I think the problem you left out was that in the early 2000s a laptop averaged $800-$1,000 and now they are $199-$399. Most ppl are willing to pay $200 to fix a $1,000 thing. Most people are not willing to pay $200 to fix a $400 thing.
A lot of those old school laptops were made to last and people got what they payed for provided they maintained their machines and didn't let them overheat. Modern laptops are just crap build wise and many of them are too thin so they will always keep having the same issues over and over again till the board fails. The business is dead.
I'm not sure but ,if anyone else wants to learn about electronic tv repair try Saankramer Electronic Magazine System (Have a quick look on google cant remember the place now ) ? Ive heard some awesome things about it and my buddy got amazing success with it.
@@MrKillswitch88 Rossman seems to be doing alright when it comes to board repairs. I guess it's not that bad a deal. Then again Macs' are still mostly brand, so they cost a lot and fail a lot.
Totally right. I was at the hairdresser the other day and a lady there was saying that she only buys tablets now and when they stop working, she just throws them out and buys another cheap one from Kmart. She will never visit a PC repair store and the number of people just using tablets and smartphones to do their "computing" is rising exponentially.
There's very little money in tablet repair. The only thing you can really make any money on are screen replacements. So most people just go into app development because it's easier money.
I do in home computer repair and deal with software, hardware, internet issues, malware, virus problems, wireless problems. I am honest and do no mark up on parts. I only charge for my time. I have been doing this since 2005 with no advertising. It's all word of mouth. I know what I am doing and fix peoples computer issues or if I can't fix it I don't charge. I live in a small area with about 15,000 people and now I am doing about $1000 profit a week which is a good salary in my area. Yes, I may have to work long hours sometimes but I am the boss. Nobody tells me what do or where to be. I have many repeat customers especially older folks who do things like turn off their wireless network, not know how to use the internet or print something, also a lot of malware issues with older folks. I charge $50 an hour and most fixes can be done in about 45 min. I never over charge people. I also teach a lot of people how to skype. You wouldn't believe the older folks who ask me to help them with skype to keep in touch with people.
Eli, I agree with your video I owned a computer store in west Texas for almost 10 years up to 2013 sold it, sold the building walked away clean with 30k in my pocket. I use to charge 75$ for virus removal, $45 diagnostics (took 15min.) $99 system redo, etc. everything was flat rate. My shop benches could work on 18 pc at a time (lots of KVM switches) and 8 laptops. 2008 I made 250k that year had 5 employees was kicking ass. In 2010 Obama said we were in a res-session 125k that year, business started drying up with what you said in the beginning PC don't break as much as they use to, with vista troubles kept me afloat for a while, with no shop hands and 65k a years still with shop over head, not viable!! if you were a pc tech in the 2000's and knew 95,98,NT,2000,me,XP, vista, home networking, building file servers for small businesses you were a GOD, A GOD and money making machine, 18 hour days, and felt good about it with lots of beer and parties on the weekend. NOPE not now viable. heck my 64 yr old mom know now how to run virus removal, malewarebytes, rootkit cleaners, ccleaner, defrag. etc. all I work on now is classic game machines and old amiga computers for nostalgia. good video
at the same time while working at the computer store I was a captain at a federal prison and now retired and running a security company here in Austin,tx
sorry to be so off topic but does someone know a trick to log back into an instagram account?? I was stupid forgot the password. I would appreciate any tips you can offer me!
I once walked into a computer repair shop and told the owner it was my dream to have a shop like this. He lectured me for half an hour saying how the repair business is shit and it’s getting worse. That 30 minutes changed the whole path of my life.
I had the same experience. It was a guy who was a friend of my family but didn't have a store, he basically worked out of his apartment or did house calls. He helped me put together a gaming PC (this was in 2004, so still decent money in this business) and I said "wow, you have like the coolest job, fixing and putting together compyters every day" and he told me "you want to work with computers and feel satisified? Become a programmer, bro". Here I am, having gone through computer engineering at university, heavy focus on math, working as a data engineer and data scientist.
If I was going to run a PC repair shop, I would most likely want to focus on the high end. Watercooling systems and such, modding and customizing... Or at least that was my original thought, then I realised that anyone wanting such a machine will most likely be a computer enthusiast themselves, and would probably prefer to do the building themselves, or at the very least will be super savvy about the costs for parts and so my margin would be very slim. I guess hardware is just where my heart is, I love being hands on with the components. I can always have that as a hobby.
+Dreadnaught1985 Can you fix phones or tablets? There might be something in that if you think PC repair is dead. PC repair will never truly die as long as people know that it's cheaper to get something repaired/upgraded rather than throwing the whole thing out and buying something new.
Not necessarily. I've noticed a trend of more people switching to PC gaming but they don't even know what they're doing so they buy prebuilt gaming PCs. I mean you have companies like cyberpower and iBuypower charging crazy prices cause people are buying it. If they knew they could save at least $200 on the same PC leaving them extra money for some games, a lot of them would.
Definitely keep it as a hobby. Many high-end boutique system builders have tried and failed, and no longer in business. Retail margins on parts are extremely low, and you have to worry about dealing with warranty issues for a year. Even dealing with just 1 warranty issue can pretty much kill any profit you made of that sale.
The problem with computer repair these days is the fact that everyone has a cousin or something that can fix computers. The market has become flooded with wannabe technicians. To make things worse, the standard has dropped as well. Thousands of A+ certified techs out there, half of which can't even apply thermal paste properly. It takes one of those techs to mess up a customers PC then the customer asks his neighbours kid for help.
Repair is still viable because, let's face it, shit still breaks down--- users perform their own percussive maintenance, folks love their porn as well as gaming and torrent sites which boast a lot of malware, etc., that someone needs to fix for them. However, having a business which deals with only repair is bad. You need to be able to offer as much as you can. Repair: laptops, PCs, Macs, tablets, smartphones, etc. On top of that, you'll need something else like web and graphics design as well in order to turn a profit. This is just the tip of the iceberg, really. The more you can offer, the more money you'll make.
Nothing to repair in Windows 8? LOL I would say more to repair. Windows 8 updates seem to break more often and cause more downtime for customers. They also get just as infected as the previous versions of windows. I have been working in IT and computer repair since 1995 and I have had my business since 2003. The market has changed and hardware sales are no longer a big part of the small shops but there is still a demand for computer service. I have both a retail store and IT services company (MSP, Web Development, Infrastructure building) I am still seeing good profits from the retail store. We mostly do reloads, virus removal, hard drive and screen replacements. The business has changed over the years, but it is not dead by far.
Tom Lawrence Curious, do you do repair on laptop hinges? Both of my gateway computer hinges are broken, despite I treated them gently. Do computer repair shops do that too?
thiery572 Yes, we do a lot of those as well. You can usually find the hinges on eBay or amazon for a very reasonable price. The total price for a repair like that is usually around $80-$100
Wow - this guy sees what he wants to see. He doesn't fix computers any more, therefore there is no more computer work. How can he say Windows 8 doesn't require repairs when he says he hasn't been fixing computers since 2010? If you don't fix computers, you won't see any Windows 8 computer repairs. Further, there are more computers in existence today then there were yesterday. He's moved on past computer repair, but as long as their are computers, there will ALWAYS be a need for computer repair. It's just that simple. How you choose to see it is not necessarily fact. Furthermore, do you work for money or do you love what you do? I don't care about money. My first priority is to follow my passion. This guy is only motivated by money - that's his passion. I can't agree with that motivation. He's money-drunk. The definition of success is measured by happiness. Not dollar signs.
I've never chased money and I've had an amazing life so far. Already done so much with my life and I'm only 33. Do what you love and the rest will come. Well it has for me. BTW I'm on 50k and I feel rich! Warm house, loving wife and food in our bellies :)
i have a computer store and am making easily 150 dollars profit a repair i made 90k business my first year and thats simply with windows i disagree with a ton of stuff u say. first of all windows 10 provides a ton of work. second off screen replacements i charge 150 dollars and dc jacks another 150-250 plus virus removal reinstallation easy 100
For the first 8 years of my professional career I did hardware stuff(computer repair, small network setup, etc). It took me 8 years to go from 10.50 an hour to 18 an hour. The jobs were no good for the employee. Everytime I wanted to look for a job there were never any good jobs out there for my skill set. Tons of programming jobs. So five years ago I retooled, taught my self programming, and within 9 months of starting to learn programming, I got a job making 19 an hour on my first programming job. I was amazed that just a little switch in career path led to so many more opportunities. .
This is so true. Had a shop myself for 11 years, and held on way too long. Mainly for the sentimental value and not business value. Be smart and listen to this man. I don't necessarily agree with everything in all of his videos, but I value his opinion as well as respect his knowledge and experience. It is always nice to hear other viewpoints as well as hear validation from some of his comments on clientele, employees and the future of IT.
I'm part owner of a local computer repair shop. We are about to have our first $1 million year (total revenue), and I'm making right around $100k. Our average repair bill is $250. About 70% of the computers that come through the door are virus removals and plenty of those are Widows 8 (The majority are Windows 7 though). I'm not saying that you don't know what you're talking about, but maybe it depends on where you live in the country?
