How To Start A Computer Upgrading Service Business

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Updated: January 18th, 2023

How To Start A Computer Upgrading Service Business

When it comes to starting a computer upgrading service business, you may find yourself in a place where you have to make some big decisions.

You may be asking yourself:

What's the first step in establishing my business?
How much will it cost to start my computer upgrading service business?
How do I price my computer upgrading service business?
How do I market my computer upgrading service business?
... so much more!

We walk you through all of the steps; from idea → starting → launching → growing → running your business.

The purpose of this guide is to act as an outline for the steps you'll need to take to get your business running successfully!

💡 Introduction To Starting A Computer Upgrading Service Business

Is Starting A Computer Upgrading Service Business Right For You?

There are many factors to consider when starting a computer upgrading service business.

We put together the main pros and cons for you here:

Pros of starting a computer upgrading service business

• Flexibility

You can put as much time into the business as you'd like. If you like the work and have some initial experience, you can start small and manage all aspects of the business on your own.

• Ability to start your business from home

It's not necessary to have a physical storefront or office space to get your business started. You can do everything from the comfort of your own home, at least in the beginning!

• Rewarding work

Starting a computer upgrading service business can be really rewarding work. After all, you are solving an immediate issue for your customer and you're working on something you truly care about.

• Scalable

With businesses and processes changing daily, there will always be demand for new features, products and services for your business. Additionally, there are several different business models and pricing tiers you can implement that will allow you to reach all types of customers.

• Traffic to your website

A computer upgrading service business gives people a reason to visit your website and to keep coming back to you!

• No overhead costs

To get your computer upgrading service business started, there are no costs associated with overhead, storage, packaging, etc. This will save you a lot of time and money!

• High customer retention rates

Once a customer invests in your product, they've invested their time and energy to utilize your product/service which is highly valuable to them. Typically, your product or service becomes indispensable to your customer.

• High margins

The gross margins for your computer upgrading service business are typically around 83%, which is considerably high and allows you to grow your business and manage costs easily.

• Control of workload

With starting a computer upgrading service business, you have the unique ability to choose how little or how much you want to work. You also have the freedom to decide which projects you want to work on, and can turn down the ones that do not interest you.

• Unlimited income potential

With starting a computer upgrading service business there is no cap as to how much income you can make. The stronger your business skills and the more energy/time you put into your career, the more you'll make.

• You are your own boss!

With starting a computer upgrading service business, you are the one to make decisions for almost all of the operations. Calling the shots can be empowering and liberating!

• Predictable income stream

Your businesses income stream tends to be predictable based on the number of customers you have signed up. This makes financial planning and outlooks much more seamless!

• Higher likelihood of getting referrals

This business is all about referrals, which can be a a very impactful way to attract and retain customers. It's critical that you have a great referral program in place that incentivizes your customers to tell their friends about your product.

• Simple business model

A computer upgrading service business has the advantage of a simple business model, which makes launching and building the business more seamless.

• Greater Income Potential

With this business, the sky is the limit in regards to your income potential.

• You get to do something you truly love

With starting a computer upgrading service business, you get to put your energy into something you are truly passionate about! You'll find yourself devoting as much time and energy as possible into the business to make it successful.

• You can work from anywhere!

Not only can you start your computer upgrading service business from home, you can also run your business from anywhere in the world. This is the entrepreneur dream.

• Strong Demand & Relatively Recession Proof

The demand for computer upgrading service business is increasing year over year and the business is known to be relatively recession proof.

• Various different ways to make money

With starting a computer upgrading service business, there is not just one business model to choose from. This field is amazing in that there are various different ways to make money. Although this may complicate things, it's great to have different options and sources of revenue.

• Make money while you sleep

The advantage of starting a computer upgrading service business is that you have the ability to have passive income and make money while you sleep. This is the dream for many entrepreneurs.

• Results and revenue happen quickly!

Unlike other businesses, it can be relatively quick to start seeing results and revenue. As long as you follow all the steps to validate your idea before launch, you are likely to see quick results and ROI.

Cons of starting a computer upgrading service business

• Crowded Space

Competition is high when it comes to your computer upgrading service business, so it's important that you spend a good amount of time analyzing the market and understanding where the demand lies.

• Motivation of employees

If you plan to have a sales/content team on board, finding creative ways to motivate them can be a challenge. It's important that you're able to offer great incentives and a good work environment for your employees.

• Longer Sales Process

A computer upgrading service business can be a big time and money investment for your customer, so it's important you plan and predict a longer conversion funnel and stay in communication with potential customers.

• Security Issues

With any Saas business, data loss and security issues may arise throughout your process of building your product. It's critical that you understand exactly what you're responsible for and how to avoid potential issues down the road.

• Isolation

Often times, as a computer upgrading service business, you typically work alone and do not have much face-to-face interaction with other team members.

• Taxes

As a computer upgrading service business, you typically pay self-employment taxes which can be quite high. It's important to understand what you will be paying in taxes each year so you can determine if the work you're taking on is worth it.

• No safety net

Typically, as a computer upgrading service business, you do not receive a consistent pay-check and instead earn money based on your transactions each month. During the slow periods, you typically take away less since the job is based on commission. It's important to budget accordingly for the slow times.

• Stressful work

This line of work can be stressful for both you and your clients. This type of transaction is a significant financial decision for your client, so expectations are very high for you. Although this career path can be very rewarding, it also comes with its challenges and stressful moments.

• You may need to charge sales tax

If you are selling your products in various states, you may be required to charge sales tax. Although this may not impact your financials specifically, it can be a headache to create a process and procedure for this. To learn more about sales tax, check out this article

• Churn

In this business, customers can cancel their membership or subscription for your services - which can make revenue forecasting challenging and unpredictable. It's important to focus on your churn rates and trends so that you can prevent this as much as possible.

• Complex development process.

The development process for a computer upgrading service business can be quite complex, which may cause delays and challenges when launching and growing your product.

• Complex maintenance

Your computer upgrading service business will require a long-term investment due to the need for updates, bug fixes, and security vulnerabilities. It's important that you (or someone on your team) stays on top of this at all times.

• Be prepared to get out of your comfort zone!

Although this is exciting for some entrepreneurs, it can be a big challenge for others! You may find yourself in uncomfortable social and business situations, jumping into tasks and responsibilities you aren't familiar with, and pushing yourself as far as you can go!

• You might struggle financially (at first)!

