Hourly rates for PC repair AT YOUR HOUSE

[tlogank]

I have started a computer business in my town and am off to a pretty good start. My biggest problem is deciding what to charge people. I am trying to stay around $45 an hour, but often discount people for the service. My friend charges $75/hour in Atlanta, and people don't seem to mind, but tonight I charged a guy $60 for 2 hours and he made it seem like I just took his savings. He was extremely satisfied with the work, just seemed to think it would have been cheaper. It is hard for me to decide on what to charge because I feel bad sometimes, but I have to make a living off doing this, too. What would you guys (especially Americans) charge/pay for good computer work AT YOUR HOME (key words there, I go to your house)? Thanks for any info!

[r4esh]

Yeah I was ganna start doing this too, but i was just ganna charge like 50 bucks/hour.

EDIT: Try calling some other ppl in your area and see what they are charging, then make your price beat theirs.

[tlogank]

Yeah I was ganna start doing this too, but i was just ganna charge like 50 bucks/hour.

EDIT: Try calling some other ppl in your area and see what they are charging, then make your price beat theirs.

585594776[/snapback]

Yea, I did that, and hardly anyone actually wanted to come to my house, most just rather I took it to them. But for the one's that would do it, I beat them all and matched the cheapest one.

[cyoung1616]

I'm the Sr. Tech at Hi-Tek Computers and we charge $50.00 an hour for inside work, if we come to you it's $75.00 an hour with an hour min.

Cody

You have to also take into account, at the store I'm usually working on 5 units at a time and if I go out they set till I get back, that takes away a lot of money from the store.

Edited March 10, 2005 by cyoung1616

[Seth]

I do $40 / hour for in-home work but Missouri is notoriously cheap.

[whitedragon]

I charge $50per hour, with a $20 'showing up fee'...

[Dudlington]

I can tell you that Staples in canada charges $130CDN for an in-home setup (unpack and turn on your pc, printer etc) for the 1st hour - i think something like $60 for additional hours...seems crazy eh?

I've been thinking about doing this on my own too, but what i don't get is how can you charge people for waiting for scans to finish...i mean most "average" users' problems are viruses and ad/spy/malware. Or if not waiting for those scans to finish, you are waiting for disk scans that could take hours...just supposed to look busy in the meantime or what?

Edited March 10, 2005 by GambitADSL

[cyoung1616]

Staples in canada charges $130CDN for an in-home setup (unpack and turn on your pc, printer etc) for the 1st hour - i think something like $60 for additional hours...seems crazy eh?

585594804[/snapback]

Not really if you read my previous post, a Tech. away from his stations is bring in a lot less per hour. All Techs. at my store have 5 stations each and are to keep them working all time, fix one write it up grab another.

Cody

[cyoung1616]

If you're working just the one computer then you can't charge by the hour, we charge 2 hours to clean a machine. Some take a lot longer some less. A format and windows load is 2 hrs. Just some jobs require by the hour others per job. If they bring in a Recovery Disc then I charge 1.5 hours but you have to remember even doing a Recovery I also do all updates so it still takes about 2 hours.

Cody

[pyehac]

Luckily I know how to fix computers or else my Mom would be broke.

[Jaded]

Insstead of charging per hour, just set rates that depend on what the job is. So say for data backup and windows re-install would charge a certain amount, while a RAM installation would be quite abit less.

[tlogank]

If you're working just the one computer then you can't charge by the hour, we charge 2 hours to clean a machine. Some take a lot longer some less.  A format and windows load is 2 hrs. Just some jobs require by the hour others per job. If they bring in a Recovery Disc then I charge 1.5 hours but you have to remember even doing a Recovery I also do all updates so it still takes about 2 hours.

Cody

585594818[/snapback]

Insstead of charging per hour, just set rates that depend on what the job is. So say for data backup and windows re-install would charge a certain amount, while a RAM installation would be quite abit less.

585594846[/snapback]

yes, but the problem with doing that kinda thing is there is always going to be these exceptions, and some might take a whole lot longer. What do you do then...just cut your losses? That is the problem. And I see what you are saying about working on multiple machines at a store at once, but when doing house calls, there is a convenience to the customer by not having to deliver their computer. And one of the most valuable things is being able to watch the person at your house, informing them on how they can do it theirselves better and take better care of the machine.

[Jaded]

Yes true, but then there is also the fact that if the person is watching you install Windows. They are going to question themselves why they are paying you 50+/hr for a couple of hours to hit the equivalent of next a few times, with the rest spent watching a progress bar.

*edit* I also see what you mean by unexpected events and all that, and I do agree with it partly. But sometimes yes you do have to cut your losses if it makes a happy customer. Because remember a happy customer is going to call you back and also tell their friends.

[tlogank]

Yes true, but then there is also the fact that if the person is watching you install Windows. They are going to question themselves why they are paying you 50+/hr for a couple of hours to hit the equivalent of next a few times, with the rest spent watching a progress bar.

*edit* I also see what you mean by unexpected events and all that, and I do agree with it partly. But sometimes yes you do have to cut your losses if it makes a happy customer. Because remember a happy customer is going to call you back and also tell their friends.