Wellvi have been running one in south east england for a few years now, and on average i make £300 daily, thats just under $460, about $459.37 or something, so yeah i do agree with your point, it must be where you live
Yup, totally agree with the location call. I'm fortunate enough to live in a coastal "leisure city" with an older demographic and am never short of work. :)
one thing about the repair business now is you absolutely gotta be flexible! for a business to stay afloat, just selling components and repairing/upgrading PCs isn't enough because the PC market is in decline due to tablet and mobile systems as well as games consoles! if you want a PC repair shop to make bank fast nowadays, you need to do a broad range of services, such as server, laptop, mobile, console and tablet as well as having certifications from vendors such as: MSFT Certified technician Apple Genius certified vendor/specialist repair from large companies such as AMD, NVidia, Asus, Gigabyte For software, you can really broaden this to a wide range of jobs, but all of them pay out like a broken slot machine! ALSO... if you want extra revenue, you should also own a RUclips channel and several social media networks to build a client base. I.T is such a wide spectrum
I had a side business I did when I was in high school. I was in a small community, and after about 4 years I had made a pretty big name for myself. I really had no over head and just had basically all profit, but I also charged a lot less than other people and big box stores. I had fun doing it and it looks good on a resume. But I agree in today's market, I'm not sure how well it would go.
Everything Eli says is spot on. In fact the numbers he uses is pretty darn close to reality. Residential users will always need some tech support. But they either don't want to pay much, or their next solution is "I'l just buy a newer one". For the last few years malware and virus infections kept us busy. But as XP slow moves out, so does the need for that service. What about custom builds / gamer builds? They buy the parts from NewEgg for fraction more then my suppliers charge, and hobble it together following RUclips videos. There are no growth opportunities in servicing home users. Fortunate for us we are an established business with a good reputation. That means just enough regulars and their buddies they send via positive word-of-mouth to make a barely ok income. All my plans for growth do not include residential customers. That's not to say I'll stop offering those services, but there's no way I'm expecting growth from that side of the business. Background: I purchased my computer repair business from my previous boss over a year ago. I figured I like doing the work, and I'm going to be working here any way, I might as well have some ownership and control. It was a low risk way to get into my own business.
+David MacLaren Residential customers will decline until they pretty much cease to exist. There's only so many old grandmas who clicked on the wrong link and downloaded something bad left out there. People coming up today are pretty much computer literate for the most part, and even if they aren't they at least know how you go about finding information on any topic.
dude you hit the nail on the head. I've been doing repairs since 1995 and I've seen the ups and downs of this business. and with the invent of win 8 and win 10, the in home repair business has taken a huge hit. it's like doctors...housecalls are a time of the past. but, like tom says, there is still repairs out there and we can always rely on the end users that download lots of junk to keep us in business.
The thing you gotta remember about running your own business is all the bull shit work that comes with it. When you for someone else, you clock in, clock out - and get a paycheck. When you run your own business, you have no clock in or clock out time. You have myriads of paper work to do. Customer service damage control. Payroll. Receipts. Taxes. Accounting. Insurance. Liability. Permits. Blah blah blah. You're right Eli, that stuff isn't for everyone. I'd hate to get into a business doing what I love and have my soul sucked out because of clients, paper work and tax time. I'd rather just me an employee, get paid a salary, and get to work on technology all day. To some, it's worth the extra money. But most of the business owners spend the first 10-15 years exhausted, stressed and underpaid. Not my cup of tea.
Maybe You should Employ People To Do All The Dirty Work & Sit On Your Yacht Watching The Sunset With Your Babe Enjoying Life With Your Rolex On & Drinking Chateau Margaux... You Only Live Once
I hope Eli will agree with me on this. It feels good to fix your friends and families computers. The real feeling comes when you hand out your first 'real' invoice, 2nd and 3rd and THEN a customer brings a comeback. There is a BIG difference between fixing for family and Friends and running a real business.
What would be interesting would be to hear from the people on here who disagree and say the computer repair business is not dead. Where their business's are at the moment and such? I would love to hear from everyone on here who still has a computer repair business or works for one.
Currently doing telemarketing for a small 3 employee computer store that's on the brink of losing its customers, any one you call has to say they have an iPad now or their computer working just fine, it only gets worse as the only people who need the help end up dying of a hip replacement the following week I call them.
:) I am happy to listen to another computer technician about this kind of job. yep sure computer repairing is going to die, maybe slowly, but thinking to recents facts happened they make me think... To install a computer in an office (a new computer i5 8g 1tb w7pro etc..) it tooks to me a whole day! yes, make backups of old datas, install all the needed applications, periferals, restore, check with customer etc... 1 day of full work and possibly he will call the next day for something more, the problem is that you cant ask the price/hours coz it will cost more than the entire computer! anyway thanks for your videos, really apreciated
***** 1 day for 1 computer? You're doing it wrong, I just upgraded a complete office with 30 computers going from old Dells to brand new iMacs and also iDevices on the way, my partner and I did all the migration, backups and setup in just 3 days. And we took our time doing it, not rushing things.
+Paul Voron i meant about the inside configurations of every single program needed for a complete attorney workstations, you know soft for the electrical sign, uncompressor for files p7m etc every single softtware had to be tweak to the correct server directory it takes very long and it could not be repetitive, to prepare a pc for normal use i got at least 1 hour, then when you want to reinstall his original microsoft license (ie 2013) already bought mostly you have to call the microsoft phone for accepting the "already" activated code, isnt that happened to you? and ofc i forgot, i need to migrate old datas to new pc, mostly (100 gb) and it takes time
It all depends on where you live and the area you want to service. Where I live it wouldn't be viable. People here want everything for nothing, want handouts, etc.
Not just that but computer repair people have earned the "scam artist" reputation for selling snake oil etc (yeah THANKS Geek Squad). This sort of business is MAYBE viable in a second world country where people don't upgrade as easily (300$ is a ton of money in Poland) and a lot of people are still clueless about computers. But not in a post-recession America.
***** America's gross domestic product (GDP) is growing. When the GDP decreases for a certain amount of time the country is said to be in a recession. Having a lot of debt is not that big of a deal for a country because countries aren't like people: they don't retire or die every 60 years. As long as the GDP is strong you can keep on borrowing money to pay off debt indefinitely. It might not be the most responsible thing to do but it's too late to change it. We are better-off focusing our efforts on growing GDP than on reducing debt. You can also have a recession in a country with very little debt.
I sell $100k a year of obsolete equipment online. Lots of decent equipment from businesses are upgraded before its totally dead, and dirt cheap... granted thats gross sales. If I had a couple people helping me, I could easily profit $100k a year after paying the employees and expenses, but I'm not quite ready to deal with the headaches of employees
+I'm not Dan Windows has been really stable since 2007 era, with Vista. Vista, 7, 8 are very reliable . They don't crash. But people still sit on their laptop, fuck up their screen, and someone has to replace it.
+Y10Q HAAAA! Vista stable? Don't make me laugh, why do you think it was so short lived? I'm not sure if it was incompetence or an intentional design flaw on Microsoft's part to make people have to upgrade their OS in rapid succession thus netting them more profit, however it was Windows ME all over again. XP was older, and it was far better than Vista if you knew what you were doing to be honest. 7 is alright, but I still prefer the windows XP feel, 8 makes me question things about their motives again.
Robert Hendry I have a dozen laptops that I use daily. I have Vista, 7, 8 and 10 amongst them. Ubuntu and one Apple. Vista on some machines is preferable over 7 or 8. Works smooth and excellent. Windows XP was a pile of shit, compared to Vista. When I go back to using my old XP machine, it's like using Windows 3.1. You can't do shit on it.
I suppose it is possible I just had some shitty machines that weren't good at running it, but considering they were in the 800-1500 dollar range it reflects more on the hardware manufacturer in that case. I would have to say that is the reason I haven't bought a dell since back then. I never once had a single issue running anything on XP. From games to apps I could get just about anything working. I might run into issues now due to lack of support for both hardware and software, but I was running it nice and smooth all the way to 2010-2011. Around that time I got my first Windows 7 machine, and it was decent enough for me to not bother with dealing with installing XP. Although I still prefer the XP layout/desgin better. It seems like they mostly changed a lot of aesthetics from XP to Vista/7 to make it look like they got more done than they actually did in reality. Like why do something like changing the control panel for no apparent reason when the old design/options worked fine with a lot of them doing the same thing?
I used to manage a electronic repair shop, I think part of the problem today is everything has become throw away. The local High schools are hosting recycle days to raise money and I see piles of stuff being taken there on weekends. anyway I think he's giving good advice here.
20 yrs ago I worked for a small IT firm servicing businesses with 1 to 50 employees. I'd start my day downloading virus definitions to cd. then make my way around the city doing updates on each pc of the clients. things change you have to know when to change before they complete the cycle.
I remember those days. I used to make hundreds of dollars a week fixing computers in my spare time. I was seriously considering opening my own computer repair shop. Looking back now I'm glad I didn't. I'd have been back in the job market in just a few years.
Eli, I was wondering if it's a smarter idea to offer in home support, and sell people on managed virus protection such as web-root. Or selling my own VOIP on my servers which i would manage.
I agree it depends in what country or lets say what place you live in ... but for the most part in the States,Usa, it isn't really worth having Your Own Computer Business Not saying somebody shouldn't open one but it really isn't to profitable anymore like eli said people don't pay what it's worth anymore.....everything you have to pay for... you'll end up making less then getting a normal job .. i would recommend a normal job +computer Repair On the Side... and make a extra 50-190 every other day or weekend or when your off....and have time to repair or design a website for somebody or also graphic design but on the side....better to work for a repair shop or graphic design and get a paycheck and not worry about all the stress your gonna get from having your own computer shop
I run a craigslist ad for computer repair just to get occasional work on the side. I don't get many calls, but when I do, it is an easy way to get an extra 50-100 bucks in your pocket with little effort.
I buy,fix/upgrade and resell used PC on the side Mostly used business class HP,Dell and Lenovo's Desktops , I started in May 2016 I've sold more than 100 PC's since, usualy make atleast 50$ profit each,many times more rarely less than 50$i do enjoy doing it and Im very serious about it, I really want to get a repair shop and combine ,repair,selling Pc/parts and i'm also interested in data recovery
I remember 8 years ago, My area is flooded with computer repair shop. Now, I barely see any. Them guys in craigslist is hard to compete against, they doesn't pay as much rent and utilities other businesses have to pay. Some have full time jobs and doesn't have to charge for much, fair and mobile. It's easy to see why most repair shop went out off business.
