Can Anyone Help Me Get My Small Computer Company Off The Ground On A Small Budget?
Posted by China Sourcing CommentatorSep 12
My company builds, upgrades, repairs and customizes desktop computers. I need help or advice to get this thing rolling. I’m in the military about to get out, and I need to secure this source of income. I know my stuff, but knowledge isn’t enough. I need customer exposure…HELP!
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Toughie, says he laughing….
I’ve been doing this for way too long (started in 1982) and have grown big, retired, downsized, specialised, etc.
Best advice is keep small, do not concentrate on selling systems as you get into a competition thing where price matters and the larger guy will always win. Find a specialist area and keep at it for a while – my current area is Wireless, previously Virus…
Customer exposure is easy as long as YOU DO NOT ADVERTISE! It costs money and tends to only pay for the increase in custom.
As you’ll guess, I’ve been round the block. Advertising brings in business but you’re are too small to feed it and will end overexposed and broke.
Do special stuff, some magic, be the nice guy. Your customers will boast about you. It builds. Quite quickly.
However, YOU NEED FINANCE FOR 18 MONTHS or you will go bust trying. If you do not have the spare reserve to keep you eating for 1 1/2 years, it will not work.
(Recently, I noticed that in the last 6 years, 4 other computer business’ have opened, tried to compete, vanished, in my immediate area. Every one of them blitzed the local papers, did pricing deals, went bust.)
Actually, pay attention. I am giving serious advice here.
Regardless, good luck.
Just keep doing what you did here. Three words:::: NETWORK/NETWORK/NETWORK. If your female, than start spreading, if your a male than GOOD LUCK
Small business grants are way too helpful – $25,000 or more for free. They’re hard to get (from my experience), but they can really lift off.
Last resort: Loans.
You need to start with a few clients and focus on customer service.
Word of mouth must become your best friend.
Good luck with your business!
Customer Service. It is the most important part. If you can afford it I suggest you run an online customer service chat that is on 24/7. It is made by: http://www.cisco.com/
If you can afford Verisign use it.
By the way you should have a working forum service on your website. If you can’t afford one get PHPBB. If you can get invision power board. Hope that helps.