Computer Repair Shop Business Development Tips

If you want to start a new computer repair shop , then i have some tips for you because i have 2 years of experience in running a computer repair shop , i was working in a computer repair shop which was located in toronto , the owner of the shop was also from toronto , not only the owner the whole staff was from toront0, and the most interesting the team leader was also from toronto , so you can say that whole team was from toronto , out computer repair shop was in very profit but with one mistake we went into huge debt , thats why i want to give my advice to new comers who want start a computer repair shop.

1. Buisness plan for toronto : The first and most important thing is writing your buisness plan that is your buisness model , how you will earn the money

2. Market your toronto repair buisness :Getting new customers is the most important thing to expand the buisness , so to get new computer repair canada customers the first thing is you shoudld do excellent work so your existing toronto customers will refer you services there friends relatives , and the second thing comes is adveritse your buisness to every where , where it is possible.

3. Don't forget about your peoples from toronto: and the next most important thing comes is your employee , you should hire only talented technicians , because if your technicans will not be able to solve the problem then toronto customers will not come again to repair their computer , if you will give good work to your customers , then you can ask for more money also.

Source: itworld.com/small-business/57794/computer-repair-shop-business-development-tips

How to Start a Computer Repair Business

Want to know how to start a computer repair business? All small businesses use computers and depend on them to work consistently, predictably and dependably. However, it is not cost effective for most small businesses to have their own in-house IT department. Still, they need someone like a pc repair canada business to help keep their IT assets up and running, so they can stay competitive in the marketplace.

No matter what your business experience or level of technological expertise, you can start your own computer repair business. Those that love computers, technology and working with people find that running their own business is incredibly fulfilling and can bring them substantial revenue. All it takes is following some logical, plotted steps and planning very carefully how to start a computer repair business.

The following 5 tips can help you figure out how to start a computer repair business.

1. Determine the Characteristics of Your Ideal Clients. Before you start your own computer repair business, you need to figure out who you want to serve. Know who your ideal clients are and which characteristics they share. How large are their businesses? Which major business problems do they face? As you start to fine-tune your idea of the ideal computer repair business client also think about whether you are serving a niche and what your specialty is. Are your clients all in a specific industry or do they naturally all use the same specific software or hardware? Having a niche and a specialty can really help you with marketing and sales. You will position yourself to offer solutions that no other technology professionals in your area are offering and thus be even more indispensable to your clients.

2. Know Your Strengths and Weaknesses. As you figure out how to start a computer repair business, you need to know your own strengths and weaknesses. You might have a very strong technical background but are not very business savvy. In order to succeed, you need to have a good balance of business, technical and also strong social skills, so you can best respond to the needs of your clients and build long-term relationships with them. Make sure you take the time to go outside your comfort zone and work on honing skills that come less readily to you than others.

6. Technical support specialist. You should select good employees , they should have very good knowledge , and should be polite during interaction with the customers.

4. Be Patient and Let Your Business Evolve Over Time. You can’t expect to instantly get a full roster of clients and steady revenue for your business. When you are starting your computer repair business, you should expect it to take a while to get off the ground – sometimes as much as 6 months or even a year. Why? A successful computer repair business is built on strong client relationships and relationships take time to evolve. You need to get prospects for your business that know, like and trust you in order for them to turn into steady, high-paying, long-term clients. Be patient and follow clear steps when qualifying clients and forging connections through marketing and networking events. And take each client carefully through the sales cycle. If you are diligent with your efforts, they will pay off in time.

5. Remember that Marketing is Key. When you are just figuring out how to start a computer repair business, you’re going to be wearing a lot of different hats. You will probably have to do the marketing, sales, administrative and all other tasks by yourself in the beginning. Establishing a well-crafted, diversified marketing plan that incorporates a lot of different targeted activities is the only way to build your business and make sure your sales funnel is fed. So this way, you can attract new clients on a regular basis and still have time to manage other elements of your business.

Source: http://www.itworld.com/career/56852/how-start-computer-repair-business

Ailing computer: repair or replace?

Remember the opening scene of Night of the Living Dead? A young woman and her brother are visiting their grandfather's plot in a graveyard. A creepy pale-faced dude approaches them, and the screaming begins.

That's how I feel when I check my investments these days. Horrified, shocked, appalled, doomed. I'm not alone, of course. Everyone else I know feels pretty much the same.