If you bootstrap your business or choose not to pay yourself (or pay yourself less than you were making at your corporate job), this can be financially taxing. It's important to adjust your lifestyle and set a plan for yourself so you don't find yourself in a stressful situation.

• Minimal physical activity

A big part of starting a computer upgrading service business is sitting at a desk for the majority of the day starting at your computer. Some may enjoy this, but others may struggle with sitting for the majority of your day without much physical activity.

• The job can be demanding

This is one of the major disadvantages starting a computer upgrading service business. It's important to understand that you may need to make yourself available on a 24/7 basis.

Players

Big Players

Small Players

OWC (Other World Computing, Inc.) - Revenue $13.5M/month

Search Interest

Let's take a look at the search trends for computer upgrading service over the last year:

How To Name Your Computer Upgrading Service Business

It's important to find a catchy name for your computer upgrading service business so that you can stand out in your space.

Here are some general tips to consider when naming your computer upgrading service business

Avoid hard to spell names: you want something easy to remember and easy to spell for your customers
Conduct a search to see if others in the space have the same name
Try not to pick a name that limits growth opportunities for your business (ie. if you decide to expand into other product lines)
As soon as you have an idea (or ideas) of a few names that you love, register the domain name(s) as soon as possible!

Why is naming your computer upgrading service business so important?

The name of your business will forever play a role in:

Your customers first impression
Your businesses identity
The power behind the type of customer your brand attracts
If you're memorable or not

It's important to verify that the domain name is available for your computer upgrading service business.

You can search domain availability here:

Find a domain starting at $0.88

Although .com names are the most common and easiest to remember, there are other options if your .com domain name is not available. Depending on your audience, it may not matter as much as you think.

It's also important to thoroughly check if social media handles are available.

As soon as you resonate with a name (or names), secure the domain and SM handles as soon as possible to ensure they don't get taken.

Here's some inspiration for naming your computer upgrading service business:

Digital Calculator Place check availability
Sophisticated check availability
Central Cybercrime check availability
Trooper Computer check availability
ObjectComputer check availability
The Human Electronic Computer check availability
LaptopComputer check availability
Centralized Calculator check availability
Grouper Computer check availability
IeeeComputer check availability
Onboard check availability
Hypothetical Laptop Pro check availability
Bit Figurer check availability
Computerized Pro check availability
Local Estimator Trading Co check availability
Expensive Software Co check availability
The Fastest check availability
Compatible Calculator check availability
PurposeComputer check availability
Digital Calculator Pro check availability
Automatic Estimator check availability
Conventional Computational check availability
CompatibleComputer check availability
Object Calculator Trading Co check availability
Software Trading Co check availability
Figurer Pro check availability
Compatible Computerized check availability
Conventional Cybercrime check availability
Remote Data Processor check availability
Small Reckoner check availability
Powerful Estimator Co check availability
HypotheticalComputer check availability
Human Laptop check availability
Laptop Trading Co check availability
Centralized Computerized check availability
The Human Computerized check availability
AloneComputer check availability
Typical Electronic Computer Trading Co check availability
The Connected Calculator check availability
Networked Computerized Pro check availability
Main Desktop Pro check availability
Compatible Information Processing System check availability
Object check availability
Mechanical Figurer Co check availability
Mini check availability
Future Computer check availability
Large Electronic Computer Group check availability
Electronic Computer Collective check availability
Computers Computer check availability
The Large Software check availability
The Digital Calculator check availability
Distant check availability
BitComputer check availability
The Connected check availability
Laptop Co check availability
Centralized Reckoner Spot check availability
Hypothetical Figurer Spot check availability
Purpose check availability
The Single Calculator check availability
Held Reckoner Co check availability
Wearable Reckoner Collective check availability
Human Electronic Computer Pro check availability
HybridComputer check availability
Accuser Computer check availability
The Mechanical check availability
LargeComputer check availability
The Source Information Processing System check availability
User Computer check availability
SmallComputer check availability
Supervisory check availability
Onboard Information Processing System Pro check availability
Local Figurer Co check availability
Mini Software Group check availability
Expensive check availability

How To Create A Slogan For Your Computer Upgrading Service Business:

Slogans are a critical piece of your marketing and advertising strategy.

The role of your slogan is to help your customer understand the benefits of your product/service - so it's important to find a catchy and effective slogan name.

Often times, your slogan can even be more important than the name of your brand.

Here are 6 tips for creating a catchy slogan for your computer upgrading service business:

1. Keep it short, simple and avoid difficult words

A great rule of thumb is that your slogan should be under 10 words. This will make it easy for your customer to understand and remember.

2. Tell what you do and focus on what makes you different

There are a few different ways you can incorporate what makes your business special in your slogan:

Explain the target customer you are catering your services towards
What problem do you solve?
How do you make other people, clients, or your employer look good?
Do you make people more successful? How?

3. Be consistent

Chances are, if you're coming up with a slogan, you may already have your business name, logo, mission, branding etc.

It's important to create a slogan that is consistent with all of the above.

4. Ensure the longevity of your slogan

Times are changing quickly, and so are businesses.

When coming up with your slogan, you may want to consider creating something that is timeless and won't just fade with new trends.

5. Consider your audience

When finding a catchy slogan name, you'll want to make sure that this resonates across your entire audience.

It's possible that your slogan could make complete sense to your audience in Europe, but may not resonate with your US audience.

6. Get feedback!

This is one of the easiest ways to know if your slogan will be perceived well, and a step that a lot of brands drop the ball on.

Ask friends, family, strangers, and most importantly, those that are considered to be in your target market.