Great video. Question. Is the A+ certification worth getting if you plan on learning more advanced things like networking? mobile security? Or is A+ something that should be skipped entirely?
plenty2say No worries mate. Just repeating what Eli has said in the past :p. But even experience is more valuable than certifications most of the time. I'm not saying don't get certified, but focus on getting experience in the area you like the most. Eg. Computer repair, building websites for people. Always good to have a portfolio of experience and projects you've done to show potential employers, if your goal is to be employed!
Tysio100 A+ is definitely not a nothing certification. If you don't understand the fundamentals of what goes on in the box, connecting multiple boxes isn't going to go as well as it could.
wowforreeel Have a look at the initial question. Wants to get into more "advanced things". One would assume that he's got a handle on the basics. Fundamentally, yes the A+ is helpful if you know nothing. But wanting to get a job with an A+, forget about it! I'm only repeating what Eli has said in the past
Local repair shops actually can make a lot of money. The reason being is because you can't always connect to a Microsoft Technician. The reason for that is if you are in a blue screen, Or the problem makes it to where you can't access the internet, that is also a really big issue, Or if your computer has something wrong with it hardware wise to where the computer wont work at all once so ever. Those are all reasons why local repair shops really come in handy
I work at a repair shop in Florida. Let me tell you, we stay busy every day of the week. People are still willing to shell out money for SSD upgrades, clean-ups, virus removals, and more, especially with these Win 10 upgrades over the old OS and it causing a plethora of driver conflicts and other errors. The money, and the market is there, regardless of whether anyone here can see it or not. Think of it this way, there are 7 billion people on the planet. Easily a few hundred thousand, on a low-ball at that, need the services or talents you can provide. P.S. I'm down for a beer anytime Eli. :)
I think what Eli's trying to say it's not what it used to be, you could earn a very good living and pay your rent and buy a house and drive a new car. Years ago tv shops etc. did do very well, remember the going rate to service a vcr? it was $125 and you could do 4 or more a day, most just needed cleaning and belts.
I don't know what it is, but this guy gives the vibe that he's trying to rip people off. He says back in the old days that he made 200$ profit off of clients for a simple 1-2 hour job. He's downing the business because he's chasing money. In his eyes he wants to work for 140$ an hour because that's what he's always made. But I am telling you, there are those who actually enjoy helping people and customers. It's just that he is chasing the big bux, which is fine. But there are plenty of people who would enjoy the computer repair business for the aspect of it.
Yeah, he had me until he started talking down on $50k/year take-home money... If I had/have a business that I can comfortably draw a $50k/year salary from, I consider myself doing decent... Especially if I loved doing the work, like I do.
The purely hardware-based business is a little limited because PC components are so cheap and easy to install. If you extend your skills to software and OS/Internet troubleshooting you are better off - so 'IT Support' really and if you can build websites - added value and all that, you can use remote tools and work from home 90% of the time once you have clients signed up.
There is only one PC repair shop in my area left now,and he is mostly doing printer repairs, now a days I don't know how he survives.Hes got some old folk who know nothing about computers coming in for a repair but that's about it. Webb app development and such is good money if you have the knowledge,and even if you know how to program there is more to it than that.Otherwise id be doing it
That was painful to hear but he speaks the truth. You dont make much from comps as you could have back in the day. I have been in business for 7 years and i feel like im spinning my wheels as far as getting past the money mark he said. Cellphone repair is booming in my area and im thinking about going that route. Thanks for the second wind Eli.
Does this count if you diversify the services you offer? Like offering Computer and phone/tablet repairs? What if you just do a few techie things in general(Repairs for the aforementioned devices/Web design and SEO/App development,/re-selling used devices people no longer want, etc) under one umbrella? What kind of income would one expect doing something like that? I know 110% sure that's all stuff that I can do, and I enjoy that kind of work to be honest. I also hate the idea of working my life away at a job I can't stand, but without a viable option of getting a real tangible business off the ground I don't seem to have many other options.
I still charge $70 for software, tune ups, virus removal related issues, but for anything network or hardware related can run $110 and up. I have also added into my services cellphone/tablet screen repair since the demand was so high. I'm some what lucky because when I started my computer repair business, I was able to build a free online website store front and direct customers there through flyers, business cards and word of mouth. I also tought my self how to make flyers, business cards and free/cheap online marketing which allowed to make money off of those skills which I used to help other businessess and people out. I meet clients in coffee shops, at their house, apartment or business. I don't think that the computer repair field is dead or dying, I think the people who are not willing to be diverse in this field are failing. To own a walk in store to me is just wasting money. I travel to my clients which makes it easier for them and saves me money from having to pay rent and other over head for a shop. The services I offer are a wide range, I'm constantly learning and perfecting new skills, so I can offer them to my clients.
Great video, i live in Portugal and i own a computer shop here. Buisness is not like it used to be, but 75000€ a year is possible , and it's a lot of money if you live in Portugal where living cost is lower than in the US
Eli, I like this video a lot. I have recently been thinking a computer repair business. However, if I dont have a storefront, I wont need to pay rent and other utilities for this. Right now I am taking clients on the side, and have been working another job as well. As of right now, if I can get clients and just set up an in-home repair location say in my garage. Would that work if i'm not paying rent, and other things for a storefront?
It is still viable but really depending on the area, generally computer repairs aren't viable anymore as for data backup and migration of data to a new PC, also the slowdown of people buying new machines, I mean my 10 almost 11 year old machine still works fine browsing the internet why should I upgrade?
I think that maybe we have to re-define what we mean by 'Computer repairs' - in terms of the classic old PC box in the home or office , forget it, the skill required to fix these was much lower and now there is an oversupply of 'box fixers' - the networking was the real 'Skills' to have. If we take computer repairs and re-classify it to 'Tech support' services where you have to know Mac, PC & linux and then adding to it that you now HAVE to have some basic electronic skills & knowledge in order to service what is now the ,main game - tablets, smartphones & laptop/ultrabooks.... then I think there's plenty of $$$ for those who are adaptable. I Only ever worked on fixing laptops and love working on smartphones & tablets - but I think that now days not only do you have to have good OS & networking skills , going into the future you also have to be an electronics tech with good manual dexterity in disassembling smaller more delicate devices. If you don't have the natural temperament & interest with the energy that is constantly required to to keep upgrading your skills, you will go like the dinosaurs . The disruptive nature of this game is always evolving - the seas will always be choppy - the question I would ask is: have you the natural temperament for the long term commitment ? And what exact area of tech territory are you going to dominate in? .
Couldn't agree with you more. I tried to hang in there. I almost waited to long. Now I let my son take anything I get in the way of PC repair. Great part time money for a high school kid getting their feet wet in the tech industry but that's about it. I do miss the late 90's to early 2000s though. As you said. Printing money
I got that same grabber arm toy behind you for christmas when I was like 12. I got caught hiding cigarettes in the battery compartment. That thing was awesome. Glad I never actually started smoking though.
Eli is right. I do repair out of my home. I can not get above 45 bucks an hour for two hours worth of work, every other day. I have built a professional website, done my SEO, spent two years networking. I make 1600 before taxes and exspenses. Do IT consulting if you can not find a job and are about to become homeless. If you work at McDonalds, you probably make more and you get a free meal. If you wan to make good money take 17,000 dollars and go to a coding boot camp. Forget online University. I have a BS and five certs. I cant find an IT job to save my life.
+dimondghost: I just got two more so I am up to seven: CompTIA A+, Network+, Security+, CIW Web foundations associate, web design specialist, Javascript specialist, database specialist. Keep in mind, these certs are through WGU. They are all basically worthless. Linux+ which I am doing on the side will be the first cert that is actually substantial. The fact is that nobody cares what your skill level is when you run a repair service. It is how much and how long. I just start with that now. The problem that I have found is that I start loosing money when I charge over 45 dollars an hour. I do have a couple nice business contracts and in hindsight, I would focus on that if you are getting in. Buisness need to maintain infrastructure in order to generate profits. Let the average Joe take their computer to the big box stores there is a50 percent chance that they will buy something new anyway. In the end, PC repair is great while you are looking for something to do part-time on a school campus. As a career, it is a joke.
+Paul Fabing I have a decent system engineers corporate job that I love and not doing anything major on my own. My question is why are you only charging $45 per hour for consulting?
Diamondghost -> over 45, companies in my area are more hesitant to utilize my services. We have a lake resort here that bitched and complained that I was too expensive. They needed active directory, internet cafe software on a public facing vlan, 5 sites connected through directional antenaes, etc. I ended up having to drop it to 35 to keep the contract and they still complained. I wanted to tell them to find someone else after the first day but held my tonuge. The director lady had the audacity to ask if I would be willing to treat it as a summer contract for 10 an hour. At that point I dumped it. The lake was like 35 minutes up the Hill.
+Paul Fabing It's interesting that people are willing to pay plumbers $100 for 20 mins to unclog a toilet or fix a leaky sink, or pay a locksmith $80 to unlock a door in 1 min. (I actually paid a locksmith $80, and it took him 30 secs lol). But people complain to pay a computer tech a measly $45 an hour for services. That's the problem... There are computer techs out there that are willing to do the work for peanuts, instead of holding firm on price. When I was consulting a while back - for business', I charged a min of $80 an hour, and would turn down contracts for anything less.
I like when you start singing Glory Days, that is so funny. You seem like a cool guy. Good sense of humor. I know this video is old but i'm commenting anyway.
Hey, I can totally understand what you mean, but in this case my question is, what do you think is a good thing to do, how can you make money of the Tech. Industry? What is a good idea of starting off with?
