Could I start up a local Business offering IT Tech support?

[Mr Allen]

Topic.

I know my way around a PC probably as well as or better than the kind of "scripts" the common tech support helpline has to go from when people ring up the Internet providers etc with problems.

I've had an idea for years about having an IT company of my own, kind of like Bill Gates did back in the 70's when he created Microsoft, but not on quite as grand a scale as he did.

Only 2 major problems, any reputable Bank would tell a guy on benefits to go away and don't be silly if I approached them for a Business loan, and even if I could get a loan, where would I get Business premises as I can't use the Flat to run a Business.

Please tell me is this idea completely mad? Do I actually know too much and would confuse customers with technical jargon?

I even thought of a cool name for my company, RACE (Rich Allen Computer Enterprises) and a cool slogan "Let Rich help you win the race for good IT solutions", catchy innit?

I just thought that seeing as how I'm struggling to get a job to work for someone else, why not be my own Boss?

 

[Kirsty]

I even thought of a cool name for my company, RACE (Rich Allen Computer Enterprises) and a cool slogan "Let Rich help you win the race for good IT solutions", catchy innit?

I love this!

 

[pjcnet]

I used to work in PC technical support, if you go out to people you're not really running it from your flat, well unless you need to take machines back home to repair, I take it your landlord wouldn't allow it?

If you for instance started repairing PCs then I'm afraid you will often get the blame for everything that goes wrong on that PC afterwards even if it's nothing related due to many people's lack of understanding. E.g. on a simple visit you could remove malware and give the machine an optimisation once over, then a month later their PC freezes due to a totally unrelated driver problem which you get the blame for, or you upgrade someone's graphics card, then they're complaining every time they encounter a game related graphical glitch blaming you, or you simply setup and install a new PC for someone, then every time they have an unrelated Windows error message they call you complaining, or even worse you install a new graphics card, then a month later the PC's PSU blows damaging the motherboard, you get the blame, go out and find the graphics card is perfectly fine, but the customer is still going nuts blaming you demanding that you sort it, you get the idea? Then there's those really difficult and time consuming PC faults that maybe hardware or software, E.g. my PC keeps freezing about once every few days, then if the problem continues after putting on a fresh installation of Windows it's more likely to be a hardware fault, but then it's not always obvious to know which part is faulty without trial and error which would sometimes mean having to for instance get hold of a new motherboard to only find out that the machine still freezes, making you suspect the processor, it can be very frustrating and a real pita lol, then do you really think the customer would be happy to pay for hours of your time plus a new motherboard and processor just because you couldn't identify the problem straight away? This kind of trouble and extreme stress is common in PC technical support.

I personally would choose a different line of business, it's difficult as only a minority make a reasonable amount of money or in fact anything at all, but you could setup an online business with barely any capital what-so-ever, there's obviously loads of things you could do, even if you managed to get a lot of traffic to a website you could make money from adverts (more difficult than you think however). Okay you may make nothing, but there's barely any risk either and you never know what might happen if you keep persevering. Don't ever fall for any get rich quick scams however, there's literally 1000s online and many will look like real business opportunities.

 

[Full Steam]

I've spent 25 years it tech support, and set up and ran a business and residential support business.

It's hard work, and hard to get traction as the barriers to entry are very low. Anyone with modest tech skills can set up and many do.

Residential customers are easiest to get, but don't repeat very often and are a pain in the but.

Businesses would expect server and network skills learnt in a business environment.

Own transport is essential, as is credit card facility and job management software (a google cal would do to start)

Would I recommend it?
No.

If I did it again I would only work with businesses that could afford a managed service, I would want a skilled and connected sales guy and to be differentiated in the market.

That's very hard in It support.

Good business strategies these days require specialisation and deep relevance with customer needs. Otherwise youre just a fighter in a vicious marketplace.

If I were you I'd look at starting an eBay or Amazon business, but first learn how to spot trends. Only sell things that you make reasonable money on that would be expected to trend upwards.

IT support is trending down as computers are more reliable, warranties are longer, and major players offer cheap support.

Hardware sales make c15% margin, but carry large risk, and manufacturers will undercut you on their own products sold direct.

It's a horrible market.

Get niche, get big, or get out.

 

[Joel's Hear]

You could start an IT company which specialized in how to switch cell-service providers. Just joking, I know that that type of stuff is utterly complexing. Also, did you know that the resident lord of Sheffield, England is the Baron Richard Allan? Any relation?

 

[The Midge]

Topic.

I know my way around a PC probably as well as or better than the kind of "scripts" the common tech support helpline has to go from when people ring up the Internet providers etc with problems.

I've had an idea for years about having an IT company of my own, kind of like Bill Gates did back in the 70's when he created Microsoft, but not on quite as grand a scale as he did.

Only 2 major problems, any reputable Bank would tell a guy on benefits to go away and don't be silly if I approached them for a Business loan, and even if I could get a loan, where would I get Business premises as I can't use the Flat to run a Business.

Please tell me is this idea completely mad? Do I actually know too much and would confuse customers with technical jargon?

I even thought of a cool name for my company, RACE (Rich Allen Computer Enterprises) and a cool slogan "Let Rich help you win the race for good IT solutions", catchy innit?

I just thought that seeing as how I'm struggling to get a job to work for someone else, why not be my own Boss?

Never say never. Though you will have to ask yourself if being self employed is right for you.

You should ask at the job centre to be put on a business start up course. They will help you work through the planning and testing of your idea. It will probably be free. You could even get a certificate at the end of it. Nothing to loose by asking.

If you start up on your own you will probably have to work at it full time with very little income for the first months. You will also have to be your own sales team, administrator, bookkeeper, manager, cleaner, technician, purchaser and all the other jobs. It ifs a full lifestyle not just a 9-5 job.

 

[Mr Allen]

You could start an IT company which specialized in how to switch cell-service providers. Just joking, I know that that type of stuff is utterly complexing. Also, did you know that the resident lord of Sheffield, England is the Baron Richard Allan? Any relation?

Yeah stop trolling, don't make me report you.

And no, that Lord guy is not related to me.

 

[Joel's Hear]

Yeah stop trolling, don't make me report you.

And no, that Lord guy is not related to me.

Cmon Rich! I'm not trolling: never have, never will. What I said is completely inoffensive, and I've never said anything remotely mean to you.

 

[Mr Allen]

Cmon Rich! I'm not trolling: never have, never will. What I said is completely inoffensive, and I've never said anything remotely mean to you.

Yeah sorry I'm in a mood because the Foreign call centre at Virgin Media are doing my head in.

I speak English in a broad Sheffield accent and they don't understand me, rather infuriating.

 

[Joel's Hear]

Yeah sorry I'm in a mood because the Foreign call centre at Virgin Media are doing my head in.

I speak English in a Sheffield accent and they don't understand me, rather infuriating.

It's ok. Don't worry. I hate dealing with calling people or businesses or anything run in an inefficient NT world manner. They always hassle me for being different, but I'm not sure they mean to.

 

[Dalton]

You're better off becoming a certified pentester or even a certified ethical hacker. The salary is really good, and it's something that i'm studying here at university.

 

[Full Steam]

You're better off becoming a certified pentester or even a certified ethical hacker. The salary is really good, and it's something that i'm studying here at university.

Both likely to be growth industries for the forseable future.

Also good barriers to competition as it's hard to learn, so cuts out the clueless who can bring industries down.

If I were starting again I might choose that too.

Pitfalls may be avoiding being trapped in a cubicle as a code monkey.