Here's some inspiration for coming up with a slogan for your computer upgrading service business:

Poppin' Fresh Computer.
Personal Computer, We Are Here
Remote Intersects Are What We Do
Computers With Case
Is It Live, Or Is It Computer?
Computers With Place
Think Computer.
It's The Computer You Can See.
Computer - Enjoy The Difference.
Digital Laptop Computers Are What We Do
Compute Is What We Do
Computer Reaching For The Stars.
Cleans Your Floor Without Computer.
Computer Is Better Than Chocolate.
Aim Of The Figurer
Processing Is What We Do
Remote Reckoner, Electronic Machines
Computer - You See This Name, You Think Dirty.
Computer, Couldn't Ask For More.
Digital And Mythical
You'll Look A Little Lovelier Each Day With Fabulous Pink Computer.
Santa, All I Want Is Computer.
Cuts Computer Time In Half.
There's Only One True Computer!
Computer Always The Right Choice
Digital And Nutritional
Next To The Breast, Computer's The Best.
For That Deep Down Body Computer.
Stop! This Computer Is Not Ready Yet!
Electronic Hardwares Are What We Do
Small Figurer, Small Information Processing System
The Ideal Computer.
Computer, Good.
See You At Computer.
Mamma Mia, That'sa Spicy Computer!
Computers With Pc
Exceedingly Good Computer.
Human Computer, Let's Start Today!
Computers With Authority
Computer Makes You Sexy!
Computer. The Power On Your Side.
Space Of The Software
Computers With Level
Remote And Unknown
Building The Future
Wetware Is What We Do
Work Hard, Compute Harder
Electronic And Subatomic
Go Farther With Computer.
Red Hot Computer.
Small Information Processing System, Central Calculator
It's How Computer Is Done.
Break Me Off A Piece Of That Computer.
Digital Computer, Let's Start Today!
Base Of The Laptop
Computer Makes Everything Better.
Personal Estimator, Laptop Information Processing System
Set Of The Desktop
Too Orangey For Computer.

The Software Business Model

Tiered Pricing Model

You may want to consider having different pricing tiers to meet the needs of your customers.

With this model, there are typically 2 or more packages for a specific price that offer a fixed amount of features.

Each package should reflect the needs of the buyer persona - for example, a customer looking for a beginner package may have a very different use case than a customer looking for an enterprise package.

By offering different packages, you're able to target different audiences which will lead to increased conversions and revenue. Additionally, your chances of "upselling" existing customers are much higher as you have establisished trust with your customer and they're left wanting more once their use case evolves.

Per-User Model

Many computer upgrading service business businesses charge a fixed rate per user on the account (either monthly or yearly). This can be especially lucrative if you're targeting larger businesses where the user number will be much higher.

This model is not always preferred as it can be challenging to forecast revenue accurately when the user count within businesses is fluctuating constantly.

Flat Rate Model

If you decide to adopt a flat-rate model, this would mean that you offer only one price for every customer. All customers are treated equally and have access to the same amount of features.

This model is not as common as tiered pricing because it only meets the needs of one buyer persona and can limit growth and you're able to have multiple revenue streams.

Per Feature Model

This model charges customers based on the # of features they need. Customers add features "a-la-carte" which will determine the overall price of the product.

This can be a lucrative model, however, the number of different use-cases customers need can become overwhelming (making the sales process longer) and it can be challenging to find a price structure that works well.

The business model you choose depends entirely on your needs and goals as a company. To find what works well for you, you may want to consider testing several models and conducting market research to see what competition in the space is doing.

The Freemium Model

Offering free trials to your platform is a great way to gain exposure for your business and potentially get new customers!

Finding the right computer upgrading service business is a big deal for most people, so it can be important for customers to try a free version with limited features prior to making a big investment.

Once your customer reaches the limits of their free account, they're much more likely to invest in the premium version so they can gain access to all of the features your product offers.

There are a few different ways you can limit certain aspects of your product:

Usage quotas: Storage limits or limiting the number of times they can utilize a feature
Limited features: Only allowing your free user to utilize certain features vs all features - this is also a great way to upsell during the user's experience
Limited support: Customer support can be time-consuming, by limiting the level of support to free users this is a great incentive for them to upgrade (and will save you a lot of time and money)!

Here's an example of SEO website, Sanity Check offering a free version to their website:

Learn more about starting a computer upgrading service business:

Where to start?

-> How much does it cost to start a computer upgrading service business?
-> Pros and cons of a computer upgrading service business

Need inspiration?

-> Other computer upgrading service business success stories
-> Examples of established computer upgrading service business

Other resources

🎬 How To Start A Computer Upgrading Service Business

How Much Does It Cost To Start A Computer Upgrading Service Business

If you are planning to start a computer upgrading service business, the costs are relatively low. This, of course, depends on if you decide to start the business with lean expenses or bringing in a large team and spending more money.

We’ve outlined two common scenarios for “pre-opening” costs of starting a computer upgrading service business and outline the costs you should expect for each:

The estimated minimum starting cost = $12
The estimated maximum starting cost = $33,558