Acute anxiety over the economy makes it tough to part with whatever funds you still have. Still, laptops are impervious to your financial woes. When they feel like misbehaving, crashing, or expiring completely, they do it. You're left to figure out the least expensive solution: Repair the laptop or buy a new one?

What's the Problem?

Before you take action on an ailing laptop, find out exactly what the problem is. Sometimes a little common-sense deductive logic will uncover the issue.

If you can't figure out the problem, ask a tech-savvy friend or relative, or an IT person at work, for their opinion. Otherwise, you may need to take the computer to a repair shop for an estimate. The diagnosis may cost you US$50 to $70 or so, depending upon the shop, where you live, and so on. Some repair shops will waive the diagnostic fee if they make the repairs.

Repair or Replace?

Once you have a diagnosis and an estimate, how do you decide if the repair is worth the money? Answering these questions will help:

What would a new laptop cost? Some say that if the repair cost is more than one-third the cost of a relatively comparable, brand-new laptop, your money is better spent on the new computer repair canada. Consumer Reports says if the repair is over half the cost of a replacement machine, don't repair it.

Here's another way to look at it: Would a replacement laptop offer you at least two important features or benefits your ailing portable doesn't? Examples might include a lighter weight, longer battery life, a built-in Webcam or cellular modem, or an ExpressCard slot. If so, that should factor into your decision.

How old is your laptop? Consumer Reports says spending money to repair a laptop five years old or older isn't worth it. Laptops three or four years old are a toss-up. Anything under two years is generally worth repairing. In general, I'd agree.

How significant is the problem? If the main logic board of your laptop has failed, that's pretty serious, and it may not be worth repairing. Other problems, such as a failed hard drive, may be a hassle to deal with but will cost only a few hundred dollars to fix.

Are you sure your warranty can't be extended? Some electronics manufacturers have been known to extend a warranty for free, if it expired not too long ago. Or you may be able to extend an expired warranty for an additional cost. Also, keep in mind many credit card companies automatically double or extend a manufacturer's warranty. So you may already be covered and not know it. Don't spend money on repairs until you're absolutely sure the laptop's warranty is kaput.

source: http://www.pcworld.idg.com.au/index.php/id;818986168;fp;4;fpid;772452

10 Reasons Why Online Computer Repair is Smart

With the continuous surge of IT, computers and the internet, most people are maximizing the advantages provided by this. Nowadays, it has been very common to do almost anything on the computer and internet. Shopping, education, research, and a thousand other more things can be conveniently and easily done with the use of these two simple tools. Also, a huge percentage of people all over the world now have access to the internet. With the upsurge of computer usage, there is also an upsurge of computer problems. The most careful computer user would, one way or another, experience some kind of technical or non-technical computer problem. So what does one usually do to solve this? The usual way is to bring your PC to a computer shop to have it repaired or do the troubleshooting themselves. Both these steps may be effective yet it also brings inconveniences that not everyone is able to accept. With online computer repair, you get to look at PC repair services from a new and different angle. Here are the top reasons why online computer repair is a smart move.

1.You do not need to leave your home or office. Remote tech support enables anyone with access to the internet to have professional support in the comfort of his own home or office. No need to unplug your PC and drive all the way to a trusted computer repair shop.

2.You get to save time. To most people, time is something limited and therefore, needs to be saved. While doing your work it would be very inconvenient if you suddenly have the need to stop simply to have your PC repaired. Travel time going to the PC shop is also erased from the situation.

4.No need to wait in line. With online computer repair services, you need not fall in line in the busy mall repair shop.

5.No need to wait for days or weeks to have your PC problem solved. Most times, when we bring your CPU or laptop to an offline shop, they usually tell you that you need to wait a few days to have your PC repaired. With an online tech support and repair service, you get one-on-one quality service from qualified technicians.

6.Remote tech support is available 24 hours and seven days a week. You can avail of technical service anytime of the day, without having to worry about weekend breaks.

7.Qualified and expert technicians are at your beck and call. This means that the people who help you out with each of your PC problem have professional credentials and a wide experience.

8.Online technicians are oriented to provide excellent customer care. Each problem, however big or small, can be expected to receive the same amount of attention and expertise.

9.Online tutorials for PC repair services and processes are made available. Although the technician solves the problem for you, you also get access to step-by-step guidelines on what to do and how to fix problems. This is very educational for every computer user.

10. It all spells convenience. Lastly, remote computer repair online is one convenient and effective way to solve any PC problem.

source: http://www.americanchronicle.com/articles/76350

Click here to find out more! Text size: increase text sizedecrease text size Malfunctions on Hubble computer delay service launch

NASA has delayed plans to launch a repair mission to the Hubble Space Telescope because an onboard computer stopped working over the weekend, officials said today.

