Computer help at home - your own business without investment

Project Summary

Before starting your own business, you should pay attention to the fact that you will have to work only with licensed software (software).
If you neglect this, you can fall under Article 146 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation. If you are caught using unlicensed software, you will receive a considerable fine. And in the worst case, you will be arrested. Organizing a service center for repairing computers and laptops is a very serious undertaking, which can result in criminal liability if work is done in bad faith. The use of licensed software will increase the cost of the service many times over. Since individuals are not very willing to pay large sums (especially in small towns) for software, the only option left is to rely on legal entities that use licensed programs.

Based on the above, it is profitable to open a computer service in cities where the population is large and there are a sufficient number of companies using the equipment. Otherwise, finding customers willing to pay for licensed software will be difficult.

Profitability

If you do not plan to do soldering and replacing elements, then 70 thousand rubles will be enough for you to open a company. It will be necessary to spend about 100,000 more to purchase a professional soldering station with everything necessary. It is also necessary to install computers for the receptionist and staff - this will require another 100,000 rubles. That is, in total you will need 170 -270 thousand rubles to open.

Mandatory payments will be:

1. Rent – ​​25 thousand.
2. Utilities + Internet – 10 thousand.
3. Advertising – 20 thousand.
4. Consumables and other costs - 15 thousand.
5. Salary to staff (6 people) – 150 thousand.

The main expense item is wages. You cannot save on it, otherwise the staff will start looking for extra money and enter into the check those services that were not actually provided.

Now let's talk about profit. You can draw up a detailed business plan for computer repair only by knowing the real conditions in your city (rental cost, salary size, number of clients). In small cities, the service can employ 3 people, but in megacities 10 will not be enough.

On average, all investments made in the workshop pay off in 6-8 months. One qualified master brings in a profit of approximately 70-80 thousand with a salary of 30. But in order to reach this level of earnings, you need to develop a customer base and receive appropriate reviews.

Computer repair is a profitable and promising business

Business registration

When starting out, it is optimal to register as an individual entrepreneur (according to OKVED 95.11 - the main line of business, 95.12 - additional). Since you will need premises for work, we choose UTII taxation. Working under UTII, you will not pay VAT, income and property taxes.

If you doubt that you can correctly register as a legal entity on your own, you can contact a specialized organization. She will do all this for you. Registration will cost approximately 40 thousand rubles.

Organizational matters

At the initial stage, many work without opening a business. They submit advertisements for the service in newspapers or electronic boards, and also register on freelance exchanges. However, plans to hire other people require formalization. A computer repair business can take several forms.

One of them is individual entrepreneurship. This type of organization is convenient when opening a business with a premises of up to 80 square meters and a staff of up to three people. To complete the documents, you will need a notarized application, an application for choosing a form of taxation, copies of your passport (all pages), as well as a receipt for payment of the state fee.

A larger service should be issued in the form of a Limited Liability Company (LLC). This method of registering a business is worth resorting to if you plan to create an enterprise using credit money. The list of documents for registration of the service includes an application, a charter, a decision on opening, which can be replaced by a protocol indicating the founders, copies of passports, an application to switch to one of the forms of taxation, and a document confirming payment of the state duty.

Selection of location

You should try to find a place in the city center or near it. Finding the service near a crowded area will help you get customers faster. Any computer owner can turn to you for help.

It is not necessary to rent a huge room. After all, a large warehouse of spare parts is not required. You will need to divide the rented premises into several zones where a small supply of computer components will be stored, a system unit repair area and a place to work with software. A room of 20-25 square meters is enough. Renting such a premises will cost about 35-40 thousand rubles.

Advertising and marketing, pricing

Promotion of computer service:

• Signboard – you can use the standard approach (advertising canvas on a frame) or invest in an electronic or LED option, which looks much more attractive and presentable.
• Signboards indicating the location of the service are effective when a point is located deep in the shopping center. But even if the service has a good view from the street and sidewalk, it would be a good idea to install signs at intersections.
• Posters, banners, banners in the business opening area.
• Launching your own website with a description of services, price list and promotions.
• Maintaining groups on social networks with active chat.
• Promotion of services through large urban communities on the Internet.

Tools for work

The tables show the necessary equipment and the costs for it.

Thus, the tool will cost about 47,000 rubles.

Project payback period

Depending on the scale of activity and the number of orders, the payback period for a computer service center business plan will be from 3 to 5 years.