I think it depends, the tablet, the I-phone could be broken by accident. The viruse can ruin your system and you need help to fix it. Obviously is not the same, but people still needs some one to help them when the computer gets seriously damage, you can losse your work or data in side of it.
QUESTION: Is there any point in learning web development when there are so many websites that let you create websites easily without having to learn to code?
well Eli youre defiantly an expert not he field of IT and thats why i wanted to ask yo the next question. Can I make money installing, VPN, Servers, Switches. thinking to take some training on that field. what's is your advice. I'm located in Florida by the way. Thanks.
You have a point with windows 8-10. I HATE windows 8 graphical interface BUT I don't think I have really gotten any problems with it. Same with windows 10 which I don't mind and like using. I have a Toshiba from when windows 8 first came out. It still runs as smooth as it did out the box. Even after the free windows 10 update. Really surprised.
In my area the computer repair shop is still making some money, But not alot.. But most people if they're computer is broken they tend to send it back to get it repaired using warrianty. But some people do ask if they can downgrade or upgrade their pcs...other then that it's just been game consoles that need repaires & Iphones with damaged screens..And dvd's & game cd's that need cleaning... But yeah not muh money..
The business has all but dried up. Five or ten years ago, I always had people calling me wanting to pay me to fix their computer. Today, I hardly ever get a call. One reason is most people don't really use their laptop or desktop computer anymore. Everything has gone to smartphones.
I don't agree with a lot of what you're saying. I used to work at and still do some odd jobs for a small town computer repair company and they make buku bucks. Enough to keep two shops open where the second shop barely maintains itself. The secret isn't really a secret at all. They have an excellent brand, a memorable mascot, and stay active in the community. All the other computer shops come and go pretty quickly, but this shop is doing great. They aren't necessarily the cheapest either.
Where i did work the price is around 75 euro's. And that is not bad. But we are the only computer repair shop in town. I think phone repair gets better those day's.
I've been in business now as an independent IT guy for 15 years. The industry has, most certainly, changed in those years. What I have always said, however, is I don't "fix computers". I fix the issues people have with their computers, or tech in general. That can mean a number of things from helping them decide what phone works best for them, to ensuring backups are in place, and so forth. On the other hand, I haven't ever had a storefront, so my overhead's quite low. tl;dr: *Tech Consulting* is quite viable, "computer repair" not so much.
2000 to 2010 I used to upgrade my computer every 6 months, This one I have had for 4 years now does everything I need I have no reason to spend money upgrading.
I worked in a computer repair shop 2011, and I can tell you no new computers came in the door. And the owner had to let me go it was all p3 crap that comes in the door aka no money in it.
a lot of big companies still hire IT, companies or IT guys, if you are willing to work with small businesses as an Computer repair shop as well, as persona computers. You can still make a lot of money. If you wish as things are more and more things are computerized there is a way. The idea is to not focus on one thing.
I work in a electronic computer repair shop, and they is very little money in computer repairs more money on electronic computer repairs. I make money in the electronic side of repairs and not software or hardware side, a typical electronic component will cost less than £1 and a repair price of £50+ like a switch mode power supply repair, or laptop mainboard were one of the components have failed on the power circuit. That is were the money is now. ghd, PCBs, PSU, TVs etc...
Eli I love your channel and I think you are brilliant but I don't agree with you here. I think you are correct that local PC shops don't have much of a future, but I disagree that it isn't viable to have PC repair in your business model. You just need to do more than that.I think there is plenty of money in one-stop-shop type of business where you can repair PCs but also service Macs, laptops, tablets phones and businesses. Just have to be smart and on top of pricing and adopt business models similar to those of NCIX for retail.
Always found the computer "repair" business to be a massive scam anyways. Office Max charged my mother 70 bucks to transfer her files/photos/etc over to her new computer. To be fair, she did come to me first but I really did not want to do it especially since she wasn't giving me anything for it. She felt kind of stupid when I told her what you do though. I did do the lazy thing way back in the day was have Best Buy install a graphics card, and power supply. Never again did I want to spend that much money for something that would take me an hour.
Like you said the hardware doesn't make a dramatic jump generation to generation, i have a 4th gen i7 that goes 3.6 ghz and with a gtx 970 im still able to play Fallout 4 on ultra.. even though intel is on their 6 gen right now. The only reason that i would upgrade is that it would be nice to have a quad core... but i don't really need the 2 extra cores. App dev is like printing money now
I've made my last three custom PC's and highly unlikely I'll make another, everyone wants one but thinks they should pay half the price of the parts. Getting a job soon in IT will pay me far more then ever made making systems. I agree PC repair is only for those willing to help friends otherwise it's a losing proposition. Just my opinion others will vary...
I live in a place with a lot of retired foreigners, many of which do not speak the local language. I speak both the local language and their language and my idea is to drive to their house to solve their computer-related problems. I don't want to start a business or rent a shop, I would work at the client's house (like an electrician or plumber). Is this viable? I don't need $100,000 a year; 40,000 is enough (cost of living is pretty cheap around here).
I have worked in retail for far to long, I have worked for staples and bestbuy mostly in sales but I am always close to the computer techs and sometimes i would work in the tech center or geek squad. I still want to do computer IT because I am naturally good at it but I hate retail. I would rather work for a commercial company on servers then a big box store with a shit ton of pressure on you to make sales that you are not even getting commission on.
I've spent hundreds of dollars on fixing my pcs over the past some years. Part of that is because I bought one of my pcs from Ebay and I shouldn't have done that because almost immediately after the warranty expired, I had to shell out over $125 for a new monitor because that one was cracked. I was pissed. And the fucking seller wouldn't do anything about it. He got his money and laughed to the bank.
the best way to learn IT is to build a test setup, mess and look around the OS in particular just dont save any valuable data, Youll learn about explorer, control panel, system properties, cmd and it will just continue on. Dont be a whimp about messing something up, try not to break the hardware tho, google is your friend Theres a lifetimes worth of things to discover in a windows OS its not like OSX and im not even including third party apps here
the computers today, although they are much more reliable, are NOT impervious to malware... unless you run Linux or MACs.. People will always infect their pc's no matter how streamlined their OS is. I've found that much of my revenue has been as a direct result of malware infections.
I agree; if someone would ask me to fix or build them a computer I would but there isn't a lot of money. It's easy and fast work but the last computer I fixed was for a friend and he paid me with a pair of shoes; pretty comfy shoes but still...
i do cell phone tablet game system and computer repair which helps a lot. We don't spend much on marketing. I understand what your saying through like the videos.
i'll will be better if you give an experienced advices or some business marketing tips and tricks on how you made "printed money" back then where as you say all the magic happened instead of wasting your time giving a bad perceptions to whoever wants to start their business with computer repair on these days. business is all about demand and supply, its not about WHAT you're selling, but its about HOW you run your business and your marketing and not to forget your ideas to supply 2015's demand. btw good speech Eli :)
There is a computer repair shop in the small town I live in that has FOUR employees, I have absolutely no idea how it's still in business, they must pay them with magic beans or something.
man the truth his speaking the only computer repair shops i see that are doing okay are also fixing broken phone screens, tablets maybe t.vs they have to branch out aloot plsu back inb the day you paid like 1kto 2k for a basic computer of course you would pay a couple 100$ to keep it working but i can buy a system for 200 that okay at browsing and no one is paying a couple hundred to get that fixed.
I think the problem you left out was that in the early 2000s a laptop averaged $800-$1,000 and now they are $199-$399. Most ppl are willing to pay $200 to fix a $1,000 thing. Most people are not willing to pay $200 to fix a $400 thing.
+dragonballjiujitsu true , also there are more tech loving teens that can fix a computer for close to nothing
A lot of those old school laptops were made to last and people got what they payed for provided they maintained their machines and didn't let them overheat. Modern laptops are just crap build wise and many of them are too thin so they will always keep having the same issues over and over again till the board fails.
The business is dead.
@@mimisgtaman like me, who loves to just repair computers
I'm not sure but ,if anyone else wants to learn about
electronic tv repair
try Saankramer Electronic Magazine System (Have a quick look on google cant remember the place now ) ? Ive heard some awesome things about it and my buddy got amazing success with it.
@@MrKillswitch88 Rossman seems to be doing alright when it comes to board repairs. I guess it's not that bad a deal. Then again Macs' are still mostly brand, so they cost a lot and fail a lot.
Totally right. I was at the hairdresser the other day and a lady there was saying that she only buys tablets now and when they stop working, she just throws them out and buys another cheap one from Kmart. She will never visit a PC repair store and the number of people just using tablets and smartphones to do their "computing" is rising exponentially.
There's very little money in tablet repair. The only thing you can really make any money on are screen replacements. So most people just go into app development because it's easier money.
I do in home computer repair and deal with software, hardware, internet issues, malware, virus problems, wireless problems. I am honest and do no mark up on parts. I only charge for my time. I have been doing this since 2005 with no advertising. It's all word of mouth. I know what I am doing and fix peoples computer issues or if I can't fix it I don't charge. I live in a small area with about 15,000 people and now I am doing about $1000 profit a week which is a good salary in my area. Yes, I may have to work long hours sometimes but I am the boss. Nobody tells me what do or where to be. I have many repeat customers especially older folks who do things like turn off their wireless network, not know how to use the internet or print something, also a lot of malware issues with older folks. I charge $50 an hour and most fixes can be done in about 45 min. I never over charge people. I also teach a lot of people how to skype. You wouldn't believe the older folks who ask me to help them with skype to keep in touch with people.
