fix computers Archives - Your Friendly Neighborhood Computer Guy

Book Review: Computer Repair Business Lessons Learned

November 17, 2008 By Matthew Rodela 5 Comments

Welcome to another book review from Your Friendly Neighborhood Computer Guy. I try to keep these reviews simple to read and concise in delivery so you can quickly find out if the book being reviewed is right for you. I focus on books specifically about starting a computer business and I hope to tailor my reviews to folks who are in the early stages of starting a computer consulting business. The thing you’ll need to keep in mind is that I’m still in the process of learning as I read and review these books, so my reviews are from a start-up perspective. I think that fact may benefit those who are in my situation more than if these books were reviewed by a “seasoned pro”.

The book I’m reviewing this time around is Computer Business Lessons Learned by Daniel Hand. I found this book while searching online for information about starting a computer business. One thing that grabbed my attention about this book were the words “Lessons Learned”. That tells me that the author has already had his trial by fire and he’s ready to share his insights. The website says that CBLL is “a true book that reveals exactly how to be successful in the Computer Repair Business.” Does the book live up to the hype? Lets find out…
[Read more…]

Top 10 Reasons To Be Nice To Your Computer Guy

November 05, 2008 By Matthew Rodela 17 Comments

Historically, the computer guy, like many other service professionals, has been undervalued and under appreciated. But beware, we computer folk hold a lot more of the cards than some may realize.

For those people who tend to treat their computer guy like a second class citizen, here are the top 10 reasons why you may want to reconsider giving us a hard time (David Letterman style): [Read more…]

When Is Enough Enough?: How I’m Avoiding Over-Preparing For My Business

October 13, 2008 By Matthew Rodela 9 Comments

I found an interesting thread on a forum the other day. The thread begins with a young man nicknamed “clutch” asking the forum members for their advice on the steps necessary to prepare for a new computer repair business. He proudly lists some things he’s considered acquiring before he beings, things like spare parts, repair tools, boot disks. Soon thereafter one of the seasoned vets of the forum, “Prime Suspect”, gives him this piece of advice:

“I hate to be so blunt about it, but discussing and planning and thinking and nailbiting doesn’t get a business to be successful. Every second that you spend planning it and asking for advice is wasted time. ”

You can read the full thread here.

A bit of a harsh statement, but it reaffirms something that I recently discovered. I, too, had a lot in common with “clutch”, spending hours gathering information and formulating plans. While I think some planning is necessary, and a new business is not the sort of thing to jump into blindly, too much preparation can also be a hindrance to forward progress. [Read more…]

Business Name Blues: Part 1, Choosing a name

September 22, 2008 By Matthew Rodela 21 Comments

Business Name Blues is a 3-part series in which I talk about the experiences I had in naming my business and give tips based on lessons I’ve learned in the process. Part 1 will explore choosing the business name. Part 2 looks into the online aspect of business naming. Part 3 closes with the legal and tax steps necessary to ensure your business name is protected. Also, as I go through each part, I will be updating the Resources page with a Business Naming section to assist you with resources and links to help you make the right moves when naming your business.
[Read more…]

I’m Officially A Business Owner!

September 12, 2008 By Matthew Rodela 6 Comments

Yes, as of 9:01 PM EST, yesterday, September 11th, 2008, I am officially a business owner in the great state of Maryland! That is the time that I received an email from LegalZoom stating that my DBA and Business License paperwork had been approved and received back at their offices. It was a process three months in the making, and I’ll talk about why it took so long in my next article.
[Read more…]

Top 5 Reasons Why I Probably Shouldn’t Start a Computer Repair Business

September 10, 2008 By Matthew Rodela 10 Comments

In July, I published an article called Top 5 Reasons Why I’m Starting A Computer Support Business. Being the kind of person that likes to see things from all angles, I decided to take the opposite view and look at some reasons why starting a computer business may not be such a good idea for me. This exercise was difficult, since obviously I DO want to start a business, but I feel it’s good to weigh the pros and cons of any major decision in life. Starting a business is not going to be all roses and cupcakes, so this list may be a good slap in the face to anyone, including me, who thinks they’ll be able to breeze through a life as a computer consultant. Here’s my list of the top 5 reasons why I probably shouldn’t start a computer business:
[Read more…]

Want To Make Money Fixing Computers Part Time? – Sign Up With ComputerAssisstant.com

August 11, 2008 By Matthew Rodela 6 Comments

UPDATE: I just published a newer post in which I compare ComputerAssistant.com with other National IT service providers: National IT Service Provider Showdown.

Want to try your hand at fixing computers in your spare time, but don’t have the time or resources to find customers yourself? The answer you’re looking for may be to become a service provider. [Read more…]

Welcome To The YFNCG Community