Business plan for repairing cell phones, tablets, laptops and computers (service center)

The business plan has a clear structure, contains detailed financial calculations, and the financial model allows you to flexibly change any business parameter. This is the optimal solution for those who plan to attract investments, want to get a loan or have a ready-made template for developing their business plan.

Structure of the financial model of the service center

A financial model is a separate file in MS Excel format - essentially it is a separate product designed for business planning and calculation of all its indicators. Each of the parameters of the financial model can be changed manually. There are no macros in the financial model. All formulas are transparent and changeable.

Detailed calculation of service center investments

While working on a business plan, we look at dozens of different sources of information. This includes data from equipment suppliers, industry portals, interviews with market experts, and official statistics - such systematic data analysis provides a complete picture of all project parameters: prices, equipment costs, premises costs, costs, etc. .

Business income plan

A necessary component of a full-fledged business plan is a flexible sales plan. It is important, on the one hand, to have a forecast for the business as a whole, and on the other hand, to be able to look at profitability in the context of a separate profit center or even a separate product.

Service center cash flow forecast

The cash flow statement is the most important document in any business plan. Contains comprehensive information about the company's operating, investment and financial inflows and outflows, and also allows you to evaluate the overall picture of the company's performance.

Software and spare parts

There is no need to buy and store disks with licensed software. All you need to do is go to the website of the official software developer or distributor, make a payment and download the program. This state of affairs will reduce the cost of purchasing software, because You will purchase this or that program only when necessary.

The situation is the same with computer components: they are purchased to order for a specific client.

A cash reserve of 136,000 rubles is also required for licensed software. You will need licensed Windows in the maximum version, a modern antivirus and professional software for analyzing the system status and troubleshooting.

Recruitment

The most convenient option for starting a computer repair business involves partnering with a friend, relative or family member. However, if it is not possible to find a technically savvy employee among your immediate environment, you will have to look for him from outside.

Passive or active methods are used for this. The first category involves submitting an ad and waiting until interested parties get in touch. The second method involves an independent search for prospective candidates by responding to posted advertisements or through friends. Regardless of the method chosen, the candidate must be assessed against the following criteria:

• availability of knowledge in the required field (a diploma or fact of training in the specialty is welcome);
• experience;
• recommendations from previous place of employment;
• performance;
• efficiency;
• honesty;
• desire to learn and fulfill orders efficiently.

At the same time, personal qualities are no less important than professional skills.

Hiring staff

You will need 2 people. One will be involved in software configuration, the second will be involved in “physical” repairs. Qualified personnel are needed, because only satisfied customers will recommend your service to their friends and acquaintances. If your subordinates mess up, then it is unlikely that a dissatisfied client will contact you again if necessary.

The salary for each employee will be 20,000 rubles, therefore, monthly salary costs will be 40,000 rubles. While the business is small, you can do the accounting yourself.

Computer repair franchise

On the market you can buy a ready-made business solution for organizing a computer repair center. The “Virusov.net” franchise (https://www.virusov-net.com) has the following parameters:

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Price list of services

In order for the profitability of your enterprise to be high, you need to think over a list of services that you can provide with high quality.

Below you can see the list of services provided by the service center:

• Preventative work on the computer. This includes cleaning the case, power supply, video card from dust, cleaning contacts from oxidation, applying thermal paste to the processor - i.e. work inside the system unit. This also includes software prevention (defragmentation, elimination of “broken” hard drive sectors, search and removal of malware). Price: from 400 to 2,000 rubles.
• OS installation. Price: from 400 to 1,500 rubles + cost of OS.
• Increased performance of the OS and installed software. This is working with the file system, optimizing various software. Price: 400 – 1,200 rubles.
• Installation and configuration of programs. Price: from 200 to 1,100 rubles + software cost.
• Working with information on a hard drive: searching and removing malware, transferring information, recovering deleted information from a hard drive and USB drive, creating an OS image, removing protection, etc. Price: 400 – 3,000 rubles.
• Setting up access to the Internet and local network (travelling). From 400 to 2,500 rubles, depending on the location of the customer.
• Testing the components of the system unit, issuing a conclusion about the faulty components. Price: from 400 to 1,900 rubles.
• Working with the system unit and peripheral equipment: assembling the system unit, replacing, repairing individual components, replacing/installing a cartridge in a printer/MFP, etc. Price: from 400 to 2,000 rubles.
• Working in the BIOS environment. Price: from 300 to 1,500 rubles.
• Working with specific operating systems (server, Linux, Unix, MAC OS) and setting them up. Price: from 2,000 rubles.
• Consulting on software use and training. Price: from 400 to 1,800 rubles.

