[RealEstateGuy]

Hello Everybody:

I am new here and this is my first post so hello everybody. I was thrilled to have found this place, it seems like a really great forum and website. I hope to be around often.

Anyway, I have a question that I have been wondering for a few weeks now. What is the going rate for hourly labor for computer repair? This would be for someone who's pretty good at computer repair and has a good well rounded knowledge. I am curious what the low to high side is etc. I am really thinking about doing this as I spent quite a few hours a week working on everybody's computer as it is.

My whole thing is that I want to charge a fair rate, one that is considered a good deal but also one that I might be able to earn a decent living off of. Maybe somewhere towards the middle. Maybe if some people wouldn't mind saying their location and what their hourly charges are we can all get an idea of what a fair rate is for our area of the country.

Thanks in advance for the help.
RealEstateGuy

[popeye67]

with a name like realestateguy would imagine your best bet is charge them everything they can afford and adding a bit on.

am assuming american real estate guys have the same reputation as british estate agents, about as trustworthy as a rottweiller youve just poked with a stick, and they are actually proud of their reputation over here.

[Troubleshooter]

I would create something simple but effective...like "A-1 Computer Repair"
or "Free Diagnosis PC Repair" then you can set your own price based on what's wrong with it or them. Sure you'll get a pile of people coming by, but that's what you want right?. A lot of PC repairsman will charge out of the ass so take it easy on your clients for awhile until you build up a large network of people, then you are off and running, because at that point people will have seen you on several occasions and will keep going back to you as they will build trust and rely on you for every little computer problem. Always have the latest updates on the competitors around your area and charge 5 bucks less than they do. Let them know you are the Exclusive discount repair man. Tell them other repair shops are always charging for extra parts and labor for all their employees; and telling people that the other repair men are getting a bad rap for the crappy repairs based on your sources. Moreover, you even heard of a few guy's who Warning: put delayed viruses in their PC's to keep them coming back. This is all tongue in cheek and information purposes ONLY but it'll get your head in the right direction. Honest helpfulness on people's PC's with a little exaggeration will go a long way rather than being a complete crook and sabotaging their computers. Besides word will get around awfully quick if you actually did that>>>>>>

put delayed viruses in their PC's to keep them coming back.

[faithofgod]

Originally Posted by Troubleshooter

put delayed viruses in their PC's to keep them coming back.

You know what, that might explain some of the prices I see here in the Dallas/Fort Worth area on Craigslist. People are charging $30 to completely backup your data and reinstall Windows. That is dirt cheap and I assumed they probably snuck in hidden fees to actually turn a profit, but now I wonder if that is what they are actually doing? LOL

[William]

It really depends one what your local shops are charging, you need to charge enough to make it worth enough for you to keep doing but enough that someone should chose you over the other guys.

In my case there was only 1 PC shop within 50 miles and he charged 80$ an hour in store (price gouging cause he knows hes the only one) (and 80$ is murder here, I can get my car worked on for that)

But he lets me charge 50$ an hour on site to local customers and they haven't looked back since. Now if there were just more of them ....