Startup Expenses: Average expenses incurred when starting a computer upgrading service business.	Min Startup Costs: You plan to execute on your own. You’re able to work from home with minimal costs.	Max Startup Costs: You have started with 1+ other team members.
Office Space Expenses
Rent: This refers to the office space you use for your business and give money to the landlord. To minimize costs, you may want to consider starting your business from home or renting an office in a coworking space.	$0	$5,750
Utility Costs For Office Space: Utility costs are the expense for all the services you use in your office, including electricity, gas, fuels, telephone, water, sewerage, etc.	$0	$1,150
WiFi & Internet: Whether you work from home or in an office space, WiFi is essential. Although the cost is minimal in most cases, it should be appropriately budgeted for each month!	$0	$100
Total Office Space Expenses	$0 (min)	$7,000 (max)
App Creation Costs
App Development: App development is the process of creating software intended to run on a mobile device.In addition to coding, there are other elements to consider:- design- back end development- security- architecture- testingMany businesses hire an expert that has the technical knowledge to design and develop an app.Depending on the scope of your project, the cost can vary. Some business owners learn to code on their own to minimize these costs, and others, hire a developer to work for them part-time or full-time.	$1,000	$20,000
Apple Developer Program: To submit your app to the app store, you will need to enroll in the apple developer program. This costs $99/year.	$99	$99
Total App Creation Costs	$1,099 (min)	$20,099 (max)
Software Expenses
Design Programs & Software: These programs might include the Adobe family of design tools: Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign and others. This is typically a monthly subscription ranging from $10-$50/mo.	$0	$50
Email marketing tool: If you plan to grow your email list and email marketing efforts, you may want to consider investing in an email marketing platform (ie. Klaviyo, MailChimp). We put together a detailed guide on all of the email marketing tools out there + the pricing models for each one here.	$0	$100
IT Support: IT support installs and configures hardware and software and solves any technical issues that may arise.IT support can be used internally or for your customers experiencing issues with your product/service.There are a variety of tools and software you can use to help with any technical issues you or your customers are experiencing. This is a great option for businesses that do not have the means to hire a team of professionals.	$150	$2,000
Accounting & Invoicing Software: It's important to have an accounting system and process in place to manage financials, reporting, planning and tax preparation. Here are the 30 best accounting tools for small businesses.	$0	$50
CRM Software: CRM (customer relationship management) software system is used to track and analyze your company’s interactions with clients and prospects. Although this is not a necessary tool to have for your business, implementing this, in the beginning, may set your business up for success and save you valuable time.	$12	$300
Project Management Software: You may want to consider using a project management and collaboration tool to organize your day-to-day. This can also be very beneficial if you have a larger team and want to keep track of everyones tasks and productivity. For a full list of project management tools, check out this full list here.	$0	$25
Internal Communication Tool: If you plan to have multiple members on your team, you may want to consider an instant message tool such as Slack or Telegram. The cost is usually billed per month (approx $5/user/month) or there are freemium versions available on many platforms.	$0	$20
Social Media Management Tools: If you plan to do social media marketing for your computer upgrading service business, you should consider investing in a social media automation or publishing tool. This will save you time and allow you to track performance and engagement for your posts. Here is a list of 28 best social media tools for your small business.	$0	$50
File Hosting Service: It's important to make sure the information for your computer upgrading service business is stored and protected should something happen to your computer or hard drive. The cost for this is affordable and depends on how much data you need to store. To learn more about the different options and pricing on the market, check out this article.	$0	$299
Total Software Expenses	$162 (min)	$2,894 (max)
Advertising & Marketing Costs
Business Cards: A computer upgrading service business involves quite a bit of customer interaction, whether that is attending tradeshows, sales calls or simply having face to face interaction with prospective clients. Business cards are a great way to stay front of mind with your clients.	$0	$50
Customer Research & Surveys: Many computer upgrading service business's conduct industry and consumer research prior to starting their business. Often times, you need to pay for this data or hire a market research firm to help you in this process.	$0	$300
Affiliate Marketing Commission & Fees: If you want to increase revenue for your computer upgrading service business, affiliate marketing is a great way to promote your product to a new audience. When determining affiliate commission rates you will offer, you will want to take into account the price and margin for your product to ensure affiliate marketing is worth it for your business. According to Monitor Backlinks, the average affiliate commission rate should be somewhere between 5% to 30%. To learn more about how to set commission rates, check out this article..	$0	$250
Influencer Marketing: Partnering with like-minded influencers is one of the most effective ways to grow your social media presence. Many small businesses simply gift a free item in exchange for an influencer post, or pay the influencer directly.	$0	$750
Press: If your business and story is unique enough, press and media attention may come to you, but odds are, you may need to do your own outreach and budget for this. We put together a guide here that discusses different press opportunities (both free and paid).	$0	$500
Google Ads: With Google Ads you have the ability to control how much you spend by simply setting a monthly budget cap. Additionally, with these ads you only pay for results, such as clicks to your website or phone calls! It's okay to start with a small budget at first and make changes accordingly if you see valuable returns.	$0	$300
Facebook & Instagram Ads: With Facebook and Instagram ads, you set your budget and pay for the actions you want (whether that be impressions, conversions, etc).You can learn more about pricing based on your impressions here.	$0	$350
Total Advertising & Marketing Costs	$0 (min)	$2,500 (max)
Website Costs
Domain Name: Your domain name is the URL and name of your website - this is how internet users find you and your website.Domain names are extremely important and should match your company name and brand. This makes it easier for customers to remember you and return to your website.	$12	$200
Business Email Hosting Service: An email hosting runs a dedicated email server. Once you have your domain name, you can set up email accounts for each user on your team. The most common email hosts are G Suite and Microsoft 365 Suite. The number of email accounts you set up will determine the monthly cost breakdown.	$1	$15
Total Website Costs	$13 (min)	$215 (max)
Training & Education Expenses
Professional Training: If you plan to have employees for your computer upgrading service business, training can be time consuming and take you away from growing your business. You may want to consider hiring a professional trainer to onboard your team and put together a training manual with all processes and procedures.	$0	$850
Total Training & Education Expenses	$0 (min)	$850 (max)
Total Starting Costs	$12 (min)	$33,558 (max)

Raising Money For Your Computer Upgrading Service Business

Here are the most common ways to raise money for your computer upgrading service business:

Bootstrapping

You may not need funding for your computer upgrading service business.

In fact, many entrepreneurs take this approach when starting their own business, whether they have a little amount of cash or a substantial amount to get started.

So what exactly does the term "bootstrapping" mean?

This method essentially refers to self-funding your businesswithout external help or capital and reinvesting your earnings back into the business**

Bootstrapping means building your company from the ground up with your own, or your loved ones, personal savings and reinvesting all earnings back into the business

Here are some tips to consider when bootstrapping your business:

Use your savings as your capital - one of the best ways to bootstrap your business is to collect your savings and use them as startup capital. This will also help you avoid using your personal or business credit cards when getting started.
Determine exactly how much capital you need and how much capital you have to get your business off the ground. Generally, when bootstrapping your business, you may want to consider starting a business that involves less startup capital.
Consider starting a business that will generate immediate returns so you can put money back into the business
Be as lean as possible - this refers to cutting down expenses as much as possible, such as payroll, fancy software tools, unnecessary travel, renting an office, etc
Consider outsourcing instead of hiring - in the beginning, you may not need to hire someone permanently to help run your business. It tends to be much less expensive to outsource work to a freelancer and hire someone permanently down the road!

Want to learn more about bootstrapping your business? Check out this article

Business Accelerator

Accelerators are organizations that offer a range of support and funding opportunities for startups.

Typically, this means they help enroll startups in programs that offer mentorship, office space, and resources to grow the business.

These programs are typically 3-4 months and involve intense education and mentorship - most importantly, the startups also offered capital and investment in return for equity.

Here are some of the most popular and well-known startup accelerators in the U.S:

Here are some tips on how to get into an accelerator program:

Have an MVP (Minimal Viable Product) in place
Make sure you have actual customers and an overview of how your business is doing (revenue, site traffic, growth metrics)
Build a team
Crush your interview - this is a critical piece in the process. Know your business and metrics inside out and most importantly, be able to portray what makes it so unique.

Crowdfunding

For your computer upgrading service business, a common way to raise money is through crowdfunding.

So, what does it mean to crowdfund your small business?

Crowdfunding refers to funding a project through many individual investors.

Here are some items to keep in mind when planning your campaign:

Sell more than just your product. Sell your passion, your vision, and your story.
Be real. Give your community honest details about your product.
Treat your audience as your friends (not just potential customers)
Put together a great presentation - it will attract people quicker.