Computer repair business plan personnel search

This issue needs to be resolved if the business organizer does not have sufficient skills to repair the computer on his own or the scale of the project requires assistance in:

• accepting orders;
• performing repair work and software maintenance;
• communications with suppliers of spare parts or licensed programs.

If capital allows, it makes sense to hire a professional with recommendations and work experience, charging him an appropriate fee. If you want to save on salary at the initial stage of doing business, you can involve students in the project by offering them an internship, including part-time work. However, their skills are worth checking to ensure the competence of the staff.

How to start a computer repair business

After renting and purchasing equipment, you need to attract your first customers. Since the new institution has not yet acquired a reputation, it must be created through:

• optimal prices;
• quality and quantity of services provided;
• speed in order fulfillment;
• responsible attitude to work.

Even after the client base has been collected, you should not lower the bar of operating standards. On the contrary, generating income will allow you to purchase additional equipment, which will expand the range of services or improve their quality.

Advertising is the basis of any business

Due to the high pace of life, people rarely pay attention to opening a new store or office. Therefore, when a computer breaks down, they cannot immediately figure out where to turn for help.

You can focus attention on a new computer repair service using advertising. It starts with the correct design of the sign. It includes several banners. One of them should attract attention due to the design design corresponding to the theme.

The other usually contains a short list of services provided. The list is compiled from problems that computer users most often encounter. In addition, you should indicate the service schedule, as well as the technician’s mobile phone number, if a house call service is available. Once the service is open, you can move on to other types of advertising.

Costs and potential income of this business

The initial list of expenses is associated with the purchase of equipment for the workspace. It includes:

• computers (by number of employees);
• tables and chairs;
• closet;
• showcase.

The cost of a computer or laptop today starts from 15,000 rubles. A new table can cost 4,000 rubles or more. Mirrored display cases will cost from 5,000. If you want to make cashless payments, you should purchase the appropriate device. Its cost starts from 3000. If you order all this via the Internet or buy it in person, it is possible to reduce costs.

Among the fixed expenses of this business are renting premises and salaries to employees. Ideally, the start-up capital of a beginning businessman should allow him to rent premises for a couple of months, equip it, and pay hired employees for their work. A separate expense item will be the advertising campaign of the service.

If you pay attention to the price list of computer services in Moscow, you will see the following prices:

1. Services for working with a computer hard drive can cost from 300 rubles.
2. The price for cleaning viruses is in the range of 500-800 rubles.
3. Computer diagnostics are estimated at 500-1500 rubles, depending on the duration of the process.

Since most of the services provided in the service do not require large costs for materials, profit consists of the number of clients and the complexity of the services they order.

Investment amount at start

Let's calculate what investments you will need when starting:

In total, you will need 256,000 rubles.

Let's estimate the size of monthly investments:

Thus, every month you will spend 96,000 rubles.

Necessary equipment and tools for physical work with equipment

• screwdrivers, keys, bolts, soldering irons, vices, hammers, microscope, magnifying devices (for working with small parts), ultrasonic bath, oscilloscope, programmers (it’s better to take not cheap ones), pinsets, clamps, and so on: 100 thousand rubles;
• specialized literature, drawings and diagrams of various models.

Due to the rapid development of information technology and the emergence of more and more new devices, computers and telephones, this expense item will be periodic in nature so that the craftsmen have the necessary data on working with new devices. The approximate amount of these expenses: 70 thousand rubles.

Income

How much profit can you make from a service center? Let's take the average price for each type of work as a basis, and let's say you provide 12-14 services per month for each type. Let's do the calculation:

Monthly revenue: 13 x (1,200 + 950 + 800 + 650 + 1,700 + 1,450 + 1,150 + 1,200 + 900 + 2,750 + 1,200) = 172,900 rubles.

Income before taxes: 172,900 – 96,000 = 76,900 rubles.

Net profitability: 76,900 – 15% = 65,365 rubles.

With such income, the project will pay for itself in 6-7 months.

Promotion of services: how to get your first clients?

It's a good business, but it also has its downsides. Easy entry into business has led to the emergence of great competition in this area. In every city there are both large players and smaller private masters. It is not easy to fight for your place in business with them, since they have already formed their customer base, and it is easier for a person to order a familiar master than to invite a new one. But this is not a reason to give up. Advertising is what will help you gain your first clients. Gone are the days when you could only say that I am a master, and the case is open. Today you need to make a lot of effort to get people to know about you and start talking about you.