The mission, planned for launch Oct. 14, is postponed until at least early next year. In the meantime, the telescope is unable to transmit any science data to the ground.

Engineers at the NASA Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt are working this week to transfer the work of Hubble's science data downlink computer repair to a backup system. But the backup has not been tested since Hubble was launched in 1990, and it's uncertain whether the transfer will work, said Susan Hendrix, a spokeswoman for the Hubble program at the Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt.

In either case, NASA officials said, the launch will have to be delayed while engineers assess the problems, test replacement parts and plan for possible attempts to repair or replace the computer.

That will come as an acute disappointment for hundreds of scientists and engineers in Maryland who work with Hubble at Goddard or at the Space Telescope Science Institute in Baltimore.

Hendrix said the problem arose just after 8 p.m. Saturday when "Side A" of the telescope's scientific data downlink computer -- called the Control Unit/Science Data Formatter -- experienced what Hendrix called a "hardware failure."

The telescope went into a "safing" mode, which shut down the scientific instruments.

Side A of the computer has been operating reliably since the observatory was launched in 1990.

"There is a Side B, and they're looking at transitioning to Side B," she said. That would restore the telescope's science observations and downlinks. But the backup hardware hasn't been switched on in more than 18 years in space, and engineers aren't certain it will work.

The changeover requires completing a "transition flight readiness review," and switching five other related devices over to Side B, Hendrix said. And that takes time.

"They're hoping to know something by the end of the week if they can bring up Side B," she said.

NASA was planning for an Oct. 14 launch of the space shuttle Atlantis on a mission to upgrade and repair the observatory.

The long-awaited servicing mission is to be the final visit by astronauts to the orbiting telescope. Their goal is to extend its working life at least another five years, and to expand its power.

The astronauts' work list already includes replacement of batteries and gyroscopes, the installation of two new scientific instruments, and attempts to repair two other instruments that have broken down since the last servicing mission in 2002.

Seven astronauts have been training for more than a year for the $900 million repair mission, and engineers at Goddard have designed more than 150 new tools for the four spacewalkers to use.

Now mission planners will have to decide whether to ask astronauts to attempt to replace the failed computer and restore its redundancy by installing a backup currently in storage on the ground.

If they do, it will require additional testing, planning and training time. NASA already has scheduled five seven-hour spacewalks for astronauts to make a list of repairs and upgrades.

source: http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/nation/bal-hubble0929,0,6468448.story

Local 2 Investigates Computer Repair Companies

Local 2 investigates computer repair companies. Hard drives, software, mega pixels and gigabytes -- when it comes to computers, many are clueless about what makes them run.