To launch a successful crowdfunding campaign, you first need to select the type of crowdfunding platform to host your campaign.

Here are the most popular crowdfunding platforms to raise money on:

Kickstarter

Funding platform for creative projects.

Pricing: Freemium
Twitter: @kickstarter
Website: kickstarter.com

Businesses using Kickstarter:

90 successful businesses are using Kickstarter ➜

Get Kickstarter ➜

Indiegogo

Crowdfunding platform for innovations in tech and design.

Pricing: Freemium
Twitter: @Indiegogo
Website: indiegogo.com

Businesses using Indiegogo:

34 successful businesses are using Indiegogo ➜

Get Indiegogo ➜

StartEngine

Crowdfunding platform that has helped more than 350 companies raise $175M+ from a community of over 250,000 prospective investors.

Pricing: Free
Twitter: @StartEngineLA
Website: startengine.com

Businesses using StartEngine:

Get StartEngine ➜

Case Study

We connected with one of the most successful Kickstarter campaigns, Photobooth Supply Co, and asked founder, Brandon Wong to give us some insight on his strategy:

Product first, campaign second

So with all of those positive benefits of the platform figured out, we wanted to make sure we had the product itself in the right place before we launched.

We’ve been working on Salsa for a long time now and wouldn’t have felt comfortable revealing the ability to pay for it until we hit a very important milestone. We had a final prototype.

Doing all of the sourcing and actual production is secondary—there was absolutely no way we could have gone public without people being able to see real photos (and touch in person) a functioning prototype.

This meant that we had to do all of the development before we ever saw a cent.

Finding backers in the real world

We launched the product at our annual Booth Summit, which is a convention for photobooth owners to get together and learn from experts in the field. Launching a product in a receptive environment is generally considered to be a good idea. The same was definitely true for us!

We had a crowd of people who had just told us they were dedicated to growing their business… and we had the chance to offer them a way to do just that. I really can’t emphasize enough how important it is to make products that matter for people who will care about them.

This opportunity to see the product in real life was an essential component for our launch, but it might not be the same for you. I think it just shows how essential having a great prototype is. People love to touch and feel what they’re buying, if you’re talking about something physical… you should be able to show a prototype before you ask for money.

Building excitement with even the smallest backers.

We knew that we wanted to have a ton of incentives for early backers so that they’d be rewarded for taking a leap of faith on a new photobooth.

We’re obviously not making a whole lot of money on that first $1999 tier. But it enabled people to be part of something fun.

Every $1999 backer is always going to be able to say, not just that they got a great deal, but that they were one of the first to get on board. It means a lot more than a discount code expiring—just look at how frustrated people are on Twitter when a limited stock of rewards is secretly gobbled up.

Kickstarter doesn’t reveal the names of backers, but it humanizes them. And it just adds to the fun of getting your own spot! Even for someone backing now, they’re able to say that they were an early adopter.

Delivering on our promise

One of the most common critiques of Kickstarter items is that they either never show up or that they take years. I wanted to make sure that our timeline was easy to deliver and also reasonable.

Nobody deserves to wait two years for your product after they pay for it. I felt like we needed to offer a much quicker turnaround than that. We launched on Black Friday 2018 with an estimated delivery of April 2019.

That’s under 6 months and much lower than the average Kickstarter! The most important thing is that we will be able to meet that timeline. You can’t go around promising delivery dates and missing them, this isn’t a consumer product.

Anytime you’re working with the events industry you have to be very transparent and up front about timelines. A bride who books a photobooth needs it to show up on her wedding day. It’s non-negotiable!

Brandon Wong, on starting Photobooth Supply Co. ($500,000/month) full story ➜

VC Funding

VC funding is a traditional and long process, but an effective way to raise money for your business.

The term "VC funding" refers to venture capital firms investing in businesses in exchange for equity.

The VC's (venture capitalists) are an individual or small group investing in your business and typically require substantial ownership of the business, with the hope of seeing a return on their investment.

VC's are typically the best approach for businesses with high startup costs - where it would be very difficult to raise the money on your own or through a loan.

When deciding whether to take this approach, it's important that you have a few things in place first, and know what you're getting yourself into:

Determine if your business is ready

Having an idea is not enough to get VC funding.

Typically, VC's will check to make sure you have these things in place prior to closing any deal:

An MVP (Minimal Viable Product)
A founding team with all proper documents in place (articles of organization, business formation)
A validated idea with actual customers buying your product/service

Get everything in place and build a pitch deck

A VC individual or firm will be expecting a fine-tuned presentation that gives an overview of your business.

Here's what you should consider including in your pitch deck:

Management team, their previous experience + current roles in the business
Market challenge and solution
Company financials - including a P&L statement, cash flow statement, and projections
Company progress
Investment amount - how much do you need and why?

Research the right VC to fund your business

Research the types of VC investors out there and what niche they focus on.

Then, put together a list of target VC's you want to approach and your strategy around setting up meetings.

Be sure you have everything in place (as discussed above) before setting up any meeting!

Make sure the terms and expectations are right for your business

Committing to VC funding is a big deal and a decision that should not be made lightly.

Although the money and experience from VC's can help your business quickly grow, you are also giving away a stake in the company, and the money comes with strings attached.

Be sure you do your due diligence in finding the right investor - one that truly believes in the growth and success of your business.

What Skills Do I Need To Succeed In Starting A Computer Upgrading Service Business?

As a computer upgrading service business, there are several essential skills and characteristics that are important to identify prior to starting your business.

Let’s look at these skills in more detail so you can identify what you need to succeed in your day-to-day business operations:

Resarch and Writing Skills

Research and writing skills are critical when starting a computer upgrading service business. Here's what this looks like:

Basic computer & technology skills (Microsoft office or Google sheets/docs knowledge, data input, and proficiency in typing)
Creativity & originality in your work and approach
Great communication skills and ability to meet deadlines
Understanding of SEO

Other skills that businesses find valuable include digital marketing skills, basic web design, and accounting abilities. Some employers may also look for a computer upgrading service business that has a bachelor's degree or formal education.

Additionally, you may want to consider putting together a portfolio of past work and experience. This includes samples of writing/research pieces, from school projects to internship work to career experience.

Coding Skills

Here are some critical skills you will need to start your computer upgrading service business:

Language acquisition: Common languages include Java, Ruby, Python, HTML)
Creative thinking: Ability to develop innovative solutions and think outside the box
Analytical skills: Ability to troubleshoot issues quickly and efficiently
Attention to detail: Precise and detailed in the approach so that little to no errors arise
Calm & Collective: Critical that you are able to stay patient when challenges arise
Communication skills: The ability to explain your approach in a clear and concise way that all team members can understand.

