Looking to start small part time pc repair etc support business

Whether you need a license or not depends on your state and city (town, whatever).
You'll want liability insurance as well.
Talk to a business attorney for whether you want to form an LLC or S-corporation.

There should be a Small Businedd Development center you can get free information from.  They will guide you from pre Start up through closing (if needed).  There are many pitfalls running your own business & it's easier doing it right from the start than it is trying to fix mistakes (& possibly pay fines, etc.) Hope this helps,

Make sure you create an LLC at a minimum.  I didn't do that the first couple of years and got killed on taxes.  Also, by having an LLC, you will have much more protection of your personal assets if something goes wrong and you get sued.

Join your local chamber of commerce.  There is one in every small town and it will give you great exposure.  Also, think about joining the BBB as many customers check that before answering an ad.

Which leads me to advertising.  Unless you have some big dollars to put up for radio ads, plan on starting small.  Flyers in grocery stores, banks, chamber of commerce, etc.  Also, check with day cares to see if you can put a flyer up there.  Word of mouth will get you much more business then almost any other form.  Take care of your customers as you never know which one will pass your name on to a friend who owns a company and needs tech support.

My last suggestion is to contact Microsoft about their partner program as well as BitDefender, Computer Associates, etc.  Becoming a reseller will get you very familiar with their products and will also allow you to earn some money from the company for selling their products.  

I make these suggestions from experience as it took me three years (and countless dollars in wasted advertising) to finally figure out how to get going.  Make sure you have a website as well!  You can check my profile for my website to give you some idea of what a small business tech shop (me and a part time tech) have put together.  

Any thoughts, questions......?  

: )

Thanks 41 -- if i form a llc do i need insurance?

Thanks -- I listened -- And your words and adviice are perfect t!!!
You speak the truth thanks have a nice weekend!

"This kind of involvement exposes you to disrupting business operations for someone's business.  Again, if something goes wrong and you get sued, they really can't get much from your company

 but if you want to stay in business then you would want to have insurance. " 


could you elaborate -- are you saying that i can be sued by this business and i should get insurance if working on businesses?

Thanks again

The insurance is really just protection.  If you get sued and your business can't cover the amount, then you have to fold up.  So if you are just starting out, then you don't have much to lose.  If you have been in business awhile, have several clients/customers, assets (servers, pc's) and have established your business, you will want to keep all of that if something happens.  That is when you will need the insurance.  

Thanks for the points and grade!  I wish you all the best.  Drop me an email (my address is listed in my profile) and let me know how things go.  I will help where I can.  Take care!!