Starting My Own Business: Building Computers.

[animal]

I'm sorry if I'm going to rain on your parade, but this type of business is not worth it these days. People will get virus infected and full of spyware in a matter of months and they're going to come back to you to fix it, and it'll be a thorn in your side until you end up fixing things more than you're making new, and if you're going to be competitive, you'll need to warranty a lot of these fixes as opposed to charging for them.

Now, if you like working on computers, offer a service for computers. The world is full of people who know nothing about computers except for the fact that it doesn't work as well as it used to. Start a small business just cleaning people's computers for them, installing programs, hardware, etc and charge a nominal hourly fee for the service. Maybe later you'll add in a computer building business but to start out as such it'll quickly turn into something you don't want it to be.

[cphilip]

Well, damn...

Since you make it so appealing, I think i'll just set up a lemonade stand instead.

Thanks, government, for ruining my business before it was even started!


So... Who wants some lemonade? heh

It's not so much the Government is making it tough on you but its more traditional legal stuff. You have to be at least 18 years old to sign a binding legal contract. So no one wants to issue licenses and such to anyone that cannot be held legaly liable for fullfulling the contract they may enter into. Simple legal thing. You would have to have an adult hold the business license and be willing to legaly fullfull any promises or warranties you made. They would not come after you. They would come after that adult.

[PyRo]

As far as tech support goes if its software problems they are having there is a program called PC Anywhere (I think) that you could install on the machines you sell. It basically gives you controll of there computer through the internet so you can install/uninstall things, run adaware, etc without leaving your desk.

Cphillip has a good point to neither Microsoft nor the IRS will let you have your own buisness you need an adult whose name you can put everything under. You will also need to keep track of all your expenses and profit, go through all your recebits and see what is tax exempt and what isn't, what your actual profit was, etc. Since its in the adults name it could knock them into a higher tax bracket also and end up costing them money.

[mjs1217]

As far as tech support goes if its software problems they are having there is a program called PC Anywhere (I think) that you could install on the machines you sell. It basically gives you controll of there computer through the internet so you can install/uninstall things, run adaware, etc without leaving your desk.

Cphillip has a good point to neither Microsoft nor the IRS will let you have your own buisness you need an adult whose name you can put everything under. You will also need to keep track of all your expenses and profit, go through all your recebits and see what is tax exempt and what isn't, what your actual profit was, etc. Since its in the adults name it could knock them into a higher tax bracket also and end up costing them money.

Yeah, I learned that I need to have an adult to sign for me when I wanted to start a paintball wholesale business (that didn't work either, ).

But now I am interested in the idea Animal had (providing a service for computer users). Would I still need the liscenses sicne I'm not actually providing a product?

But then again, why would they come to me when they could go to Sysco- and MCSE-certified people instead?

[PyRo]

Because they have no idea what that means and your cheaper :)

[Miscue]

Yeah, I learned that I need to have an adult to sign for me when I wanted to start a paintball wholesale business (that didn't work either, ).

But now I am interested in the idea Animal had (providing a service for computer users). Would I still need the liscenses sicne I'm not actually providing a product?

But then again, why would they come to me when they could go to Sysco- and MCSE-certified people instead?

Urm, because you would be cheaper.

And why would they need a Cisco or MCSE guy to do this kind of thing? Even with these certs, it does not mean that they are also practiced computer technicians. Heck, they might even suck at Cisco/MS stuff too! Paper-certified peoples... they should all be beaten.

Personally, I would have nothing to do with selling computers. Help them purchase something from a store, but let that be the end of it. People will pay you just for plugging in the computer - one guy gave me $100, and he wouldn't let me give it back to him (it was way too much).

Make sure they realize, they gotta deal with the warranty from the store - not you. You can make some spare change by just teaching, being the tech-support beeyatch for some old ladies and stuff, or some rich (daddy's got money) single 30 year old that's lonely and asks you to fix her box (synonym for, you guessed it, a computer). Which reminds me of a story... a girl like how I described called me up and told me her computer was "broken" and she was "all alone." I get there, and she's in a nightgown, and I discover there was nothing wrong with the computer. Now, like a freakin retard - I think nothing of this and virtually ignore what's happening. Years later, I think to myself... HOLY CRAP! What the hell was I thinking??!! NoooOooooo! Call me again! She was a butterface... but nobody would have known! /me kicks himself.

I am not joking, making this stuff up, or exaggerating. I'm freakin dead serious.

Oh yeah, if you do start doing housecalls for 30-40 year old women - dress up a little... and I kid you not when I say - you can be the mailman. I kid you not. And don't be worried about the age thing - they are way more frisky at that age - and they have no interest in a relationship with you because you are too young - and/or their husband is a sugar daddy and you have no money - they just want you to be their plaything.

So yeah, like I said - I don't think you realize what you're getting into, but it will be a good learning experience regardless.

[gibby]

LOLOL!! Miscue...for a smart guy, you sure can be a dummy at times! SHEESH!!!

[Miscue]

LOLOL!! Miscue...for a smart guy, you sure can be a dummy at times! SHEESH!!!

Wasted youth...