tonight's hidden camera investigation, investigative reporter Amy Davis took a desktop computer to one repair shop after another to find out who's repairing your computer and who's just cleaning out your wallet.Dan Wallach tinkers and teaches at Rice University's Computer Security Lab as an associate professor; but when it comes to computers you might call him "Nerd, geek, something like that," Wallach said, finishing the sentence.To family and friends, Wallach is "Mr. Fix-it," but we asked him to fix our computer so it would not work."I'm just gonna put it on kind of half-hazard," said Wallach pulling on a cable to the hard drive.We took the computer in for repairs all over the Houston area to find out one thing."I'd like to know if you could tell me what's wrong with it," Davis asked a technician with a hidden camera rolling."Just like I don't really know how to fix a car, a whole lot of people don't really know how to fix a computer," Wallach said.College junior George Morrison is one of those people."It was running a little slow," Morrison said about his laptop. "I was worried it was our Internet connection."Morrison took his laptop in for a check-up. When he got it back, it wouldn't boot up at all."We rely on the people who do that not to rip us off," Morrison said.So, what would computer technicians tell us?We called on five companies, using BBB complaints to select the businesses.We made appointments for two companies to come to the house. But, first we took our computer to Best Buy's Geek Squad and Circuit City's Firedog."It just stopped booting up right," our employee explained to the technician behind the counter.Remember -- we know what's wrong. The computer won't boot up because we loosened the cable to the computer's hard drive."The fix for this computer is easy. Push it back in," Wallach said.Back at Best Buy, it took a Geek Squad tech 36 minutes to properly diagnose the problem. He did it while I waited and for no charge.At Circuit City's Firedog, it wasn't that fast and it wasn't free."It's $59.99," the Firedog technician told our employee."$59.99, just do to a diagnostic?" the employee asked."Yes, ma'am," he replied."I mean, if you turn it on, you'll see what it's doing," the KPRC employee said. "That might tell you right away what the problem is." "Well, I mean, it'll show me what the problem is, but you know it could be a hard drive, it could be a mother board, it could be different types of things," the technician said.So, we left the computer overnight. Firedog called us the next day. Technicians found and fixed the loose cable by pushing it in. With tax, it cost us just under $65.Skypot Computer Center on Bissonnet checked out our computer for free.An employee wrote out what it would cost us to fix it -- $269.95 was Skypot’s cost to install a new operating system.When we went back to the store to talk with the tech about the diagnosis, he hid in the back and refused to come out and talk.The store's owner sent us a letter, saying his shop would never have made the recommendation we got in writing. He even doubts we took the computer to his business, even though it's all on camera. You can read the letter in its entirety by clicking here.We scheduled a house call with The Computer Clinic in Katy so we could see exactly how the tech diagnosed our problem.In 10 minutes, without ever removing the computer's cover, he told us this."So it looks like your drive is probably … looks like it's gone," said The Computer Clinic tech on hidden camera."So what do you recommend?" the KPRC employee asked him."I would recommend that we put an operating system on here so you can get it running," the technician said.The diagnosis cost us $70. The tech told us the new operating system would come to $243.63."Did you ever think about checking any cables? Maybe it's just a loose cable," Davis asked the technician on his way out of the house."Uh, we didn't. I didn't look in there because I figured whenever it says there's nothing coming up, that's it. Unless maybe it does. I can look at it right now," the repairman offered.The Computer Clinic said they would have noticed the loose cable once they got our computer to the shop. They said we wouldn't have been charged for the operating system we didn't need.The computer technician for Bits & Bytes was in the house for just four minutes when he spotted the problem."So far from what I’ve seen, the hard drive cable here wasn't pushed down all the way," said technician Derrek Labrosse.Bits & Bytes charges by the hour. Our repair cost us $81."Well, it's an hour, so if you want me to stick around," Labrosse offered.So how do you know who to trust? Just like shopping for a car mechanic, you have to shop around.Check complaints with the Better Business Bureau and make sure you tell the shop not to do any work until you approve the charges.If the diagnosis is free, take your computer to a couple of businesses to find out if the diagnosis is the same.

Source: http://www.click2houston.com/investigates/17422414/detail.html

iYogi Announces Launch of Monitoring and Performance Tool For SMBs

New York, NY – August 26, 2008 – a leading provider of technical support services with horizons in the US, UK, Canada and Australia – today announced the launch of its exclusive server monitoring tool for small businesses. The new product offers integrated technology solutions to surmount the users’ unique IT support requirements thereby enabling them to derive and share information, data, enable network performance analysis, and security trends critical to plan and manage their set of servers – 24x7.

Uday Challu, iYogi’s CEO commented, “Holding a significant niche for itself in the computer support industry, iYogi has always known to be on the forefront of adapting breakthrough technology to exceed customer service expectations. This time we have developed a tool offering value-add functionality which will help small business customers maximize the business outcomes of IT.”

iYogi’s monitoring tool provides real time observation and monitoring solutions to ensure more robust and reliable IT infrastructure for small buinesses. Small Business owners also get a comprehensive assesment of their IT environment to meet technology needs with the scalability for future growth and create preventative measures based on quick analysis of network device alerts, pre-failure indicators, performance benchmark and security issues.

The new Monitoring and performance tool will provide small businesses with the opportunity to test all technical and non-technical aspects of their servers and help them to strengthen overall IT infrastructure. The array of services will include: Patch Management, Security Auditing, Site Inventory, Real Time Alerting Script Based Management, and Remote Management for all critical server issues.

“Irrespective of the business being small or large, when the consumer chooses iYogi, he leverages the potential of an elite taskforce of Microsoft Certified System Engineers and Cisco Certified Network Associates, ready to service their critical assets, using the most advanced network asset tracking and Performance monitoring”, adds Challu.

Another factor where the Company aims to distinguish itself from its competitors is product pricing. Embracing the concept of service quality, iYogi offers competitively priced technical support services at no-haggle, low prices.

As for its small business support, the Company has integrated its exclusive Monitoring and Alerting Services under one price umbrella of just $480 annually. Per server i.e. $49.99 per month. The price is certainly hard to find anywhere else.