Establishing Hourly Rates for Computer Service

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Establishing Hourly Rates for Computer Service

July 08, 2005, 03:19:15 AM

In the past few months, just by word of mouth I've accumulated a few "clients" for my home-based computer "service". Basically it started that a guy who comes into the gas station where I work (glorious job, I know) was talking to me about computers and I mentioned it was my major at school and it went from there. After I spent a couple hours reformatting and doing a basic system restore he asked what I owed him and I didn't know what to say, really. I just pulled $15/hr off the top of my head. Since then I've gotten a call from another lady regarding doing the same thing with an old PC she has that she's going to be giving to her parents, for simple AOL (Uuuuugh) use, MS word and all that.

My question is... is this a reasonable rate? I dunno that I really like the hourly thing, or if I'd rather have a price schedule based on what services I'm performing. Someone give me some guidance here. I know for sure that $15/hr is less than what most computer stores charge to do in-house work.

Re: Establishing Hourly Rates for Computer Service

Reply #1 – July 08, 2005, 04:51:55 AM

hmm 15 bux an hour? I would see if you could run with that. If you could, screw the gas station job. I wish I could do actual tech support. I work on the phone to "fix" emachine computers. Basically if it dosent work, I either tell them to take it to best buy or send it in for 2 weeks for repair. I have been looking for another job at a computer shop.

If you could get some people to pay you $15 that would be fine with me. I charge people $20 a phone call if they are out of warrenty. The problem is gonna be this:

What if you cannot fix it? What if it is a hardware problem rather then a software one? When you do in home service, you cant always test the parts. If a part is bad, then you just wasted an hour of their time, and money and they still have to go out a buy a part. Not the way I feel, but I talk to25 to 50 people a day, and they always freak out when it is a hardware problem. I wouldnt go as far as to say "its not a guarentted fix(shut up I suck at spelling and its 3am)"

I would just make sure you let them know that you cant promise them that you can fix it. Also anothing big thing is going to be their data. Lets pretend that your customer has a home based business or tax information or somethign like that on the computer, and they have a bad hard drive. Or even better. The wide world of spyware and virus's. Its a whole new area when people pay you a fixed price to fix their computer.

For $15 bucks an hour, they want their computer fixed. Simple as that. I am not try to deter you away. I am looking at doing the same thing my self. I fix my freinds computers all the time(which is also why I am up at 3am, I was trying to get their internet to work). Its fun stuff really. I rather enjoy it.

The biggest problem I have with it, is when I get home from work I dont even want to touch a computer. I spend all day listening to people B*%&$ about how their computer is busted, and it gets old kinda fast. But then again, if you can make $$$ at it and you need it go for it. Beats counting change.

Re: Establishing Hourly Rates for Computer Service

Reply #2 – July 08, 2005, 07:05:45 AM

Well, if you were to charge Best Buy prices on things you could charge 50 an hour and still be cheaper than Geek Squad. Last I checked, they charge $120 plus hardware for setting up a wireless network that would take me maybe half an hour to set up. I am considering starting my own tech business in the area simply because I despise how much best buy is ripping people off. I could live well making half of what they charge for stuff. Have you checked out the geek sqaud price on new computer setup costs? It is up to 500 bucks for someone to come to your home, set it up with a power strip and some free antivirus/spam software and leave. Stupid corporate leaches. Major corporations really send me off on a rant.

Re: Establishing Hourly Rates for Computer Service

Reply #3 – July 08, 2005, 08:21:48 AM

Right now the computer thing is only on the side. Being that my degree's in IT, I'd like to eventually have a real, full-time career in this shiznit, hopefully somewhere far away from Ohio, too. But for now I need a steady stream of income coming in, with a car payment and all.

In regards to the best buy thing, do you know how much those Geek Squad guys get paid? If I remember hearing the one kid right, they only pay you a mere $11 an hour. I guess the rest goes to those awesome Beetle's they drive.