Eli, I agree with your video I owned a computer store in west Texas for almost 10 years up to 2013 sold it, sold the building walked away clean with 30k in my pocket. I use to charge 75$ for virus removal, $45 diagnostics (took 15min.) $99 system redo, etc. everything was flat rate. My shop benches could work on 18 pc at a time (lots of KVM switches) and 8 laptops. 2008 I made 250k that year had 5 employees was kicking ass. In 2010 Obama said we were in a res-session 125k that year, business started drying up with what you said in the beginning PC don't break as much as they use to, with vista troubles kept me afloat for a while, with no shop hands and 65k a years still with shop over head, not viable!! if you were a pc tech in the 2000's and knew 95,98,NT,2000,me,XP, vista, home networking, building file servers for small businesses you were a GOD, A GOD and money making machine, 18 hour days, and felt good about it with lots of beer and parties on the weekend. NOPE not now viable. heck my 64 yr old mom know now how to run virus removal, malewarebytes, rootkit cleaners, ccleaner, defrag. etc. all I work on now is classic game machines and old amiga computers for nostalgia. good video
So what are you doing now to make money?
at the same time while working at the computer store I was a captain at a federal prison and now retired and running a security company here in Austin,tx
i think all depend of the country you are in. here in argentina computers are expensive and people prefer to repair them before buying a new one
2021 and it's probably the same around there, and so for Brazil btw
sorry to be so off topic but does someone know a trick to log back into an instagram account??
I was stupid forgot the password. I would appreciate any tips you can offer me!
I once walked into a computer repair shop and told the owner it was my dream to have a shop like this. He lectured me for half an hour saying how the repair business is shit and it’s getting worse. That 30 minutes changed the whole path of my life.
I had the same experience. It was a guy who was a friend of my family but didn't have a store, he basically worked out of his apartment or did house calls. He helped me put together a gaming PC (this was in 2004, so still decent money in this business) and I said "wow, you have like the coolest job, fixing and putting together compyters every day" and he told me "you want to work with computers and feel satisified? Become a programmer, bro".
Here I am, having gone through computer engineering at university, heavy focus on math, working as a data engineer and data scientist.
Pontus Ekholm Nice man! I ended up taking the cybersecurity path. Good luck to you bro!
If I was going to run a PC repair shop, I would most likely want to focus on the high end. Watercooling systems and such, modding and customizing...
Or at least that was my original thought, then I realised that anyone wanting such a machine will most likely be a computer enthusiast themselves, and would probably prefer to do the building themselves, or at the very least will be super savvy about the costs for parts and so my margin would be very slim.
I guess hardware is just where my heart is, I love being hands on with the components. I can always have that as a hobby.
+Dreadnaught1985 Can you fix phones or tablets? There might be something in that if you think PC repair is dead. PC repair will never truly die as long as people know that it's cheaper to get something repaired/upgraded rather than throwing the whole thing out and buying something new.
Not necessarily. I've noticed a trend of more people switching to PC gaming but they don't even know what they're doing so they buy prebuilt gaming PCs. I mean you have companies like cyberpower and iBuypower charging crazy prices cause people are buying it. If they knew they could save at least $200 on the same PC leaving them extra money for some games, a lot of them would.
Definitely keep it as a hobby. Many high-end boutique system builders have tried and failed, and no longer in business. Retail margins on parts are extremely low, and you have to worry about dealing with warranty issues for a year. Even dealing with just 1 warranty issue can pretty much kill any profit you made of that sale.
poor computer users need computer repair business :(
Mine is slow but keeping santa clara computer repair alive mobilepcparamedic.com
The problem with computer repair these days is the fact that everyone has a cousin or something that can fix computers. The market has become flooded with wannabe technicians. To make things worse, the standard has dropped as well. Thousands of A+ certified techs out there, half of which can't even apply thermal paste properly. It takes one of those techs to mess up a customers PC then the customer asks his neighbours kid for help.
Repair is still viable because, let's face it, shit still breaks down--- users perform their own percussive maintenance, folks love their porn as well as gaming and torrent sites which boast a lot of malware, etc., that someone needs to fix for them. However, having a business which deals with only repair is bad. You need to be able to offer as much as you can. Repair: laptops, PCs, Macs, tablets, smartphones, etc. On top of that, you'll need something else like web and graphics design as well in order to turn a profit. This is just the tip of the iceberg, really. The more you can offer, the more money you'll make.
Are you in the computer repair industry? Where in the world do you live?
Nothing to repair in Windows 8? LOL I would say more to repair. Windows 8 updates seem to break more often and cause more downtime for customers. They also get just as infected as the previous versions of windows. I have been working in IT and computer repair since 1995 and I have had my business since 2003. The market has changed and hardware sales are no longer a big part of the small shops but there is still a demand for computer service. I have both a retail store and IT services company (MSP, Web Development, Infrastructure building) I am still seeing good profits from the retail store. We mostly do reloads, virus removal, hard drive and screen replacements. The business has changed over the years, but it is not dead by far.
Tom Lawrence Curious, do you do repair on laptop hinges? Both of my gateway computer hinges are broken, despite I treated them gently. Do computer repair shops do that too?
thiery572 Yes, we do a lot of those as well. You can usually find the hinges on eBay or amazon for a very reasonable price. The total price for a repair like that is usually around $80-$100
Thanks.
Wow - this guy sees what he wants to see. He doesn't fix computers any more, therefore there is no more computer work. How can he say Windows 8 doesn't require repairs when he says he hasn't been fixing computers since 2010? If you don't fix computers, you won't see any Windows 8 computer repairs. Further, there are more computers in existence today then there were yesterday. He's moved on past computer repair, but as long as their are computers, there will ALWAYS be a need for computer repair. It's just that simple. How you choose to see it is not necessarily fact. Furthermore, do you work for money or do you love what you do? I don't care about money. My first priority is to follow my passion. This guy is only motivated by money - that's his passion. I can't agree with that motivation. He's money-drunk. The definition of success is measured by happiness. Not dollar signs.
Carey Holzman And probably now people need to fix their iPad, iPhone, android, etc.
I've never chased money and I've had an amazing life so far. Already done so much with my life and I'm only 33. Do what you love and the rest will come. Well it has for me. BTW I'm on 50k and I feel rich! Warm house, loving wife and food in our bellies :)
www.cnbc.com/2015/12/14/money-can-buy-happiness-but-only-to-a-point.html
i have a computer store and am making easily 150 dollars profit a repair i made 90k business my first year and thats simply with windows i disagree with a ton of stuff u say. first of all windows 10 provides a ton of work. second off screen replacements i charge 150 dollars and dc jacks another 150-250 plus virus removal reinstallation easy 100
my key is im on a college campus college kids DO NOT CARE ABOUT MONEY
it is so good to see someone says ONLY 33.
age is only a number :)
For the first 8 years of my professional career I did hardware stuff(computer repair, small network setup, etc). It took me 8 years to go from 10.50 an hour to 18 an hour. The jobs were no good for the employee. Everytime I wanted to look for a job there were never any good jobs out there for my skill set. Tons of programming jobs.
So five years ago I retooled, taught my self programming, and within 9 months of starting to learn programming, I got a job making 19 an hour on my first programming job. I was amazed that just a little switch in career path led to so many more opportunities.
.
Yeah, you're right. It just seemed like a dead end path for me every time I went to look for a job. I'm glad I switched out of it.
If you don't mind, what languages or skills did you put on your resume when you applied for the job?
Having built several machines since 2003, my experience has been that software issues cause the vast majority of issues.
This is so true. Had a shop myself for 11 years, and held on way too long. Mainly for the sentimental value and not business value. Be smart and listen to this man. I don't necessarily agree with everything in all of his videos, but I value his opinion as well as respect his knowledge and experience. It is always nice to hear other viewpoints as well as hear validation from some of his comments on clientele, employees and the future of IT.
I'm part owner of a local computer repair shop. We are about to have our first $1 million year (total revenue), and I'm making right around $100k. Our average repair bill is $250. About 70% of the computers that come through the door are virus removals and plenty of those are Widows 8 (The majority are Windows 7 though).
I'm not saying that you don't know what you're talking about, but maybe it depends on where you live in the country?
Wellvi have been running one in south east england for a few years now, and on average i make £300 daily, thats just under $460, about $459.37 or something, so yeah i do agree with your point, it must be where you live
Yup, totally agree with the location call. I'm fortunate enough to live in a coastal "leisure city" with an older demographic and am never short of work. :)
for 250 bucks, I can buy 3 new computers. are you crazy?
How is your business doing now?
one thing about the repair business now is you absolutely gotta be flexible! for a business to stay afloat, just selling components and repairing/upgrading PCs isn't enough because the PC market is in decline due to tablet and mobile systems as well as games consoles! if you want a PC repair shop to make bank fast nowadays, you need to do a broad range of services, such as server, laptop, mobile, console and tablet as well as having certifications from vendors such as:
MSFT Certified technician
Apple Genius
certified vendor/specialist repair from large companies such as AMD, NVidia, Asus, Gigabyte
For software, you can really broaden this to a wide range of jobs, but all of them pay out like a broken slot machine!
ALSO... if you want extra revenue, you should also own a RUclips channel and several social media networks to build a client base. I.T is such a wide spectrum
I had a side business I did when I was in high school. I was in a small community, and after about 4 years I had made a pretty big name for myself. I really had no over head and just had basically all profit, but I also charged a lot less than other people and big box stores. I had fun doing it and it looks good on a resume. But I agree in today's market, I'm not sure how well it would go.
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I Neva Went To High School I Went School High 🚬🚬🚬🚬🚬🚬🚬🚬🚬🚬🚬🚬🚬🚬🚬🚬
Everything Eli says is spot on. In fact the numbers he uses is pretty darn close to reality.
Residential users will always need some tech support. But they either don't want to pay much, or their next solution is "I'l just buy a newer one". For the last few years malware and virus infections kept us busy. But as XP slow moves out, so does the need for that service.