I should have spent a lot less time behind a monitor, and more time with freshly removed panties over my head... which IMO is not something you should do at first, but after a few months of getting to know you, she'll think it's hilariously cute. (BTW, I know each and everyone of you with a wife/long-time girlfriend has done this.)

It's all about timing.

[mjs1217]

Urm, because you would be cheaper.

And why would they need a Cisco or MCSE guy to do this kind of thing? Even with these certs, it does not mean that they are also practiced computer technicians. Heck, they might even suck at Cisco/MS stuff too! Paper-certified peoples... they should all be beaten.

Personally, I would have nothing to do with selling computers. Help them purchase something from a store, but let that be the end of it. People will pay you just for plugging in the computer - one guy gave me $100, and he wouldn't let me give it back to him (it was way too much).

Make sure they realize, they gotta deal with the warranty from the store - not you. You can make some spare change by just teaching, being the tech-support beeyatch for some old ladies and stuff, or some rich (daddy's got money) single 30 year old that's lonely and asks you to fix her box (synonym for, you guessed it, a computer). Which reminds me of a story... a girl like how I described called me up and told me her computer was "broken" and she was "all alone." I get there, and she's in a nightgown, and I discover there was nothing wrong with the computer. Now, like a freakin retard - I think nothing of this and virtually ignore what's happening. Years later, I think to myself... HOLY CRAP! What the hell was I thinking??!! NoooOooooo! Call me again! She was a butterface... but nobody would have known! /me kicks himself.

I am not joking, making this stuff up, or exaggerating. I'm freakin dead serious.

Oh yeah, if you do start doing housecalls for 30-40 year old women - dress up a little... and I kid you not when I say - you can be the mailman. I kid you not. And don't be worried about the age thing - they are way more frisky at that age - and they have no interest in a relationship with you because you are too young - and/or their husband is a sugar daddy and you have no money - they just want you to be their plaything.

So yeah, like I said - I don't think you realize what you're getting into, but it will be a good learning experience regardless.

LMAO, i'm starting to like this idea more and more

What kind of problems you think I would usually get? I don't know a helluva lot about software, but I know alot more than the average person.


EDIT:

Wasted youth...

I should have spent a lot less time behind a monitor, and more time with freshly removed panties over my head... which IMO is not something you should do at first, but after a few months of getting to know you, she'll think it's hilariously cute. (BTW, I know each and everyone of you with a wife/long-time girlfriend has done this.)


It's all about timing.

lmao, thats the best quote ive heard in the past...
...3 hours :)

[gibby]

Hehe! No worries. Anyway, now that you know...there's nothing stopping you now! You do live in the City of Sin afterall. Had you taken advantage of the situation, you'd probably be known as "Miscue: Master of Cheating House Wives".

But since that didn't happen...

[Dryden]

Paper-certified peoples... they should all be beaten.

You can make some spare change by just teaching, being the tech-support beeyatch for some old ladies and stuff, or some rich (daddy's got money) single 30 year old that's lonely and asks you to fix her box (synonym for, you guessed it, a computer). Which reminds me of a story... a girl like how I described called me up and told me her computer was "broken" and she was "all alone." I get there, and she's in a nightgown, and I discover there was nothing wrong with the computer.

Miscue, I may not know you, but I'm pretty certain I know you. :)

Been there, done that.

[whymillywhy]

You must take into account that you need to advertise and you MUST get a SALES TAX liscense, or they find you

My brothers started a computer fixing business, and I sorta got suckered into the partnership being a person who initally looks at them, I like it more when they bring the puter directly to my house, then I can diagnose easier and call my brothers for assistance, also if you do computer service, work on dells they are really easy to take apart.....

You think some of those storys were weird above,

I was fixing this guys puter, and he sorta has some mental probs, he tried to convince me to say everyone look at porn and then tried to take me to a perverted site, and then his mom who is like 56 years old who also has a few screws loose was hitting on me..... it wasn't the best experience I have had with puter fixing

[slateman]

Oh goodie. You can answer some of my questions

Whats the fastest RAM that will work on a 754 socket mobo? All I've seen is DDR400.

And what's a good company to buy a power source from?

[mjs1217]

Oh goodie. You can answer some of my questions

Whats the fastest RAM that will work on a 754 socket mobo? All I've seen is DDR400.

And what's a good company to buy a power source from?

Well I use DDR400 and it works fine, so I would say go with that. I use 512mb for gaming, and its okay, but if you really want alot of performance, I say go with 1gig or more.

And as for a power supply, I would say go with an Antec if you really want a known brand-name, because their known for their high-quality computer cases.

:)


Edit: Man, I just realized that I actually like doing this

[Dryden]

And what's a good company to buy a power source from?

I vote Fortron. They come highly recommended from sites like Tom's Hardware Guide where they regularly test stable to 130% of rated load capacity. See the comparisons from 2002, 2003, and 2004. As a bonus, Fortrons cost about half as much as Antecs. Try either Directron or NewEgg for the best prices on a PS.

The Forton model I'd recommend is either this 350W ATX or this 350W ATX w/ SATA connectors. I have four desktop PCs at home, and each has either an FSP 300 or 350 in it. They've been running super quiet and stable 24/7 for years.