Ever started your own business?
 

First thing first, I should mention that this isnt spam, I'm actually after some advice.

I've just graduated Uni (UK) and have got myself a half decent job repairing computers, AV equipment and other stuff like that.

For a while I've ben thinking of starting a little side venture, maybe in the evenings and weekends, running some sort of call-out IT repair / troubleshooting enterprise.

Nothing major to start, just visiting homes and having a look at normal house hold PC issues - hardware, software, networks, printers blah blah. And then maybe taking the trickyer jobs back with me and fixing them at my house.

Anyway, this is a small idea for me at the moment, and I'm wondering if anyone here as ever tried something similar?

If so what problems did you come across, and what if anything did you learn about it?

Any major pitfalls?
Working out pricing?
How to advertise?
How to give the 'professional' image?
Leagal, and accountancy issues?
Anything you know now that would have been good to know before you started?

So if you've ever started a little thing like this, or any simple business before, have you got anything good or bad to say about it? :beer:

check out geeksquad.com

maybe you can get some old ideas and slightly change them..
If your really serious, you would make a business plan, lots of thinking and work, so you could eventually use it to take to investors to maybe give you a boost in funds to set up shop.
After, of course, you have a name for it.

I myself have two business partners. The business is young, small, and still in the works. But it is coming together nicely.

check it out: 128rpm.com
better web site design in the works. who has time to learn how to use another program when your all focused in in two others.



good luck