To see more skills and qualities people look for in a computer upgrading service business, check out this article.

Design Skills

Whether you are the one designing the product or the decision-maker for the product, an eye for design is critical when starting a computer upgrading service business. Here's what this looks like:

Creative Thinking - the ability to develop or design different products or ideas
Visualization - being able to imagine or visualize how the product will look
Articulation - the ability to communicate what the design will look like and how it will be executed
Detail-oriented - paying close attention to all of the small pieces when designing or working on a project
Some technical skills - knowledge of the design software you are using to create the product or build prototypes.

Other skills that may be valuable to have when starting a computer upgrading service business include digital marketing skills, branding experience, and basic business knowledge.

Business Savvy Skills

When starting a computer upgrading service business, there are a few fundamental business skills you will want to learn in order to be successful:

Leadership and training skills: A great team starts with YOU. Make sure you have all company policies and training procedures in place prior to hiring your team
Decisive and self-confident: Over the course of your career, you will need decisions that could impact your business significantly. It's important you are able to think clearly and rationally about these decisions.
Ability to understand the financials: You don't need to be an accountant, but it is important that you are able to clearly understand and define metrics such as expenses, revenue, profit, margins, COGS, etc.
Strategic Thinking: Setting clear goals and benchmarks, identifying opportunities, risks. Ability to effectively communicate these insights to your team.

These are a few of many business savvy skills you should have (or work on) when starting a computer upgrading service business.

For a full list, check out this article here.

*Negotiation Skills

The ability to negotiate on behalf of your client will be an essential part of your every day job.

This is one of the most important qualities you can have when starting a computer upgrading service business, so it's important you practice and perfect these skills.

Here's what this looks like:

Ability to analyze all parts of the deal: your biggest power is to understand and analyze all parts of the deal for your client, choose when to walk away, and know to what lengths you can negotiate a deal.
Building rapport: This is key in the computer upgrading service business. You are much likely to reach an agreement and favorable terms if you spend just a few moments getting to know each other before talking about the deal at stake.
Be diplomatic: Being in control of any situation presented and showing intention with your words are key qualities for someone in this line of work. This includes asking good questions and listening actively.

Becoming a good negotiator does not happen overnight, but as long as you are persistent with practicing these skills and putting them into action, you will see growth day by day!

Customer Service Skills

Friendly communication with customers and the ability to address service issues is a critical part of the job.

Here are some customer service skills you may want to consider prior to starting a computer upgrading service business:

Professionalism: The way you act, present yourself, and respond to situations all leave an impression on your customer. It's important to stay professional at all times when handling customer requests or issues.
Problem-solving: When issues arise, it's important that you are able to think quick on your feet and address the situation with a calm and clear solution
Friendly-manner: This is an obvious one, but customers truly appreciate someone that can respond in a quick, efficient, and friendly manner.
Proficient in writing: These skills include the ability to write well-crafted emails, service tickets, and any other programs used by the business (ie. chat functions, SMS texting)

Advice For Starting A Computer Upgrading Service Business

We've interviewed thousands of successful founders at Starter Story and asked what advice they would give to entrepreneurs who are just getting started.

Here's the best advice we discovered for starting a computer upgrading service business:

Write a Business Plan

Writing a business plan from the start is critical for the success of your computer upgrading service business.

Why?

Because this allows you to roadmap exactly what you do, what your overall structure will look like, and where you want to be in the future.

For many entrepreneurs, writing out the business plan helps validate their idea and decide whether or not they should move forward with starting the business.

You may want to consider expanding upon these sections in your business plan:

Executive Summary: Brief outline of your product, the market, and growth opportunities
Overviews and Objectives: Overview of your business, target customers, and what you need to run your business
Products and Services: Specifics on the products and services your business will provide
Market Opportunities: Analysis of customer demographics, buyer habits and if your product is in demand
Marketing: Outline of your marketing plan and how you plan to differentiate yourself from other customers
Competitive analysis: Analysis of your competition and the strengths and weaknesses therein
Operations: Hierarchal structure of the company and what it will take to run the business on the day-to-day
Leadership Team: Detailing roles and responsibilities of each manager based on their specific skill-set
Financial Analysis Understanding of all expenses, operating budgets, and projections for the future.

Learn more about how to write a business plan here

Determine Which Business Bank Account You Need

There are hundreds of banks out there, and it can be overwhelming to find one that's right for your business.

Here are some factors you may want to consider:

Location - Is your bank close enough that you can easily make deposits or get cash?
Low Fees - Make sure to understand any and all fees associated with setting up and maintaining your bank account. Ask for a list - banks usually try to keep this hidden and in the fine print.
Online Banking Services - Make sure you can easily navigate through your online portal and you have easy access to everything you need.
Line of Credit - What do your options look like (even if you don't need this now, you may need this down the road).
Every bank has something that differentiates them from the rest, so make sure whatever that is applied to your needs and values.

Check out this list of the 13 Best Banks for Small Business in 2020 and what makes them so unique.

Setting Up Your Computer Upgrading Service Business (Formation and Legal)

When it comes to setting up your business, you may find yourself in a place where you have to make some financial and legal decisions.

The first thing you'll want to decide on is whether you want to be an LLC, S-Corp, or C-Corp.

These three options are found to be the most common when starting a small business, and all serve to protect your personal assets and also provide you with certain tax benefits.

LLC: All income and expenses from the business are reported on the LLC personal income tax return.
S corp: Owners pay themselves salaries + receive dividends from profits.
C Corp: C Corps are separately taxable entities that file a corporate tax return (Form 1120). No income tax is paid at the corporate level and any tax due is paid at the owners individual expense.

Depending on where you're conducting business, you'll also want to consider securing the proper permits, licenses and liability insurance.

Learn more about securing the right permits and licenses ➜

Need to start an LLC? Create an LLC in minutes with ZenBusiness.

How Do I Pay Myself As A Small Business Owner?

Most entrepreneurs start a business to do something they love- but at the end of the day, you still have bills to pay (maybe now more than ever).

But it's important to strike the right balance - if you pay yourself too much, you could be putting your business at risk.