What about custom builds / gamer builds? They buy the parts from NewEgg for fraction more then my suppliers charge, and hobble it together following RUclips videos. There are no growth opportunities in servicing home users.
Fortunate for us we are an established business with a good reputation. That means just enough regulars and their buddies they send via positive word-of-mouth to make a barely ok income.
All my plans for growth do not include residential customers. That's not to say I'll stop offering those services, but there's no way I'm expecting growth from that side of the business.
Background: I purchased my computer repair business from my previous boss over a year ago. I figured I like doing the work, and I'm going to be working here any way, I might as well have some ownership and control. It was a low risk way to get into my own business.
+David MacLaren Residential customers will decline until they pretty much cease to exist. There's only so many old grandmas who clicked on the wrong link and downloaded something bad left out there. People coming up today are pretty much computer literate for the most part, and even if they aren't they at least know how you go about finding information on any topic.
dude you hit the nail on the head. I've been doing repairs since 1995 and I've seen the ups and downs of this business. and with the invent of win 8 and win 10, the in home repair business has taken a huge hit. it's like doctors...housecalls are a time of the past. but, like tom says, there is still repairs out there and we can always rely on the end users that download lots of junk to keep us in business.
The thing you gotta remember about running your own business is all the bull shit work that comes with it. When you for someone else, you clock in, clock out - and get a paycheck. When you run your own business, you have no clock in or clock out time. You have myriads of paper work to do. Customer service damage control. Payroll. Receipts. Taxes. Accounting. Insurance. Liability. Permits. Blah blah blah. You're right Eli, that stuff isn't for everyone. I'd hate to get into a business doing what I love and have my soul sucked out because of clients, paper work and tax time. I'd rather just me an employee, get paid a salary, and get to work on technology all day. To some, it's worth the extra money. But most of the business owners spend the first 10-15 years exhausted, stressed and underpaid. Not my cup of tea.
Maybe You should Employ People To Do All The Dirty Work & Sit On Your Yacht Watching The Sunset With Your Babe Enjoying Life With Your Rolex On & Drinking Chateau Margaux...
You Only Live Once
today i m making a lot money just replacing or add SSD to my customers and they are happy with their improvement.
at the same time you move customer personal data and the operating system to new SSD? (if they want)
Gamewwx i clon all in 40 or 60 minutes and i m done.
***** Cool
me encanto el canal suyo Gabaktech!!
Jesus Medrano gracias, no lo conocias?
I hope Eli will agree with me on this. It feels good to fix your friends and families computers. The real feeling comes when you hand out your first 'real' invoice, 2nd and 3rd and THEN a customer brings a comeback. There is a BIG difference between fixing for family and Friends and running a real business.
What would be interesting would be to hear from the people on here who disagree and say the computer repair business is not dead. Where their business's are at the moment and such? I would love to hear from everyone on here who still has a computer repair business or works for one.
there are so many people advertising for $25 $35 flat fee wow, it's just crazy.
+Alvaro Egas That's for a diagnostic, not the actual repair. Bait and switches.
Currently doing telemarketing for a small 3 employee computer store that's on the brink of losing its customers, any one you call has to say they have an iPad now or their computer working just fine, it only gets worse as the only people who need the help end up dying of a hip replacement the following week I call them.
:) I am happy to listen to another computer technician about this kind of job.
yep sure computer repairing is going to die, maybe slowly, but thinking to recents facts happened they make me think... To install a computer in an office (a new computer i5 8g 1tb w7pro etc..) it tooks to me a whole day! yes, make backups of old datas, install all the needed applications, periferals, restore, check with customer etc... 1 day of full work and possibly he will call the next day for something more, the problem is that you cant ask the price/hours coz it will cost more than the entire computer! anyway thanks for your videos, really apreciated
***** 1 day for 1 computer? You're doing it wrong, I just upgraded a complete office with 30 computers going from old Dells to brand new iMacs and also iDevices on the way, my partner and I did all the migration, backups and setup in just 3 days. And we took our time doing it, not rushing things.
+Paul Voron i meant about the inside configurations of every single program needed for a complete attorney workstations, you know soft for the electrical sign, uncompressor for files p7m etc every single softtware had to be tweak to the correct server directory it takes very long and it could not be repetitive, to prepare a pc for normal use i got at least 1 hour, then when you want to reinstall his original microsoft license (ie 2013) already bought mostly you have to call the microsoft phone for accepting the "already" activated code, isnt that happened to you?
and ofc i forgot, i need to migrate old datas to new pc, mostly (100 gb) and it takes time
It all depends on where you live and the area you want to service. Where I live it wouldn't be viable. People here want everything for nothing, want handouts, etc.
I say this is a business not a charity to my clients
Not just that but computer repair people have earned the "scam artist" reputation for selling snake oil etc (yeah THANKS Geek Squad). This sort of business is MAYBE viable in a second world country where people don't upgrade as easily (300$ is a ton of money in Poland) and a lot of people are still clueless about computers. But not in a post-recession America.
"Post-crash" would be better? Fine
***** Anyway, you keep spending money like if it grew on trees.
***** America's gross domestic product (GDP) is growing. When the GDP decreases for a certain amount of time the country is said to be in a recession. Having a lot of debt is not that big of a deal for a country because countries aren't like people: they don't retire or die every 60 years. As long as the GDP is strong you can keep on borrowing money to pay off debt indefinitely. It might not be the most responsible thing to do but it's too late to change it. We are better-off focusing our efforts on growing GDP than on reducing debt.
You can also have a recession in a country with very little debt.
I sell $100k a year of obsolete equipment online. Lots of decent equipment from businesses are upgraded before its totally dead, and dirt cheap... granted thats gross sales. If I had a couple people helping me, I could easily profit $100k a year after paying the employees and expenses, but I'm not quite ready to deal with the headaches of employees
mattcintosh2 what vintage equipment are you talking about? Do you still do it?
Those local computer shops were always going out of business, even back in the mid 90's through early 2000's.
Lex Man bit late in a reply, but so true. I had my own shop 2003-06. Problem in my area people acted like charging anything was highway robbery.
people always complain about windows, i've literally never had a problem.
+I'm not Dan Stupid people always complain about Windows. The same people can't figure out their Macs either.
+I'm not Dan Windows has been really stable since 2007 era, with Vista. Vista, 7, 8 are very reliable . They don't crash. But people still sit on their laptop, fuck up their screen, and someone has to replace it.
+Y10Q HAAAA! Vista stable? Don't make me laugh, why do you think it was so short lived? I'm not sure if it was incompetence or an intentional design flaw on Microsoft's part to make people have to upgrade their OS in rapid succession thus netting them more profit, however it was Windows ME all over again. XP was older, and it was far better than Vista if you knew what you were doing to be honest. 7 is alright, but I still prefer the windows XP feel, 8 makes me question things about their motives again.
Robert Hendry I have a dozen laptops that I use daily. I have Vista, 7, 8 and 10 amongst them. Ubuntu and one Apple. Vista on some machines is preferable over 7 or 8. Works smooth and excellent. Windows XP was a pile of shit, compared to Vista. When I go back to using my old XP machine, it's like using Windows 3.1. You can't do shit on it.
I suppose it is possible I just had some shitty machines that weren't good at running it, but considering they were in the 800-1500 dollar range it reflects more on the hardware manufacturer in that case. I would have to say that is the reason I haven't bought a dell since back then.
I never once had a single issue running anything on XP. From games to apps I could get just about anything working. I might run into issues now due to lack of support for both hardware and software, but I was running it nice and smooth all the way to 2010-2011.
Around that time I got my first Windows 7 machine, and it was decent enough for me to not bother with dealing with installing XP. Although I still prefer the XP layout/desgin better.
It seems like they mostly changed a lot of aesthetics from XP to Vista/7 to make it look like they got more done than they actually did in reality. Like why do something like changing the control panel for no apparent reason when the old design/options worked fine with a lot of them doing the same thing?
I used to manage a electronic repair shop, I think part of the problem today is everything has become throw away. The local High schools are hosting recycle days to raise money and I see piles of stuff being taken there on weekends. anyway I think he's giving good advice here.
Bri G. Its a shame, I'll keep and repair my old computer because it still does the job, its 11 years old but still goes fine.
20 yrs ago I worked for a small IT firm servicing businesses with 1 to 50 employees. I'd start my day downloading virus definitions to cd. then make my way around the city doing updates on each pc of the clients. things change you have to know when to change before they complete the cycle.
I remember those days. I used to make hundreds of dollars a week fixing computers in my spare time. I was seriously considering opening my own computer repair shop. Looking back now I'm glad I didn't. I'd have been back in the job market in just a few years.
Eli, I was wondering if it's a smarter idea to offer in home support, and sell people on managed virus protection such as web-root. Or selling my own VOIP on my servers which i would manage.
Eli, thanks for the video. Out of all the topics you cover, I get the most out of your business experience.
I agree it depends in what country or lets say what place you live in ... but for the most part in the States,Usa, it isn't really worth having Your Own Computer Business Not saying somebody shouldn't open one but it really isn't to profitable anymore like eli said people don't pay what it's worth anymore.....everything you have to pay for... you'll end up making less then getting a normal job .. i would recommend a normal job +computer Repair On the Side... and make a extra 50-190 every other day or weekend or when your off....and have time to repair or design a website for somebody or also graphic design but on the side....better to work for a repair shop or graphic design and get a paycheck and not worry about all the stress your gonna get from having your own computer shop
I run a craigslist ad for computer repair just to get occasional work on the side. I don't get many calls, but when I do, it is an easy way to get an extra 50-100 bucks in your pocket with little effort.
