise against 'Home IT support' I have still not been paid by top ML exployee with an address on Park Lane. I have had some very well off clients who prefered to bodge on rather than call me. I do a robust install so very little ongoing work. You would need to sail close to the wind to make any real money in that game.
Computer support is not a respected occupation in IT anymore. It is seen as COST not as a benefit.
It was OK in the 70's and 80's when it was not possible to own a computer without good support. Nowadays there are plenty of 'volunteer' workers who do this as a sideline for little return or for free if they are the 'whizzkid cousin'.
I would like to see you suceed but recommend you take a good gaze at the dark-side first.
2c
error
But what about all this MS Media Centre, Intel Viv stuff? That is all about the digital home? Home integration? Isn't that going to make the PC white van man role a real money-making business?
Satellite dish installers made a mint when Sky came out and there seems to be loads around still.
Leave a comment:
-
Personally I would advise against 'Home IT support' I have still not been paid by top ML exployee with an address on Park Lane. I have had some very well off clients who prefered to bodge on rather than call me. I do a robust install so very little ongoing work. You would need to sail close to the wind to make any real money in that game.
Computer support is not a respected occupation in IT anymore. It is seen as COST not as a benefit.
It was OK in the 70's and 80's when it was not possible to own a computer without good support. Nowadays there are plenty of 'volunteer' workers who do this as a sideline for little return or for free if they are the 'whizzkid cousin'.
I would like to see you suceed but recommend you take a good gaze at the dark-side first.
2c
error
Leave a comment:
-
Originally posted by PropertyCrashUKThanks TheMonkey. Does your Dad employ others since his business has grown?
So why don't you go into business with your old man - or are you going to nick all his clients?
Also, I wouldn't work with him or for him because he's a c*u*n*t.
I have my own list of clients from a company I used to work for that has gone under. Basically it lists most rich people with computers in Nottingham, Derby, Leicester and Newark. I'm going to move out of the city and work doing that. Oh and electrical contracting as I'm thinking about doing a C&G in electrics as it's more stable than IT! Keep a finger in each pot and you're sorted.
Leave a comment:
-
Originally posted by TheMonkeyThat is good busines. My father makes a living doing it via his own company which has grown rapidly over the last 3 years.
I'm thinking about heading into that as well but I have some secrets for success by analysing his mistakes that I'm not overly willing to share (apart from for a price).
Not only that, if someone gives you fifty quid out of petty cash, forget to give them an invoice and spend it down the pub quick
I will say that you NEED two people on the job. One to take calls and manage your workload and one to do the work. That is the ONLY thing I'm telling
Thanks TheMonkey. Does your Dad employ others since his business has grown?
So why don't you go into business with your old man - or are you going to nick all his clients?
Leave a comment:
-
That is good busines. My father makes a living doing it via his own company which has grown rapidly over the last 3 years.
I'm thinking about heading into that as well but I have some secrets for success by analysing his mistakes that I'm not overly willing to share (apart from for a price).
Not only that, if someone gives you fifty quid out of petty cash, forget to give them an invoice and spend it down the pub quick
I will say that you NEED two people on the job. One to take calls and manage your workload and one to do the work. That is the ONLY thing I'm telling
Leave a comment:
-
Originally posted by martinbI do this kind of stuff as a sideline from my "main" contracts. All done through word of mouth. Useful as an additional source of income for MyCo but wouldn't make enough to be able to do this as the only revenue earner.
There are some national companies who contract out to local technicians (eg www.pc-callout.biz) but their rates of pay are terrible (£15 per hour to the technician, no pay for travelling time). There are also a few local ones around my area with vans etc.
As home automation and pcs increasingly make inroads into the home I think that it will eventually become a white van man business, and probably a good earner at that, but whether it is there or not NOW is something I am not so sure about.
Leave a comment:
-
Originally posted by meridianbut what if the refurbished drive had been Gary Glitter's?
Leave a comment:
-
I do this kind of stuff as a sideline from my "main" contracts. All done through word of mouth. Useful as an additional source of income for MyCo but wouldn't make enough to be able to do this as the only revenue earner.
There are some national companies who contract out to local technicians (eg www.pc-callout.biz) but their rates of pay are terrible (£15 per hour to the technician, no pay for travelling time). There are also a few local ones around my area with vans etc.
Leave a comment:
-
Originally posted by MrsGoofPC world mailed my Ltd last week offering their service.
Last week I had to re-fix a michine fixed by PC world. Feckers add a 15Gb partition to the HD (ext3). Plus the removed loads of software from the HD. Simple for me to fix but scary what these guys can do to the uneducated. If only I could prove the swapped the HD, al in the name of a new PS, Graphics card and HD cleanse (AV check....)
Took a great deal of grief trying to get PCWorld to admit that their 'new' PC had a refurbished second-hand harddrive in it, but they eventually coughed up a spanking new pc.
Their main worry was that in this instance the porn was fairly innocent (as far as porn goes), but what if the refurbished drive had been Gary Glitter's?
Leave a comment:
-
Originally posted by PropertyCrashUKMy yellow pages has numrous ads and a friend got a flyer round his door a few days ago. I was just in PC World and noticed they are now branching out with brochures aimed at schools, the public sector, business and SMEs re their repair and support services. So PC World must see a market there?
Last week I had to re-fix a michine fixed by PC world. Feckers add a 15Gb partition to the HD (ext3). Plus the removed loads of software from the HD. Simple for me to fix but scary what these guys can do to the uneducated. If only I could prove the swapped the HD, al in the name of a new PS, Graphics card and HD cleanse (AV check....)
Leave a comment:
-
My yellow pages has numrous ads and a friend got a flyer round his door a few days ago. I was just in PC World and noticed they are now branching out with brochures aimed at schools, the public sector, business and SMEs re their repair and support services. So PC World must see a market there?
Leave a comment:
-
I've had to re-fix a couple of machines for friends who used one of these monkeys to supposidly fix their PC.
The bad ones may not survive, the good ones will grow their business by word of mouth.
Have a look in your local free-bee papers. I bet you see at least 1 ad., last time I look my local rag had 3 ads.
It's definatly a means to earn some cash. I probably earnt about £500 last year doing simple things for Friends of Friends.
Leave a comment:
- Home
- News & Features
- First Timers
- IR35 / S660 / BN66
- Employee Benefit Trusts
- Agency Workers Regulations
- MSC Legislation
- Limited Companies
- Dividends
- Umbrella Company
- VAT / Flat Rate VAT
- Job News & Guides
- Money News & Guides
- Guide to Contracts
- Successful Contracting
- Contracting Overseas
- Contractor Calculators
- MVL
- Contractor Expenses
Advertisers
Contractor Services
CUK News
- Streamline Your Retirement with iSIPP: A Solution for Contractor Pensions Sep 1 09:13
- Making the most of pension lump sums: overview for contractors Sep 1 08:36
- Umbrella company tribunal cases are opening up; are your wages subject to unlawful deductions, too? Aug 31 08:38
- Contractors, relabelling 'labour' as 'services' to appear 'fully contracted out' won't dupe IR35 inspectors Aug 31 08:30
- How often does HMRC check tax returns? Aug 30 08:27
- Work-life balance as an IT contractor: 5 top tips from a tech recruiter Aug 30 08:20
- Autumn Statement 2023 tipped to prioritise mental health, in a boost for UK workplaces Aug 29 08:33
- Final reminder for contractors to respond to the umbrella consultation (closing today) Aug 29 08:09
- Top 5 most in demand cyber security contract roles Aug 25 08:38
- Changes to the right to request flexible working are incoming, but how will contractors be affected? Aug 24 08:25
Leave a comment: