Be a Small Business IT Support Consultant  by Avril Harper

What does a small business owner do when their computer system is on the blink? Well what they usually do is pack it up and haul it down to a local big box store for a diagnosis and then wait days, weeks, or even months for the problems to be solved.  And being without their computer is a big problem for most small business owners, and that’s why you should look at starting a business offering on call computer support for small business owners in your local area.

Large corporations have a staff on site that is dedicated to keeping people's laptop and desktop computers running smoothly. Small business owners obviously do not have the budget needed for this level of care.

Beyond fixing immediate problems, a dedicated technology staff would also perform the kinds of updates and maintenance that most PCs require to keep them running at their peak. Very few small business owners know how to do this kind of upkeep and even if they did, who has the time? Keeping a small business in the black is all that most small business owners can manage. They don't have the time necessary to read manuals and hassle with their computers.

This is where your service can swoop in and save the day! There are a couple of different ways that your service could generate income. The first way would require that, for a reasonable one time fee, you would provide members in the small business community with an 800 number to call, to get your immediate help. They will pay an additional hourly fee when you perform maintenance on their computers and fix various issues. You would need to decide beforehand on a fee schedule that will also properly compensate you for your travel costs. That would work out to be a fee of between £50 an hour to £100 an hour.

Your second income generating option would be to run your business as a subscription service. The small business owner would pay you a monthly fee.  In return, they would receive your services during normal business hours for up to a specified number of hours. For any help needed beyond normal business hours, they would pay an additional per hour fee.

You will probably want to include certain stipulations in your agreement with your customers that they purchase virus protection software so their computer systems will be less susceptible to attacks from viruses and worms. There are also certain versions of this kind of software online that can be purchased for less or that have no fee required.

You might also want to stipulate that you will only provide services for Macs or only for PCs. These kinds of decisions will be up to you. Be sure that you are proficient in both operating systems and popular kinds of software before promising to help to support them. If you need to brush up on your computer doctoring skills, you may want to take a class or two.

Now you need to work out how these small business owners will find out about you and your business.  While you are in the process of building up a customer base, you will likely want to advertise your services by running an advertisement in a local phone directory, also in local newspapers, as well as by creating a basic web site that lists your contact information and general pricing. Then, you should be sure to list your website with several popular search engines and as many appropriate online business directories as you can find.

While your business is in its fledgling phase, you will likely also want to print up flyers and post them in places where people of all walks of life typically frequent. Be sure to include popular lunch places and coffee shops! Most post offices and grocery stores also have bulletin boards that they will allow you to place an advertisement on. Be sure to take advantage of any public bulletin boards in your immediate area to find those small business owners who are in desperate need of your services. Don't neglect places like medical service buildings, health food stores, libraries, Laundromats, and any other place that your potential clients may frequent. In no time at all, you will have built up a large clientele base, many by word of mouth as they benefit from your professional services in action