I buy,fix/upgrade and resell used PC on the side Mostly used business class HP,Dell and Lenovo's Desktops , I started in May 2016 I've sold more than 100 PC's since, usualy make atleast 50$ profit each,many times more rarely less than 50$i do enjoy doing it and Im very serious about it, I really want to get a repair shop and combine ,repair,selling Pc/parts and i'm also interested in data recovery
I do cell phone and tablet repair on the side. He is right on about computer repair people don't want to pay for it
I remember 8 years ago, My area is flooded with computer repair shop. Now, I barely see any. Them guys in craigslist is hard to compete against, they doesn't pay as much rent and utilities other businesses have to pay. Some have full time jobs and doesn't have to charge for much, fair and mobile. It's easy to see why most repair shop went out off business.
Great video. Question. Is the A+ certification worth getting if you plan on learning more advanced things like networking? mobile security? Or is A+ something that should be skipped entirely?
plenty2say I wouldn't even worry about A+. Just a nothing certification. Look into Cisco if you wanna learn about networking
Thanks for the advice!
plenty2say No worries mate. Just repeating what Eli has said in the past :p. But even experience is more valuable than certifications most of the time. I'm not saying don't get certified, but focus on getting experience in the area you like the most. Eg. Computer repair, building websites for people. Always good to have a portfolio of experience and projects you've done to show potential employers, if your goal is to be employed!
Tysio100 A+ is definitely not a nothing certification. If you don't understand the fundamentals of what goes on in the box, connecting multiple boxes isn't going to go as well as it could.
wowforreeel Have a look at the initial question. Wants to get into more "advanced things". One would assume that he's got a handle on the basics. Fundamentally, yes the A+ is helpful if you know nothing. But wanting to get a job with an A+, forget about it! I'm only repeating what Eli has said in the past
Local repair shops actually can make a lot of money. The reason being is because you can't always connect to a Microsoft Technician. The reason for that is if you are in a blue screen, Or the problem makes it to where you can't access the internet, that is also a really big issue, Or if your computer has something wrong with it hardware wise to where the computer wont work at all once so ever. Those are all reasons why local repair shops really come in handy
I work at a repair shop in Florida. Let me tell you, we stay busy every day of the week. People are still willing to shell out money for SSD upgrades, clean-ups, virus removals, and more, especially with these Win 10 upgrades over the old OS and it causing a plethora of driver conflicts and other errors. The money, and the market is there, regardless of whether anyone here can see it or not.
Think of it this way, there are 7 billion people on the planet. Easily a few hundred thousand, on a low-ball at that, need the services or talents you can provide. P.S. I'm down for a beer anytime Eli. :)
How is the business doing now?
I think what Eli's trying to say it's not what it used to be, you could earn a very good living and pay your rent and buy a house and drive a new car. Years ago tv shops etc. did do very well, remember the going rate to service a vcr? it was $125 and you could do 4 or more a day, most just needed cleaning and belts.
I don't know what it is, but this guy gives the vibe that he's trying to rip people off. He says back in the old days that he made 200$ profit off of clients for a simple 1-2 hour job. He's downing the business because he's chasing money. In his eyes he wants to work for 140$ an hour because that's what he's always made. But I am telling you, there are those who actually enjoy helping people and customers. It's just that he is chasing the big bux, which is fine. But there are plenty of people who would enjoy the computer repair business for the aspect of it.
Yeah, he had me until he started talking down on $50k/year take-home money... If I had/have a business that I can comfortably draw a $50k/year salary from, I consider myself doing decent... Especially if I loved doing the work, like I do.
The purely hardware-based business is a little limited because PC components are so cheap and easy to install. If you extend your skills to software and OS/Internet troubleshooting you are better off - so 'IT Support' really and if you can build websites - added value and all that, you can use remote tools and work from home 90% of the time once you have clients signed up.
There is only one PC repair shop in my area left now,and he is mostly doing printer repairs, now a days I don't know how he survives.Hes got some old folk who know nothing about computers coming in for a repair but that's about it.
Webb app development and such is good money if you have the knowledge,and even if you know how to program there is more to it than that.Otherwise id be doing it
That was painful to hear but he speaks the truth. You dont make much from comps as you could have back in the day. I have been in business for 7 years and i feel like im spinning my wheels as far as getting past the money mark he said. Cellphone repair is booming in my area and im thinking about going that route. Thanks for the second wind Eli.
Does this count if you diversify the services you offer? Like offering Computer and phone/tablet repairs? What if you just do a few techie things in general(Repairs for the aforementioned devices/Web design and SEO/App development,/re-selling used devices people no longer want, etc) under one umbrella? What kind of income would one expect doing something like that? I know 110% sure that's all stuff that I can do, and I enjoy that kind of work to be honest. I also hate the idea of working my life away at a job I can't stand, but without a viable option of getting a real tangible business off the ground I don't seem to have many other options.
Loved this video, but he seriously needs an editor. Could trim 20-30% of this off due to redundancy. Tell me again, how much money were you printing?
I still charge $70 for software, tune ups, virus removal related issues, but for anything network or hardware related can run $110 and up.
I have also added into my services cellphone/tablet screen repair since the demand was so high. I'm some what lucky because when I started my computer repair business, I was able to build a free online website store front and direct customers there through flyers, business cards and word of mouth.
I also tought my self how to make flyers, business cards and free/cheap online marketing which allowed to make money off of those skills which I used to help other businessess and people out.
I meet clients in coffee shops, at their house, apartment or business.
I don't think that the computer repair field is dead or dying, I think the people who are not willing to be diverse in this field are failing. To own a walk in store to me is just wasting money. I travel to my clients which makes it easier for them and saves me money from having to pay rent and other over head for a shop.
The services I offer are a wide range, I'm constantly learning and perfecting new skills, so I can offer them to my clients.
Great video, i live in Portugal and i own a computer shop here.
Buisness is not like it used to be, but 75000€ a year is possible , and it's a lot of money if you live in Portugal where living cost is lower than in the US
Eli,
I like this video a lot. I have recently been thinking a computer repair business. However, if I dont have a storefront, I wont need to pay rent and other utilities for this. Right now I am taking clients on the side, and have been working another job as well. As of right now, if I can get clients and just set up an in-home repair location say in my garage. Would that work if i'm not paying rent, and other things for a storefront?
It is still viable but really depending on the area, generally computer repairs aren't viable anymore as for data backup and migration of data to a new PC, also the slowdown of people buying new machines, I mean my 10 almost 11 year old machine still works fine browsing the internet why should I upgrade?
I own a shop in northeast and we have 3 techs. We
Do home visits and In house work. The store brings me on 170k.in profit
+Born2befree Hello there, i do the same business in my city like you guys. But am all alone.. nice to see you
How long have you had the business?
good for you plump great job you probably treat your clients well, and your honest thats why your still in the game, this guy was not he got greedy
hell yeah dude loves your charisma keep it up man!
I think that maybe we have to re-define what we mean by 'Computer repairs' - in terms of the classic old PC box in the home or office , forget it, the skill required to fix these was much lower and now there is an oversupply of 'box fixers' - the networking was the real 'Skills' to have. If we take computer repairs and re-classify it to 'Tech support' services where you have to know Mac, PC & linux and then adding to it that you now HAVE to have some basic electronic skills & knowledge in order to service what is now the ,main game - tablets, smartphones & laptop/ultrabooks.... then I think there's plenty of $$$ for those who are adaptable. I Only ever worked on fixing laptops and love working on smartphones & tablets - but I think that now days not only do you have to have good OS & networking skills , going into the future you also have to be an electronics tech with good manual dexterity in disassembling smaller more delicate devices. If you don't have the natural temperament & interest with the energy that is constantly required to to keep upgrading your skills, you will go like the dinosaurs . The disruptive nature of this game is always evolving - the seas will always be choppy - the question I would ask is: have you the natural temperament for the long term commitment ? And what exact area of tech territory are you going to dominate in? .
exactly brother lear and adjust to new ways, think outside the box
Couldn't agree with you more. I tried to hang in there. I almost waited to long. Now I let my son take anything I get in the way of PC repair. Great part time money for a high school kid getting their feet wet in the tech industry but that's about it. I do miss the late 90's to early 2000s though. As you said. Printing money
I got that same grabber arm toy behind you for christmas when I was like 12. I got caught hiding cigarettes in the battery compartment. That thing was awesome. Glad I never actually started smoking though.
Eli is right. I do repair out of my home. I can not get above 45 bucks an hour for two hours worth of work, every other day. I have built a professional website, done my SEO, spent two years networking. I make 1600 before taxes and exspenses. Do IT consulting if you can not find a job and are about to become homeless. If you work at McDonalds, you probably make more and you get a free meal. If you wan to make good money take 17,000 dollars and go to a coding boot camp. Forget online University. I have a BS and five certs. I cant find an IT job to save my life.
+Paul Fabing really 5 certs and you can't make more then 17K a year...
+dimondghost: I just got two more so I am up to seven: CompTIA A+, Network+, Security+, CIW Web foundations associate, web design specialist, Javascript specialist, database specialist. Keep in mind, these certs are through WGU. They are all basically worthless. Linux+ which I am doing on the side will be the first cert that is actually substantial. The fact is that nobody cares what your skill level is when you run a repair service. It is how much and how long. I just start with that now. The problem that I have found is that I start loosing money when I charge over 45 dollars an hour. I do have a couple nice business contracts and in hindsight, I would focus on that if you are getting in. Buisness need to maintain infrastructure in order to generate profits. Let the average Joe take their computer to the big box stores there is a50 percent chance that they will buy something new anyway. In the end, PC repair is great while you are looking for something to do part-time on a school campus. As a career, it is a joke.
+Paul Fabing I have a decent system engineers corporate job that I love and not doing anything major on my own. My question is why are you only charging $45 per hour for consulting?
