Have you seen what geek squad charges?
$90 for a data backup. How long does it take to burn CD's?
$30 to install software
$160 setup wireless for 2 systems
$230 for what amounts to clean spyware and do updates!
You don't have to be cheap. You just need to remind people what the
alternatives are.
> >
> > Now what I've discovered is that those small consulting companies that
> > do make enough to make a living have focused on small business instead
> > of home users. There is a huge market for home user computer
> > consulting.. the problem is you can't charge them enough to make a
> > living from it. However, with small businesses, you can get away with
> > charging enough and make a profit. It boils down to this... to make a
> > decent living, you'd have to charge home users more than $65/hr. which,
> > no home user, in their right mind, would pay that much (unless you're
> > targeting a wealthy demographic/market segment). My independant
> > research has shown me that $49/hr is about the maximum that people will
> > tolerate (supply/demand analysis), but I've settled on $35/hr because I
> > get more referrals if I'm a good value (and do good work). I only
> > charge $25/hr for my customers that actually send me referrals, and
> > that, in turn, snowballs my business.
> >
> > However, $65/hr for small businesses is CHEAP! You can probably get
> > away with over $100-125/hr if you are doing network/server work because
> > that is a more highly skilled requirement. And if you're really good,
> > you'll score service agreements where a biz will pay you $$ per month to
> > be 'on call'. Service agreements are the way to go. Especially if you
> > can set up VNC and solve most of their problems from the comfort of your
> > home.
> >
> > Then you have to consider insurance, taxes, fees, and a mirad of other
> > factors that chip away at your profits (not to mention gas prices right
> now)
> >
> > Personally, I've found that home PC work is a great supplemental
> > income... it scores me about $150-200 cash per week, which is nice.
> > Then I have my main job programming which is my bread and butter (steady
> > income, insurance, tuition reimbursement, etc.)
>
>
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