Some industry experts might tell you that the mobile computer repair business is somewhat oversaturated. After all; a cursory Internet search will reveal a plethora of service providers in even the most rural of areas! However, taking a computer repair shop out on the road is still a viable and profitable endeavor.
There are many reasons why there’s plenty of space for entrepreneurs like you to offer mobile computer repairs to individuals and other businesses. For a start, consumers seldom relish the thought of their PCs and laptops getting fixed by the big-name retail chains. And many small businesses don’t want to spend a fortune on maintenance contracts.
Sometimes, people may need a computer repair carried out as a matter of urgency; something office-based providers are unlikely to offer. Now that we’ve established how there’s still a market for mobile computer repairs , how can you provide the service and remain profitable? Here are a few pointers.
Don’t price yourself out of the market
As you can appreciate, an enterprise such as mobile computer repair will make most of its profit from selling time rather than physical products. You need to know the value of your services in the areas you wish to target. Bear in mind that you can justify charging higher hourly rates in inner-city areas, particularly affluent ones.
To find out the average of what you should be charging, you need to put your detective hat on! Your task is to find out prices from your local competitors and work out where you can fit yourself in the market. And don’t forget to analyze your profitability metrics before and after your price review based on the data in the software you use to manage daily operations in your shop. Still don’t have one? Check out this cloud-based solution for computer repair shops.
Offer fixed-price repairs for quick or easy jobs
There will be some tasks that hardly take you much time to complete. The thing is, your customers won’t attempt them for fear of damaging their computers. You can offer fixed prices for certain jobs to maximize your profit. And if you get any customers complaining about your fees, remind them they are paying for your skills and expertise!
Keep track of your computer installations
You will no doubt offer to build and install systems for both your residential and business customers. At some point, those machines will need maintenance work carrying out. Many mobile computer repair operators profit from providing preventative maintenance services to their existing clients.
Of course, you’ll need a way of keeping track of what you’ve installed, when it was done, and when those items next need your attention. Did you know that a CMMS software solution can help you out with that? It’s an investment worth implementing for.
One service that will cost you the least amount of money to offer is remote technical support. In a nutshell, this is where you take control of a client’s computer from your office and do any checks or repairs via the Internet.
The brilliant thing about remote access is that such solutions are cheap to implement and easy to use for both service providers and their customers.
So, now that you see how profitable running a mobile computer repair business can be, when will you get started .
Maria Fonseca is the Editor and Infographic Artist for IntelligentHQ. She is also a thought leader writing about social innovation, sharing economy, social business, and the commons. Aside her work for IntelligentHQ, Maria Fonseca is a visual artist and filmmaker that has exhibited widely in international events such as Manifesta 5, Sao Paulo Biennial, Photo Espana, Moderna Museet in Stockholm, Joshibi University and many others. She concluded her PhD on essayistic filmmaking , taken at University of Westminster in London and is preparing her post doc that will explore the links between creativity and the sharing economy.