Starting up Your Own Business Selling Computer Systems... Need Advice!

[brandon184]

My friend desperately wants to start up her own business, building computers for customers.

Where should she start, and what does she need? She wants to run this out of her home.

Thanks.

- Brandon

[GroundZero3]

I think an important thing that she has to remeber that she gonna have to troubleshoot all the computers that she builds. That means all those people who start deleting files. (God i remeber those days)

JaYsin

[brandon184]

She's aware of that. In fact, let me clarify to all who are giving advice that she is aware of the problems that can occur with this.....

[Entragian ][]

Your best friend to start off will be word of mouth. There is alot of competition out there for repair, so don't hold back.
Good prices, better service.

[howste]

I've got a side business run out of my home, building PCs and doing upgrades and repairs. All I needed was a business license from the city I live in. It's also nice to get a tax ID number from the state so you can buy parts without sales tax for resale. Make sure she hooks up with some good suppliers to get parts. She'll never make it if she has to buy retail and still compete.

Like Entragian ][ said, word of mouth is where I get most of my business. If I needed this to support myself & family though, I'd have to advertise more.

Steve

[This message has been edited by howste (edited 09-25-2000).]

[jl123]

I too would like to start me a little buisness from home. I am only 15 but I have fixed computers for friends of mine and my mom's. I have sold 3 computers in the last 1.5 months. http://sysopt.earthweb.com/forum/smile.gif I am very good at trouble shooting and have learned alot this past year. I am about to sell another computer to one of my grandma's friend. http://sysopt.earthweb.com/forum/smile.gif I really like doing what I am doing. I like to help people with their computer problems.

I too am wondering what I need to start a business. Do I need to develope an inventory of computer parts? I have a small inventory but I think I will need to enlarge it. http://sysopt.earthweb.com/forum/smile.gif Where do you guys get the parts for your business? Do you guys buy when the costomer needs the part or do you already have it?

Thanks,
~Joel

[Dputiger]

I've said it before and I'll say it again. http://sysopt.earthweb.com/forum/smile.gif This forum is a terrible place for a conversation like this--simply because each question opens a whole new source of questions.

For example, take inventory, raised in the post above me. How much inventory you stock is going to depend on a great number of variables--how much space is available in the building, how many computers are you selling a month, what's your profit margin, what area of the market are you trying to capture, how long does it take your suppliers to deliver product to you, and how much liquidity do you maintain in your business from a month-to-month basis? How much debt do you carry in your Accounts Payable and how much credit in your Accounts Receivable?

These are all serious questions that need to be answered just to answer one man's simple question about how much of an inventory he should stock.

[GroundZero3]

won't she have to get some type of agreement to be able to put windows os on her puters? just curious

JaYsin

[howste]

Dputiger, I think everyone knows that all bases aren't going to be covered by the few people who respond here. But I think it's more important that they at least have a place to start. The same is true in all of the forums. The ideas and advice given by members here may not always be perfect for their situation, but where else can people go to get the opinions of such a diverse and experienced group of people? If I had known about SysOpt when I started my business I probably would have been asking the same question(s) here. And of course I always look at the advice given here as one person's opinion, subject to error (especially mine http://sysopt.earthweb.com/forum/smile.gif). That being said, I'll give my opinion, based on my own experience about some of the questions posted.

Keep in mind that I only do this on the side, not full time. I personally carry almost no inventory. What I do keep are low dollar items like cables, connectors, and incidental supplies. Sometimes I'll get a good deal on something, so I'll buy a few for later. Everything else, I buy when I get an order. I have a local supplier who is about a 30 minute drive from my house. For most items, I can call them and they will deliver to my house the next day. If I need something quick I can pick it up. If I'm too busy, they can also build and test a system for me. I also have available, but rarely use, national distribution suppliers like Ingram Micro and Data General. BTW all of these suppliers require you to have a business license to deal with them.

The only agreement Microsoft requires for you to install Windows on a computer is the software license. If you use the OEM Preinstallation Kit (OPK), there are some restrictions on what you can and can't do to customize Windows. I'd recommend that you sign up for the Microsoft System Builder program. Once you've signed up you can get information about how to use the OPK (which is actually contained on every Windows disk). Get information about signing up here (http://www.microsoft.com/directaccess/partnering/Microsoft/sysbuilder/) .

I hope this helps. http://sysopt.earthweb.com/forum/smile.gif

Steve