I think $10 is too low for your expertise.  Do a free initial evaluation and
then charge an appropriate price for the work to be done.

I've found a sweet spot of $40/hour for residential customers when they
bring the machines to me.  If I have to work on site I charge $60/hour.  I
also specify a one hour minimum.  No one has balked yet.

However, I probably spend more time than I charge for when working on most
machines.  And for people in my church (many are elderly or on SS fixed
income) I don't charge anything - the first time.  If they don't follow my
advise and get infected again, I have to charge my regular rates.

I also setup a free web site website to add some "legitimacy" to the side
business.  And you'll be amazed how many referrals you'll get if you leave a
couple business card (VistaPrint.com) with your customers.


Roger Wright
___

Sent from Tampa, FL, United States


On Mon, Nov 9, 2009 at 3:22 PM, David Lum <[email protected]> wrote:

>  See, that’s a smart business plan if you ask me J
>
>
>
> *From:* John Aldrich [mailto:[email protected]]
> *Sent:* Monday, November 09, 2009 12:21 PM
>
> *To:* NT System Admin Issues
> *Subject:* RE: Side work
>
>
>
> Well, I’m just looking to do some general clean-up/repair/upgrade on home
> systems right now. I’ve got a full-time job here, and I’m just wanting to
> bring in some extra money on the side to help with some bills and have a bit
> more “spending money.” With the economy in the tank right now, I figure a
> lot of people are going to want to repair/clean/upgrade what they have
> rather than buy a new computer.
>
>
>
> [image: John-Aldrich][image: Tile-Tools]
>
>
>
> *From:* Richard Stovall [mailto:[email protected]]
> *Sent:* Monday, November 09, 2009 2:34 PM
>
> *To:* NT System Admin Issues
> *Subject:* RE: Side work
>
>
>
> Don’t worry only about hardware.  Lost data and downtime are just as
> important, and possibly much more expensive.  You should also think
> seriously about forming a legal entity and obtaining professional liability
> insurance  (different from general liability insurance).  The degrees to
> which you take on jobs and customers should probably guide your thinking on
> this.  If you’re only looking at doing repair work on ‘broken’ hardware,
> then that’s something I’ve never done exclusively and it might be sufficient
> to have your clients sign a form acknowledging that their widget is
> non-functional when delivered to your custody.  If you’re looking at helping
> businesses on live production systems, then I think you’d be better off
> knowing your customers really, really well if you’re going to fly with no
> liability protection from insurance or a legal entity of some sort (LLC,
> Sub-S, whatever…)
>
>
>
> Just my $.02…
>
>
>
> *From:* John Aldrich [mailto:[email protected]]
> *Sent:* Monday, November 09, 2009 2:18 PM
>
> *To:* NT System Admin Issues
> *Subject:* OT: Side work
>
>
>
> Anyone here do any side work as a PC Tech? I’m looking at doing some side
> work to bring in a bit of extra money during tight economic times. I’m
> curious whether you have customers sign any sort of release of liability for
> the equipment? I’m just trying to keep from losing money on this by getting
> sued if I take in a piece of hardware and it ends up that it’s unrepairable
> or gets damaged worse in my custody…
>
>
>
> [image: John-Aldrich][image: Tile-Tools]
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> No virus found in this incoming message.
>
> Checked by AVG - www.avg.com
> Version: 8.5.425 / Virus Database: 270.14.56/2491 - Release Date: 11/09/09
> 12:11:00
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>

~ Finally, powerful endpoint security that ISN'T a resource hog! ~
~ <http://www.sunbeltsoftware.com/Business/VIPRE-Enterprise/>  ~

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