There are two common ways to pay yourself as a business owner:

1. Owner's Draw

Many entrepreneurs pay themselves through an owner's draw. This means that you are technically sean as "self-employed" through the eyes of the IRS and are not paid through regular wages.

At the point that you collect money from the draw, taxes typically are not taken out - so make sure you are prepared to pay these taxes once you file your individual return.

As an owner who takes a draw, you can legally take out as much as you want from your equity.

This type of compensation is suited for Sole props, LLCs, and partnerships. If you’re an S corp, you can pay yourself through both a salary and draw if you choose.

2. Salary

If you decide to pay yourself a salary, you will receive a set and recurring amount. This will be taxed by the federal government and the state you reside in.

The reality is that it can be really complicated to set your own salary, so we have some tips for you to consider:

Take out a reasonable amount that allows you to live comfortably but also sets your business up for success
Consider the number of hours you are working weekly + the type of duties you are performing.
Set your salary based on your industry-standard, location, and profits (or projected profits)
Look at your P&L statement: Deduct your own pay from that amount. This is important so you can first tackle important business expenses, and then pay yourself from the amount leftover.
Pick a payroll schedule (and stick to it)! In the US, it's most common to pay yourself and employees twice a month.

https://media.giphy.com/media/xT0xeLTRncS90ptpfi/giphy.gif

To learn more about how to pay yourself and what is a reasonable amount, check out this article.

How To Price Your Computer Upgrading Service

One of the most challenging aspects to starting a computer upgrading service business is determining how much to charge for your computer upgrading service.

When businesses under-price their product, this can be extremely detrimental to their bottom line and reputation.

Often times, businesses under-price their products to drive demand and volume, but that last thing you want is for customers to view your product/service as "cheap." Additionally, this can have a big impact on the type of customer you attract, which can be difficult to recover from.

On the other hand, when businesses over-price, this tends to be just as damaging to the business.

When customers buy, it's likely that they will explore the internet and look at other competitors to ensure they're getting the best value + deal. This is why it's so important that you research your competition and understand where you land in the marketplace.

Here are some factors to consider when pricing your product:

Understand your customer

It's important that out of the gates, you identify the type of customer you want to attract and how much they're willing to pay for your service. One great way to do this is by surveying your customers. Here are some important items you'll want to takeaway:

Customer demographic: Age, gender, location, etc.
Buying habits of your customer: What they buy + when they buy
Level of price sensitivity with your customer

All of these segments will help you identify the type of customer you're attracting and how to price your product accordingly.

Understand your costs

When pricing your computer upgrading service, it's critical that you first identify all of your costs and consequently mark up your computer upgrading service so you can factor in a profit.

The actual cost of your computer upgrading service may include things like:

The actual cost to make the product (ie. raw materials, supplies, manufacturer).
Shipping + overhead fees
Rent
Operating costs to run your business

You may want to consider creating a spreadsheet with every single expense involved in operating/owning your business. This will give you an idea as to what you need to generate in order to at the very least, break-even and will help you price your products to factor in a profit.

Create revenue goals

When determining the price of your computer upgrading service, you'll want to create goals for revenue + how much profit you want your computer upgrading service business to make.

This process is simpler than you may think:

Think about your breakeven cost (by completing the above step).
Create a revenue goal based on your break-even cost
Evaluate the # of items you plan to sell in a given period (make sure this is a realistic number)
Divide your revenue goal by the number of items you plan to sell

This figure will help determine your estimated price per product in order to meet your revenue goals.

Evaluate your competition

The last piece in determining how to price your computer upgrading service is by simply looking at your competition.

The best way to do this is by finding like-minded businesses that offer product(s) with similar perceived value. Then, you can compare prices of the different businesses and determine where your computer upgrading service fits best in the marketplace.

All of these factors play an equal part in pricing your computer upgrading service, so it's important you evaluate each one individually to come up with an accurate price that will help optimize your business from the start.

Gross Margin Calculator: How to Calculate The Gross Margin For Your Computer Upgrading Service

Our calculator is designed to be simple and easy to use.

The goal is to help you set realistic expectations and understand what is considered a healthy gross margin for your computer upgrading service business.

Calculate your gross margin and profit margin here.

Building an MVP (Minimal Viable Product)

When building a computer upgrading service business, it's critical that you first validate your product/service rather than rushing to build it right away.

This could save you months, if not years of building the wrong product/service.

If you're hoping to decrease any sort of risk that comes with launching your computer upgrading service business, designing a prototype can be a great way to de-risk your situation.

The point of your computer upgrading service prototype is that it doesn't have to be perfect.

In the beginning stages, it doesn't matter how rough V1 of your prototype is, it's more important to just get started and you can always refine from there based on feedback from your network and most importantly your customers.

How To Build A MVP

Here are several different ways of building a prototype/MVP:

Start by building a landing page to see if customers actually need your product and if they are willing to pay for it
Build a very basic version of your idea and ask for immediate feedback from potential customers
Present a problem and solution via Facebook/Instagram Ads and see what the response is like

How To Find The Right Developer For Your Computer Upgrading Service Business

If you (or others on your team) don't have the necessary coding/design skills to build the product on your own, finding the right developer for your computer upgrading service business is a critical piece to bringing your idea to life.

Prior to hiring someone, you'll want to:

Have a very clear understanding of what your product (or MVP) will look like
Understand what the details of the user experience will look like (pages, how users sign up, backend administrative details, billing, reports etc). It may help to draw out the prototype and UX experience on a design platform such as Sketch
Understand what features you want to implement now and even those in the future
Understand the costs and time associated with hiring a developer and set a budget (more on that below)

Here are some ways you can find a developer:

Upwork
TopTal
Uplink
Adeva
Use your network or attend a conference!

Case Study

Arielle Frank, founder of Clout Collective talks about her experiences and lessons learned when hiring a developer as a non-technical founder:

My first attempt to find a developer was a massive failure. I was basically screaming to be taken advantage of with my lack of technical knowledge and a heart full of hope. I signed an extremely unfavorable contract with a developer based in Morocco who claimed to offer “discounted” development services in exchange for equity in the company. By “discounted” I mean that it would cost only $40K to build the MVP. At the time I had no frame of reference for whether or not this was normal and justified it to myself.

Luckily, after a lot more internet sleuthing, I found my current developer, Adeva. Working with Adeva was the opposite experience of my initial encounter in every way. At $8K, Adeva’s quote for my MVP was literally 1/5th the cost of the original developer! I decided to save money on a front-end designer for V1 by using a template and designing things where I could in Figma.