Re: Establishing Hourly Rates for Computer Service

Reply #4 – July 08, 2005, 08:25:23 AM

WTF? 11 an hour?!?! Best Buy is raking in the dough. If I worked for geek squad, I'd really raise hell about my py wages. All it would take is a few of the geek squad guys to break off and form their own group and get rid of the middle man. That gives me an idea

Re: Establishing Hourly Rates for Computer Service

Reply #5 – July 08, 2005, 02:30:27 PM

Hey Brian I do computer work on the side as well. I charge $40 an hour and no one has ever batted an eye when I give them the total. Most "professional" places around here charge a $50 bench fee just to look at the machine. I do those for free and charge, on average, about $10 to $15 per hour cheaper than any of the places around town. You have to be very clear that you repair them, you don't teach people how to use them or support them. There are a lot of folks that will take advantage of you if they find out they can call and ask you for help.

Re: Establishing Hourly Rates for Computer Service

Reply #6 – July 08, 2005, 02:36:28 PM

The worst thing is people standing over you, watching you work, then trying to talk computer jargon to you. "Did we lose the server? Might some of our browser connection components be incomplete?" Raagh! The current job I'm working on was a "pick up the tower and take it home to work on it" deal, which is much easier on me, and allows me to do work at my own pace without interruption. It's only a simple re-format and clean install of windows and a few various apps.

One thing that I've found surprising doing this is how many people still use AOL and are DEATHLY afraid of anything else. I suggested to the first guy I worked for that he gets Cable internet, but he refuses to because he dislikes the fact that Comcast bought out whatever cable company was there before. So, based on principle, he'd rather have 2k/sec downloads and a ton of extra AOL software hogging up the already limited resources of the PC (AOL Computer Checkup, etc). Also refuses to believe that a broadband connection would make any difference over AOL. "Well, I'm keeping AOL because my wife likes to use eBay and Instang Messenger." *sigh* :rolleyes:

Re: Establishing Hourly Rates for Computer Service

Reply #7 – July 08, 2005, 02:40:04 PM

I don't do site visits at all unless I know the person or stand to make a lot of money. I have them bring the system to me, fix it, and give it back to them. I have DSL at home so it's better to take it there and download the updates after a re-install than to use someone's py dialup connection.

Re: Establishing Hourly Rates for Computer Service

Reply #8 – July 08, 2005, 02:44:52 PM

I ran into that very predicament trying to download sound card drivers for the one guy's computer... I just sat there for 45 minutes watching a download bar. I guess it's better than spending 45 minutes standing at work and making less than half the money, but it's not something I like to do. I even offered to go home, download them and put 'em on a CD, but he told me he didn't want to inconvenience me, hah! I'd really like to be able to do things the way you do. Doing site visits you also run into rats nests of wires, lots of extra peripherals sitting there, inoperative and not plugged in. Setting up a client's DSL connection was a murderous nightmare... then she tells me "unhook it all, now, beucase it's a surprise for my son". But it all turned out well...

Oh, and also, I might work my way up to $20 eventually, but for now I can't imagine asking $40, Christ, the one woman wanted her son to be able to play Medal of Honor on thier 500MHz machine by only upgrading the RAM. I tried explaining to her that, after a certain point, upgrades are less cost-effective than buying a whole new machine.

Oh, and another thing... people's desktop's! Holy hell! Do they make a shortcut to something every time they load it? I'm amazed at the lack of organization on some people's computers.

Excuse me for being on a rampage.

Re: Establishing Hourly Rates for Computer Service

Reply #9 – July 08, 2005, 02:51:31 PM

I know exactly what you're talking about and those are the exact reasons I bring the computer to me if at all possible.

I'm telling you man, $40 an hour is a deal compared to the average cost of computer repair work. It takes me a total of about three hours to reformat and re-configure a computer including backing up and restoring personal files, downloading updates, and reinstalling all the customer's needed software.

I think a thorough job is worth that much. There are some places around here that will just format, install windows, not even worry about getting correct drivers, and give the machine back like it's done. They don't even re-configure the client's ISP or anything else. I typed up a paper that explains, in simple terms, the proper way to maintain a computer (defragging, updating anti-virus, running ad-aware, etc.) so hopefully they won't be bringing it back to me anytime soon.

There are too many places that take complete advantage of peoples' ignorance and overcharge them for a shoddy job. I don't do that, and I think it's worth $40 an hour.

