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Original poster

What do you think to this idea?

25 replies

Beccarollover · 28/09/2004 11:02

Im leaving my job as an IT Consultant tomorrow.

Whilst onsite at a clients last week he said to me "Arrgh cant believe your leaving, you need to set up a home computers business - me and my friends are always breaking computers and cant find anyone local to come and help"

Im starting to think this might be a great idea - would charge per hour and just deal with home users, part of the reason Im leaving is that Im just not interested enough to keep pursuing training etc for corporate IT and quite often Im out of my depth with the type of customers we deal with here - one thing I am very comfortable with however is home computers." I could then choose my hours, be with the kids when necessary etc etc

What do you think?

Is it something people would use?

I would angle it as very very user friendly computer help even from advice on what to buy, to helping get it out of the box and plugged in etc etc

OP posts:

Yorkiegirl · 28/09/2004 11:04

Message withdrawn

popsycal · 28/09/2004 11:05

brilliant idea!!!!!
i would use you and my mam's pc needs a good overhaul...

Original poster

Beccarollover · 28/09/2004 11:11

I could either charge per hour or have support contracts where by people buy a bulk amount of time and then use it as and when.....

hmmmm

This would be fairly easy to set up I think?

How much do you think would be fair to charge?

OP posts:

catgirl · 28/09/2004 11:16

great idea - my boss saw something along these lines in the Sunday Times recently - and got the guy round to sort out his home pc. Maybe find out what PC World and the like charge and take it from there (I know laptops are charged at something like £75 per hour and you have to pay the £35 courier charge as they don't do it on site.)

MUMINAMILLION · 28/09/2004 11:16

Brilliant idea. You would need to do a bit of phoning around other similar companies to get the idea of charges etc. to be competitive. Can you get in touch with your local business enterprise trust? (Business Gateway in Scotland). They offer great advice in starting up new businesses and run courses on just about everything you need to know (marketing/creating a business plan etc.) They also offer small business grants to get you up and running. They were very helpful for us.

stickynote · 28/09/2004 11:40

This is a great idea. My Dad (aged 77) has recently got himself a PC and been on a very basic course (how to switch it on ) but has to call someone out every time he gets a virus or email gets jammed up, for example. He's found someone locally that will come to the house and sort it out for him and is willing to pay good money for that service. There's plenty more like him too - go for it!

Skate · 28/09/2004 11:44

I'm lucky enough to have an IT dh but I'm sure there are loads of people out there that would use a service such as the one you are suggesting. Could also be to your advantage that you are a female - particularly if another female needs you to come round and help and she is on her own. I know I'd feel more comfortable with that.

Original poster

Beccarollover · 28/09/2004 11:45

Thanks for all of the input - this is great...

Anyone got any bright ideas for names?

OP posts:

catgirl · 28/09/2004 11:47

computadoc?

bunnyrabbit · 28/09/2004 12:23

BR
My Bruv has his only company and one of the things he offers is support contracts. I'll try and catch you on messenger.

BR
PC Queen?

anorak · 28/09/2004 12:31

I have a friend who does this and he is so busy he doesn't have time to scratch his you know-what!

Do it!

TurnAgainCat · 29/09/2004 11:19

My mother needs someone like this. She always expects me to sort it out for her, and I had to explain that I have no clue and we have a consultant at work who sorts it out for us. How will you prove to clients that you are bona fide and well qualified?

Furball · 29/09/2004 12:13

I think it's a fantastic idea. Luckily for me DH is an IT consultant, but I've often said, how do people who know not very much about computers get by? How do everyday people learn all this stuff? Go for it, really, reall good idea.

GOOD LUCK!

NomDePlume · 29/09/2004 12:16

This seems like a great idea, but look into how much competition you have in your area first. I say that because there are lots of people offering this service in my area (Worcester).

Original poster

Beccarollover · 02/10/2004 08:51

Does anyone have any ideas regarding names?

I like Out of The Box but the domain name is taken

OP posts:

littlemissbossy · 02/10/2004 08:57

Out of the box sounds a creative name to me, kind of advertising agency-ish - is that the kind of thing you're looking for rather than a name linked to what you're offering ? IYSWIM

Original poster

Beccarollover · 02/10/2004 09:00

Hmmm my Dad owns an advertising agency and used to work there - wonder if it has rubbed off on me!

I liked Out of The Box because I wanted teh service to be literally helping them get it out of the box and plugged in if need be and also thinking out of the box by approaching computer repairs differently

ahhhhhhhh I dont know!

OP posts:

littlemissbossy · 02/10/2004 09:03

yes, sounds like it has, you could be his new creative director

Original poster

Beccarollover · 02/10/2004 10:26

shudders nooooooo could never work with him again!

So, if I want to go for this what steps would I have to take before I fixed a computer?

OP posts:

spook · 02/10/2004 10:53

FAB FAB FAB idea BR. I have seen you in action and you would be brilliant at it. Also liked Skates comment that you are a woman-going into other womens homes and even olds-they can be very suspicious of a man. Maybe yyou should try and get that across in the name of the co.??Or maybe that would alienate other potential clients. Or attract pervs for that matter. Mmm scratch that.

JanH · 02/10/2004 11:23

If you can't have Out of the Box what about Plugged-In?

Original poster

Beccarollover · 02/10/2004 11:31

Plugged-in is good - I will investigate that.

I had this idea a year or so ago and registered the domain Unlock-IT.com - "Unlock your computers potential" was my mission statement - I still have the domain name, what do you think to that one?

OP posts:

emmatmg · 02/10/2004 12:01

It's an excellent idea Becca, and your name suggestion is good too.

Says it all in the name and that's what idiots like me need

misty · 03/10/2004 10:02

I think it's a fantastic idea Becca - well done! I know when I did a lot of IT training, people (well, women!) always commented that it was nice to have a woman as they then felt they could ask any questions without feeling embarrassed. Also, you will be onto a winner with older folk as they like to feel comfortable with whoever is teaching them/sorting out their i.t. probs.
Name-wise Unlock-IT sounds fab - gives the impression that it's ideal for people who feel they aren't getting everything out of their computer.
Good luck .

Debbiethemum · 03/10/2004 11:31

My Dad did something very similar, when he took early retirement. (In the Worcester area NomDePlume - so part of the competition).

He also taught evening classes, so quite a few of his clients came from that, I don't know if it's worth investigating the small local computer firms and see if they would reccomend you as a tutor or support person.

I don't believe they lived off his earnings, but a nice supplement to the pension.

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