585594880[/snapback]

True, but if you're smart enough, you can always find other things to do while your waiting on scans such as tutoring them on how to/how not to do certain things such as using alternative browsers, what programs they should run and when, and so on. Also, you can remove some unneeded services, clean their msconfig, and etc. There is always something you can do.

Oh, and if I was going to actually reinstall windows or something, then you are right, I might ask to take the pc with me if that was the case. I myself would find it akward and unneeded to just sit somewhere and wait for a machine to install windows.

[cyoung1616]

I understand your point, there is always the person who has windows 98, has lost all his driver disks, has no product key. That's when you use your DOS to export the regestry, do f3 for product key, format and load windows, look for 2 hours on the web for drivers, do 23 updates from windows site, a quick system clean-up and a defrag, collect your $100.00 bucks for the last 3 or 4 hours of work and hope like heck the next one has win xp or a recovery disc. If it was easy and money was comming at you hand over fist everyone would be doing it and be rich. Just another day as a Tech.

Cody

[msing]

What other kinds of servicings do you guys provide?

[Joseph Zollo]

I charge $25/hr, it's a very reasonable price. I think anything higher than that is quite unreasonable.

[cyoung1616]

You may already have done this but if not I would suggest, Make you a Windows 95, 98, 98 SE, 98SE Upgrade, ME, 2000 and XP cds. Make you a win98 boot disk, brush up on a few DOS commands, like edit so you can get to autoexec.bat and config.sys for 98 and ME, fdisk for new hard drives. Make you a Network Disk with win xp network wizard. Put a few things like Trend Micro Scan Engine with latest virus patterns, ad aware, spybot, cw shredder and any other spyware remover you might use. Things like Nero, Power DVD helps if they have dvd and burner and a dial-up connection. Winsock32 fix, any kind diagnose tools you can find and download. This is just a few things that will help you get it done and on to the next job. I'm leaving out lots of stuff but you get the Idea, be ready and try not to look like you aren't prepared for anything.

Cody

[Oggy_666]

what a pointless poll

:p :rofl:

[samg]

its not pointless at all. grow up

I run a computer shop in the UK, currently charging ?75/hour for bench time, BUT i do have set prices for things. And i ALWAYS tell the customer a SET price before carrying out the work so they can argee on the price, if it takes slightly longer than expected, i lost a few ???, but if it takes less its ??? for me!

Most people are happy to pay that, but my point is you should inform them of the cost, before its incurred.

[golazo]

i charge 5 dollars an hour. but i'm not making a living out of comps so it doesn't really mattter

[dan]

I loathe to have to go out and fix peoples PC's (people think that cause u work with them means ur more than happy to do it in ur spare time) so i charge ?175 call out charge and ?75 an hour. Usually only businesses can afford that so it suits me fine:):)

[linked]

What other kinds of servicings do you guys provide?

585594942[/snapback]

I try not to talk about my "other services".... ;)

I charge about 10-15 an hour, depending on the job, because I'm usually working for the families of friends, and I'm not comfortable saying "Hi, I'm 17, and I'd like to charge 5x what your kid is earning at McDonalds". I could get away with it, I'm sure, but I don't like doing it.

But I am coming up with a "Job List" with prices, and that should net me quite a bit more cash, if I stick with it.

The other issue with in-home repeair is scope-creep. If I go to fix a jammed printer, I could be there for 6 hours working on other jobs; it's a real pain. I'd like to move everything to "you bring it here" service.

[groberts]

I have been doing this type of business for about a year now. I have always charged $75 an hour with a one hour minimum. It may seem high, but I called around and I'm in the middle in my area as far as prices. I just make sure they feel like they are getting a good deal. If I stay for 2 hours, I might only charge for 1 1/2 or something like that (not always, but it depends on how nice I'm feeling). I also make sure they know much more about computers when I leave than when I showed up. I try to train them on spyware, viruses and anything else they want to know about.

The price you charge totally depends on your market. A few phone calls to other companies and a few months in business seeing what people are willing to pay will pretty much tell you what price to charge. Good luck! If you love computers and technology like I do, having a biz like this is a blast.

[cork1958]

I have been doing this type of business for about a year now. I have always charged $75 an hour with a one hour minimum. It may seem high, but I called around and I'm in the middle in my area as far as prices. I just make sure they feel like they are getting a good deal. If I stay for 2 hours, I might only charge for 1 1/2 or something like that (not always, but it depends on how nice I'm feeling). I also make sure they know much more about computers when I leave than when I showed up. I try to train them on spyware, viruses and anything else they want to know about.

The price you charge totally depends on your market. A few phone calls to other companies and a few months in business seeing what people are willing to pay will pretty much tell you what price to charge. Good luck! If you love computers and technology like I do, having a biz like this is a blast.

585595857[/snapback]

Wow! I'll make sure NOT to send anybody your way! :no:

What a ripoff!! $40 is the max ANYBODY or ANYPLACE charges around here, and I think that's crazy also. I usually charge between $20-$30, depending on who it is and what I have to do. Do also try to give a quick schooling in spyware and AV stuff.