Re: Establishing Hourly Rates for Computer Service

Reply #10 – July 08, 2005, 03:31:33 PM

On the PC I'm working on now, the lady showed me an invoice where they'd taken the computer in for service because of slow loading and virus/spyware problems. They charged I think it was $60 or $70 to install and run three spyware removal programs. Then she showed me a box for a new video card and said "this is what they loaded onto the computer". And I was thinking "oh, she just picked up the wrong box". She's asking me if this has anything to do with spyware, etc and I said "well, no, not at all, it's a video controller card." Whether the old one was bad or not, I dunno, but upon examining the receipt again I saw that another $79 had been charged for the install of a new video card, but with no explanation as to why. The total bill was very close to $200. And when I got the PC it would barely get to the desktop.

Oh, and I wasn't saying that you charge too much, just saying that I don't feel confident enough yet to ask that much of people. After all, I don't have a degree yet, and I have no certifications (though I would've been ready to get A+ back in '01, but never took the test.)

Re: Establishing Hourly Rates for Computer Service

Reply #11 – July 08, 2005, 04:55:14 PM

most standard rates are:

brought to you:
$50 for a bench inspection then per service
spyware/adware removal $75
windows related $100+
hardware: if bought there free, if not $50 (bench service)

At home:
$99 bucks to show up. 99 bucks and hour after that.(some places less, but pretty average)

40 bucks an hour is cheap with what most ppl see when they call a place for a quote.
and i agree, fix only, don't do phone support with out a fee or ppl will just call your ass the time when they can't get thier aol to work cuase they don't have the modem hooked up the phone line.

I do pc support for a major corp and you would not believe what ppl have on there computers.
I also did computer shows in the detroit area for awhile and ppl would bring in a 300 Mhz pc with 32 meg ram and what to play dvd's on it.. or they would want something newer, we would quote them a price and they would be like "the booth over there has the same thing for 250 dollars less..."
no it wasn't the same thing and they used chaintech mb and the worlds most dirt ps.
then 2 weeks later at the next show you see them bringing it back cause it's broke, that what you get for buying a 250 dollar p4 pc..

Re: Establishing Hourly Rates for Computer Service

Reply #12 – July 08, 2005, 04:58:18 PM

Quote from: Funky Cricket

At home:
$99 bucks to show up. 99 bucks and hour after that.(some places less, but pretty average)

Wow! I could be rich! :hick:

Re: Establishing Hourly Rates for Computer Service

Reply #13 – July 08, 2005, 06:12:11 PM

Quote from: Funky Cricket

I also did computer shows in the detroit area for awhile and ppl would bring in a 300 Mhz pc with 32 meg ram and what to play dvd's on it.. or they would want something newer, we would quote them a price and they would be like "the booth over there has the same thing for 250 dollars less..."

I have had three or 4 computers near 300mhz with dvd players. I have on in my room that I just upgraded from 32 megs or ram. If you get a dvd decoder card, it only costs like $20 or so used, and less then $50 new. I put them in my newer computers. The decoder cards dont skip anywheres near as much as regular software rendering and it takes up virtally no cpu usage. But each unto his own. I just dont like newer computers.
Hmmm..... $50 bucks for a computer that can play dvd's surround sound and browse the internet. That is all that I do anyways. And I have all of the upgrade parts usally just sitting around in other computers in my room.

Sorry bit of a rant there. Nothing against you or even directed at you, But it kinda ticks me off when people just throw away old computers, unless they throw them my way

. Unless you do alot of gaming or multimedia work, the newer computers all suck in comparison. You can pay hundereds more to do the same thing. But that is you choice. An old computer isnt slow. If you use software that was designed for that computer, then it will out perform most of the newer garbage processors out there. I can burn a cd, decode an mp3, and do whatever else I want on my computer just like you can on yours. I have no reason to burn dvd's, mostly because all of my computers are networked. I prolly could put a dvd burner on there too. Just take it at face value. If you want a new one go for it.

Re: Establishing Hourly Rates for Computer Service

Reply #14 – July 08, 2005, 08:06:39 PM

I totally agree with the old computer bit. I'm building a 400 w/ 128 of ram for a guy at work, only charging 75 bucks. I just have it sitting around collecting dust and I only paid 20 for it. Some people simply don't need a blazing fast system for their purposes. I think that will be another aspect of my buisness. What do you need? What will you use this computer for? Most people just want to get online and do document stuff. It's not worth spending $500+ on a pentium 4 with way too much memory and HD space for those purposes.