How easy/difficult is it to start a business as a freelance computer technician?
Hi. I just received my A+ IT Tech Certification a few months ago and would like to freelance repairing home and small business computer systems (and eventually move to offering networking services to larger employers). I look for every opportunity to gain experience, fixing computers for family, friends, acquaintances, & word-of-mouth referrals. Confident that I possess, at the very least, adequate troubleshooting and repair skills in my new-found career, can one make a decent living with this (freelancing) approach or at least start-up this type of work with my lack of experience?
I've tried looking for a stable job with a company, but I get very little response. Even call center-type (tech-related) jobs are very scarce. Please keep in mind that I am continuously going to night school and/or taking online courses at local community colleges to enhance my skills. Although my first priority is make a living on a self-employed basis, I am willing to acquire experience by securing a traditional job with a company employer first. However, I am not getting much, if any, response from my job search as I find myself underqualified (at least in paper) for jobs I am applying to, even the entry-level type.
Also please keep in mind that I do have extensive experience in an entirely different field -- administrator/coordinator of youth job training programs. Due to my medical problems and following my doctor's advice, I did make a career chance to an area I feel a alot of passion for. My resume does reflect reflect transferable skills achieved through previous career.
Any advise/assistance would be greatly appreciated.
p.s. Due to my economic situation, I am not able to look for unpaid volunteer-type work.
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Well – first things that come to my mind… :
Car and "lab" equipment. You need to get to your client quick and you need to have enough spares to check what is broken simply by replacing the unit. You also need most commonly needed spares – power supply block, replacement coolers, replacement hard disk etc etc etc
Make deal with some local components distributor – so you can buy components directly and at lower cost. For many of your clients TIME will be essential.
Try to find something that differentiate you from other technicians.
learn as much network stuff as you can do. When you have little cash – get some Microsoft certificates under your belt – the courses are costly but it will break your "amateur" appearance and open a way to richer clients.
Most home have one or two computers.
Put a small ad in your local newspaper and wait for the calls to come in.
1) As previous person suggested place a small add in your local newspaper.
2) Prepare your tools on the go.
CD with malware/trojan cleaners such as: ccleaner, malwarebytes, Spybot search and Destroy, some free antiviruses ; avast home edition, avg antivirus.
There are moments when cdrom does not work so make sure that you have same thing on a usb flash drive.