Of the various methods of advertising a service, ordinary newspaper advertisements work best, according to participants in the “biznet” forum. Advertisements can be submitted either on behalf of an organization or an individual. Just write “Emergency computer help” and indicate your phone number. But this method of advertising, such as posting advertisements, does not work in this case. For every thousand posted advertisements, there will be one or two calls per month. As a result, there is a lot of labor costs, but no return!

You can also promote your business via the Internet using a website if you live in a large city. For example, according to Yandex search query statistics, the phrase “computer repair Samara” is searched about 900 times a month or 30 times a day (this is only through Yandex, but there is also Google, Mail, etc.). There is plenty of audience:

Computer help at home is your own business without investment. But promoting a computer help site is not easy. It's all about extreme competition. It is very difficult to get into the top 10. Namely, you can get orders from the top ten. Here you need either rich experience in SEO (website promotion) or a budget of at least 150 - 200 thousand rubles.

The best way of advertising is classic word of mouth. You can earn a reputation for “good service” through high-quality work, low prices and good attitude towards the client. Then you will be advised always and everywhere.

Risks

When starting your business, you may encounter a number of problems:

1. High price tag for the services provided. If you don’t analyze your niche, you risk being left without buyers. When opening, it would be good to have, for example, a week of discounts or big bonuses. It all depends on your financial capabilities.
2. Increasing competition. Possible, but unlikely. This niche is very profitable and highly competitive from the start. Therefore, reducing the flow of customers is possible only with a very high difference in prices and quality of services provided. To prevent this, it is necessary to create a flexible system of discounts for regular clients, hold seasonal promotions for your services, present your training courses (if available), offer special services to clients, etc.
3. Customer churn. In this scenario, the actions to overcome the crisis are the same as in point 2.

Market analysis

The target audience

The target audience of the business is citizens who have computer equipment, so it can be argued that the entrepreneur’s potential clientele is the entire city.

In practice, not everything is as rosy as we would like. If a person’s computer breaks down or a device needs to be cleaned of dust or viruses, then in 90% of cases they choose either a proven service or one located close to home/work. The main thing is comfort. People take their equipment for repairs on the way to or from work, so as not to waste extra time on the road. Hence the target audience of the computer service is people living or working in the area where the point operates.

In addition, the target audience depends on the business format. Entrepreneurs often choose a narrow area of ​​work - repairing MacBooks, only laptops, or only desktop computers. You can also find private service centers for repairs of a certain brand - Lenovo, Acer, Asus, etc. Naturally, the target audience of such points are owners of equipment from the corresponding manufacturers.

Reference. According to statistics, people trust highly specialized services that provide repair services for only one brand of computer more, believing that they will do the work better. In practice, this is not without meaning, since such establishments employ craftsmen who specialize specifically in a specific brand of the manufacturer. But the cost of services is 1.5–2 times higher, of which clients are also notified.

Competition and risk assessment

The market is oversaturated with computer repair shops. Today, on “every corner” there is a pavilion or kiosk offering relevant services. You shouldn’t ignore private repairmen who come to your home and repair equipment on the spot. These people conduct business through bulletin boards without having a physical place of work, and their prices for services are much lower.

Based on this, it becomes clear that competition in the field of providing computer equipment repair services is incredibly high. It is impossible to assess its scale even in one area, let alone an entire city.

The competition assessment should be carried out locally, having previously selected several places to open a point. These should be crowded and visited places, but with a small number of computer services. Often, it is the absence of competitors that affects the profit of a business, and not a shopping center filled to capacity with people.

Risks associated with opening a computer repair service:

• Growing price tag – the cost of computer services periodically increases due to rising prices for consumables, as well as inflation in the country. Due to this, an entrepreneur may lose some of his regular customers and observe a small influx of new ones.
• Fierce competition - even if the point is opened without visible competitors nearby, there is no guarantee that in a few months 1-2 similar services will not appear nearby. Potential clients will already be divided among all entrepreneurs working in the area, reducing profits for the first one.
• Customer outflow - the situation is typical for many scenarios, ranging from a crisis in the country to people looking for a cheaper master.

Help: You can attract and retain customers by developing competitive advantages, as well as introducing a system of discounts, bonuses and promotions.