Reply to: Am I being unwise?

[permie_scum]

To become a contractor you need at LEAST 4 months money in the bank.

Agreed - I'd say 6 months, but 4 is MINIMUM. Tit that I am, 10 weeks back I thought I'd get a contracting gig in no time - WHOOPS!!! Economic downturn, etc... pooing my pants after 5 weeks of sweet FA. My savings were nowhere near enough. Permie & rather smug now, but bloomin' lucky to have come out the other end in one piece!

[ctdctd]

So, let me get this right, as soon as you get a contract you're going to ditch all of your loyal customers?

sell the customer base

[Churchill]

I'm not looking to get rich doing this, just get a very modest amount of money out of it to keep the wolf from the door while I try to get a contract.

There's a low investment required to get going as I have all the kit I need, and all the knowledge etc, so mainly it's the cost of a bit of marketing plus my time in putting my face about & building goodwill etc. And while I'm stuck at home not earning anyway, I might as well be giving this a go.

So, let me get this right, as soon as you get a contract you're going to ditch all of your loyal customers?

Amateur!

[noob]

So basically you're looking to do a rogue traders impression on technically stupid old people

[noob]

Your business is really dependent on word of mouth.

I shall be making full use of that of course. Have lined up several things which should get that kicked off & will be using the leaflets as well.

I'm not looking to get rich doing this, just get a very modest amount of money out of it to keep the wolf from the door while I try to get a contract.

There's a low investment required to get going as I have all the kit I need, and all the knowledge etc, so mainly it's the cost of a bit of marketing plus my time in putting my face about & building goodwill etc. And while I'm stuck at home not earning anyway, I might as well be giving this a go.

[Advocate]

they're much more likely to give that person a call than fire up Google to look for a local pc repairer.

With their broken PC...

[oracleslave]

Depends on the chap around your corner I guess

I think people split into roughly two groups, some prefer a big company, some don't. A lot of the people I speak to (middle to retirement age, the market I'm aiming for) about this kind of thing vastly prefer to have someone recommended and to stick to them in future. The big companies provide a rather impersonal service, and people often want more than that.

If they've been recommended a local person, and have a number sitting in front of them, then they're much more likely to give that person a call than fire up Google to look for a local pc repairer.

So basically you're looking to do a rogue traders impression on technically stupid old people

[Churchill]

Personally, I think your posts are displaying a certain naivety.

It won't work.

Try another plan b.

[noob]

I think you're wrong here - were I a novice I'd want the backing of a big player, not the promise of some chap around the corner. YMMV.

Depends on the chap around your corner I guess

I think people split into roughly two groups, some prefer a big company, some don't. A lot of the people I speak to (middle to retirement age, the market I'm aiming for) about this kind of thing vastly prefer to have someone recommended and to stick to them in future. The big companies provide a rather impersonal service, and people often want more than that.

If they've been recommended a local person, and have a number sitting in front of them, then they're much more likely to give that person a call than fire up Google to look for a local pc repairer.

[SueEllen]

I think you're wrong here - were I a novice I'd want the backing of a big player, not the promise of some chap around the corner. YMMV.

WHS

Anecdotal evidence from people I know is that they try and find someone in their circle to fix the problem then go to a big player.

The wealthier people I know have a habit of using their company/employers' resources to fix their computer problems.

Your business is really dependent on word of mouth.

[Moscow Mule]

People have a slight distrust of the bigger players & I reckon they'll take to a friendly local guy.

I think you're wrong here - were I a novice I'd want the backing of a big player, not the promise of some chap around the corner. YMMV.

[noob]

I think "PC Guys" have got your market covered.

I prefer to think of them as a minor competitor

Geek Squad, Dell's Presto, and PC World's Tech Guys are more credible with more experience.

Fortunately most people have only heard of PC World, and then they're only really aware of their counter service. Most people don't want to hump a PC all the way to their nearest PC World.

I'm looking to build on people who want someone local who knows what they're talking about and gives them great customer service. I can outperform the average £20k a year PC engineer in pretty much every area.

People have a slight distrust of the bigger players & I reckon they'll take to a friendly local guy.

[Churchill]

I think "PC Guys" have got your market covered.

[noob]

You see, right until that moment I thought you might stand a chance. Now you've mentioned the F-word and I realise you're just a dreamer.

I can see where you're coming from, and seriously doubt anyone would want to buy one, but I only mention it because it was suggested to me in the 1st place by a couple of other people.

All I'm really interested in is making a few quid to cover the mortgage, however it's worth not forgetting the idea entirely as I know a number of people with similar skills and experience to myself who will be at a loose end later this year and who might well be interested in doing this kind of work if the business set up part was made easier for them. And if there's any chance at all of someone giving me some of their money then I'll be only too happy to collect it

[Tingles]

A 1000 Leaflets decent areas - probably nets one or two calls, Take you about 9 or 10 hours to deliver.

Put an advert in a newsagent - Get someone to deliver with you - you pay them min wage - I reckon 5k a week, hard slog.

It's far more profitable doing a domestic cleaning franchise.....



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