Diamondghost -> over 45, companies in my area are more hesitant to utilize my services. We have a lake resort here that bitched and complained that I was too expensive. They needed active directory, internet cafe software on a public facing vlan, 5 sites connected through directional antenaes, etc. I ended up having to drop it to 35 to keep the contract and they still complained. I wanted to tell them to find someone else after the first day but held my tonuge. The director lady had the audacity to ask if I would be willing to treat it as a summer contract for 10 an hour. At that point I dumped it. The lake was like 35 minutes up the Hill.
+Paul Fabing It's interesting that people are willing to pay plumbers $100 for 20 mins to unclog a toilet or fix a leaky sink, or pay a locksmith $80 to unlock a door in 1 min. (I actually paid a locksmith $80, and it took him 30 secs lol). But people complain to pay a computer tech a measly $45 an hour for services. That's the problem... There are computer techs out there that are willing to do the work for peanuts, instead of holding firm on price. When I was consulting a while back - for business', I charged a min of $80 an hour, and would turn down contracts for anything less.
I like when you start singing Glory Days, that is so funny. You seem like a cool guy. Good sense of humor. I know this video is old but i'm commenting anyway.
I definitely agree with you. Technology are changed. Thinks are not the same as XP days. People are depending on Mobil phones.
Hey, I can totally understand what you mean, but in this case my question is, what do you think is a good thing to do, how can you make money of the Tech. Industry? What is a good idea of starting off with?
I think it depends, the tablet, the I-phone could be broken by accident. The viruse can ruin your system and you need help to fix it. Obviously is not the same, but people still needs some one to help them when the computer gets seriously damage, you can losse your work or data in side of it.
A repair man is much more like a mechanic, an engineer is the creator. How viable is the career of computer hardware engineer Eli?
QUESTION: Is there any point in learning web development when there are so many websites that let you create websites easily without having to learn to code?
well Eli youre defiantly an expert not he field of IT and thats why i wanted to ask yo the next question. Can I make money installing, VPN, Servers, Switches. thinking to take some training on that field. what's is your advice. I'm located in Florida by the way. Thanks.
You have a point with windows 8-10. I HATE windows 8 graphical interface BUT I don't think I have really gotten any problems with it. Same with windows 10 which I don't mind and like using. I have a Toshiba from when windows 8 first came out. It still runs as smooth as it did out the box. Even after the free windows 10 update. Really surprised.
In my area the computer repair shop is still making some money, But not alot..
But most people if they're computer is broken they tend to send it back to get it repaired using warrianty.
But some people do ask if they can downgrade or upgrade their pcs...other then that it's just been game consoles that need repaires & Iphones with damaged screens..And dvd's & game cd's that need cleaning...
But yeah not muh money..
I m Using My Acer i5 Laptop for Last 5 Years and Still is Working Like Rock So Really We Don't Need Any Computer Repair
What if you jump on a repair tech...a broader choice... Not just fix computers but other devices and consoles
The business has all but dried up. Five or ten years ago, I always had people calling me wanting to pay me to fix their computer. Today, I hardly ever get a call. One reason is most people don't really use their laptop or desktop computer anymore. Everything has gone to smartphones.
The market now is gaming pc and custom integrated desk and cabinet pc
I don't agree with a lot of what you're saying. I used to work at and still do some odd jobs for a small town computer repair company and they make buku bucks. Enough to keep two shops open where the second shop barely maintains itself. The secret isn't really a secret at all. They have an excellent brand, a memorable mascot, and stay active in the community. All the other computer shops come and go pretty quickly, but this shop is doing great. They aren't necessarily the cheapest either.
Where i did work the price is around 75 euro's. And that is not bad. But we are the only computer repair shop in town.
I think phone repair gets better those day's.
I've been in business now as an independent IT guy for 15 years. The industry has, most certainly, changed in those years. What I have always said, however, is I don't "fix computers". I fix the issues people have with their computers, or tech in general. That can mean a number of things from helping them decide what phone works best for them, to ensuring backups are in place, and so forth. On the other hand, I haven't ever had a storefront, so my overhead's quite low.
tl;dr: *Tech Consulting* is quite viable, "computer repair" not so much.
2000 to 2010 I used to upgrade my computer every 6 months, This one I have had for 4 years now does everything I need I have no reason to spend money upgrading.
Computer repair shop had to "expand" through time to survive, at least those shops I know have.
I worked in a computer repair shop 2011, and I can tell you no new computers came in the door. And the owner had to let me go it was all p3 crap that comes in the door aka no money in it.
a lot of big companies still hire IT, companies or IT guys, if you are willing to work with small businesses as an Computer repair shop as well, as persona computers. You can still make a lot of money. If you wish as things are more and more things are computerized there is a way. The idea is to not focus on one thing.
Is this still the case? Where in the world do you live?
I work in a electronic computer repair shop, and they is very little money in computer repairs more money on electronic computer repairs. I make money in the electronic side of repairs and not software or hardware side, a typical electronic component will cost less than £1 and a repair price of £50+ like a switch mode power supply repair, or laptop mainboard were one of the components have failed on the power circuit. That is were the money is now. ghd, PCBs, PSU, TVs etc...
Eli I love your channel and I think you are brilliant but I don't agree with you here. I think you are correct that local PC shops don't have much of a future, but I disagree that it isn't viable to have PC repair in your business model. You just need to do more than that.I think there is plenty of money in one-stop-shop type of business where you can repair PCs but also service Macs, laptops, tablets phones and businesses. Just have to be smart and on top of pricing and adopt business models similar to those of NCIX for retail.
Always found the computer "repair" business to be a massive scam anyways.
Office Max charged my mother 70 bucks to transfer her files/photos/etc over to her new computer.
To be fair, she did come to me first but I really did not want to do it especially since she wasn't giving me anything for it. She felt kind of stupid when I told her what you do though.
I did do the lazy thing way back in the day was have Best Buy install a graphics card, and power supply. Never again did I want to spend that much money for something that would take me an hour.
+Kabloosh almost every professional field out there can be a scam from fixing cars, homes, computers, people, etc in the general term that is.
when a business is less in demand their area of influence must increase... This is why big box stores do almost all repairs/ computer sales now
Like you said the hardware doesn't make a dramatic jump generation to generation, i have a 4th gen i7 that goes 3.6 ghz and with a gtx 970 im still able to play Fallout 4 on ultra.. even though intel is on their 6 gen right now. The only reason that i would upgrade is that it would be nice to have a quad core... but i don't really need the 2 extra cores. App dev is like printing money now
Being a teenager at one point in my life 30k a year was living a good life. Now being 20 years old i know that 30k-50k a year really isn't good.
I've made my last three custom PC's and highly unlikely I'll make another, everyone wants one but thinks they should pay half the price of the parts. Getting a job soon in IT will pay me far more then ever made making systems. I agree PC repair is only for those willing to help friends otherwise it's a losing proposition. Just my opinion others will vary...
I live in a place with a lot of retired foreigners, many of which do not speak the local language. I speak both the local language and their language and my idea is to drive to their house to solve their computer-related problems. I don't want to start a business or rent a shop, I would work at the client's house (like an electrician or plumber). Is this viable? I don't need $100,000 a year; 40,000 is enough (cost of living is pretty cheap around here).
+agun17 Demand cash up front, is all I can say.
I have worked in retail for far to long, I have worked for staples and bestbuy mostly in sales but I am always close to the computer techs and sometimes i would work in the tech center or geek squad. I still want to do computer IT because I am naturally good at it but I hate retail. I would rather work for a commercial company on servers then a big box store with a shit ton of pressure on you to make sales that you are not even getting commission on.
I've spent hundreds of dollars on fixing my pcs over the past some years. Part of that is because I bought one of my pcs from Ebay and I shouldn't have done that because almost immediately after the warranty expired, I had to shell out over $125 for a new monitor because that one was cracked. I was pissed. And the fucking seller wouldn't do anything about it. He got his money and laughed to the bank.
the best way to learn IT is to build a test setup, mess and look around the OS in particular just dont save any
valuable data, Youll learn about explorer, control panel, system properties, cmd and it will just continue on. Dont be a whimp about messing something up, try not to break the hardware tho, google is your friend
Theres a lifetimes worth of things to discover in a windows OS its not like OSX and im not even including third party apps here
the computers today, although they are much more reliable, are NOT impervious to malware... unless you run Linux or MACs.. People will always infect their pc's no matter how streamlined their OS is. I've found that much of my revenue has been as a direct result of malware infections.
I agree; if someone would ask me to fix or build them a computer I would but there isn't a lot of money. It's easy and fast work but the last computer I fixed was for a friend and he paid me with a pair of shoes; pretty comfy shoes but still...
i do cell phone tablet game system and computer repair which helps a lot. We don't spend much on marketing. I understand what your saying through like the videos.
i'll will be better if you give an experienced advices or some business marketing tips and tricks on how you made "printed money" back then where as you say all the magic happened instead of wasting your time giving a bad perceptions to whoever wants to start their business with computer repair on these days. business is all about demand and supply, its not about WHAT you're selling, but its about HOW you run your business and your marketing and not to forget your ideas to supply 2015's demand. btw good speech Eli :)
There is a computer repair shop in the small town I live in that has FOUR employees, I have absolutely no idea how it's still in business, they must pay them with magic beans or something.
Question : May i choose IT or Ethicial hacking as subject ??
man the truth his speaking the only computer repair shops i see that are doing okay are also fixing broken phone screens, tablets maybe t.vs they have to branch out aloot plsu back inb the day you paid like 1kto 2k for a basic computer of course you would pay a couple 100$ to keep it working but i can buy a system for 200 that okay at browsing and no one is paying a couple hundred to get that fixed.
I would say that it is, but I would quickly look for a way to repair phones and tablets as well. One should always sharpen their skills.
my local computer shop just closed down 2 weeks ago there for about 25 years that's where I got my custom computer built hum