I was forced to figure out many of the details and features of the platform upfront since Adeva couldn’t give me a quote without detailed user stories.

When building out the prospective features, I tried to focus on the end result and work backward from there.

For example, the end goal was for a content creator to be able to read a review and know whether or not they want to collaborate with a specific brand. I used this goal to inform the questions I collected for the reviews and the best way to display this info. During this phase, I also relied heavily on my beta testers for feedback about which info would be the most useful for them.

It’s tempting to add a bunch of cool, slick features when you’re building your product, but my brilliant mentor encouraged me to focus on doing one thing extremely well.

Wilson Hung, on starting ARPU (/month) full story ➜

🚀 How To Launch Your Computer Upgrading Service Business

Build A Website

Building a website is imperative when launching your business, and with the right tools in place, this can be a simple task to check off the list (without having to hire someone).

Pick a domain name that's easy to remember and easy to type
Choose a Web Hosting Plan (ie. Shopify, Squarespace)
Make sure you choose the right theme and design
Implement the proper page structure (ie. about page, contact page, pricing etc)

To learn more about how to build a stellar website with little stress, we give you all the details on this step-by-step guide.

Web Design

Once you have chosen the domain, web hosting, and platform, it's time to get started with the design phase.

Themes are a great way to produce the fundamental style and identity of your website - this includes everything from your font design to your blog post styles.

One of the best ways to get started is to simply explore the various themes (free or paid depending on what you're looking for) and test them on your site.

If web-design really isn't in the cards for you, you may want to consider outsourcing a web designer to help bring your vision and brand to life.

Launch Strategies For Your Computer Upgrading Service Business

There are various different ways you can launch your computer upgrading service business successfully.

Here are a few different strategies to get customers excited about your computer upgrading service business.

Build hype with a landing page: you can effectively do this through waiting lists, discounts, countdown timer etc
Create a teaser video: even just a 30 second video is a great way to exposure for your computer upgrading service business, and possibly even go viral
Reach out to influencers: The right influencer for your product has the ability to reach your audience with just one post, and because of their loyal following, this could lead to a big return for you.
Get Press: Whether you plan a PR stunt or get exposure through a popular news outlet, this is a great way to attract initial customers
Launch on popular sites: A great way to get buzz about your computer upgrading service business is to submit your launch to popular startup sites.

Here are a few popular sites to launch on:

Learn more about how to launch your business successfully ➜ here

OWC Larry, founder of OWC (Other World Computing, Inc.) dives deep into the process of launching the business:

Case Study

Launching the business was all about getting the word out. The 'reinking' biz was walking around town, offering a free sample reink' and loading up customers. It was an excellent experience to learn to communicate and interact professionally. I'd had years of experience with my dad and, again, priceless. But doing is different from observing and is the most excellent way to learn anything. As I went into the computer technology space, it was all about getting on the different BBS (electronic Bulletin Board Systems) to post text ads, a little CompuServe, and found great initial success on the early AOL (America Online) mall classifieds. Any place and every place that was free or nearly free, I put my ads up that touted our upgrades and the how-to support.

Due to the premium resellers in the Apple space having gotten used to charging (like a 3-4X over reasonable price), there was lots of room to be competitive to the degree that made us worth giving a shot. The quality of what we delivered and the support and service that came with it made word of mouth our most significant accelerant. I didn't have my first employees until 1990 but always referred to us, and us as OWC was technically its entity. It wasn't long before I had many customers and, between OWC and school demands, I resigned from my dad's company.

At the time, the entire company was funded by a Citibank AA credit card. I had the lucky convenience of my first name and middle initial being the same as my dad's. Computer records were not as thorough back then, and it's possible they misread the year for my date of birth when they issued the card, although I was a few years under 18. My dad was aware of the card I'd received and ultimately said OKAY, was supportive, and also said - that card gets paid off every month - no credit card debt. To this day, that advice is one of the best things of many he ingrained in me. This credit card also provided travel miles that could be used for both airfare and hotels. In addition to supporting the inventory turnover and making magazine ad payments convenient, the points also are what paid for my team and me to do our first Applefest trade shows in 1990 and onward. While I would ultimately get a bank loan later, what is now an international operation got going with the points and line of credit on just a credit card.

Everything in this life is learned by doing. I hated making mistakes and letting any customer down. You learn early in life that intentions aren't actions, and you need to adjust your commitments to what you can do well and deliver best. You get one chance to have a customer for life or someone that will never come back. You have one chance to create loyalty and positive word of mouth. Being properly capitalized goes a very long way too. By 1998 or so, OWC had grown past 7 million in annual revenue but was very capital limited.

The banks in Woodstock didn't understand my business and wouldn't loan to the inventory and Accounts Receivable levels we maintained. I will never forget when a banker from Chicago walked in while looking for business accounts, heard me out, looked at our physical inventory - reviewed our A/R, and it was about two weeks later I had over double the working capital available. From that point on, OWC exploded with growth. And sleepless nights, worrying about having the funds needed for payroll, inventory, etc. - were in the past. At that time, OWC purchased just about everything on COD. Further, it used to take 3-5 days for credit card billing to be posted to the bank account by having the funds needed to maintain operations and inventory during high growth with those factors.

Other aspects learned and observed come down to ethics and accounting. If OWC was going to fail, the highest probability time was between 1995 and 1996. I did all the accounting myself until mid-1996, and as the company grew and our customer base grew, a brand-new challenge emerged that I'd not experienced when I pretty much knew every customer, we sold to Credit Card fraud. Credit card fraud came very close to bankrupting OWC. If I could do it over again, I'd have hired the right kind of accounting staff much sooner, so that time would have been there to nip that new trend much faster than I did while trying to do everything else.

I was also naive. I had no idea of the kind of dishonesty that existed in the world and was unprepared for the issue of fraud. With help from my dad, I hired a fantastic accounting manager who not only helped me clean up everything but took a huge load off my plate so I could focus on the things that made OWC grow. This entire experience also led me to design fraud prevention software that was used on our website.

It's funny that this is an industry we innovated in, but only for our operation and wouldn't be the only example. Whether our method for fraud screening, return policy, etc. All our processes were intended to make sure the sliver out there that were not the customers we wanted or were fraud attempts would not get in the way and negatively impact our experience customers. I had seen that in many businesses where the bar was set by the worst as opposed to working to protect the business without treating your real customers as if they were criminals.

Early days:

OWC Larry, on starting OWC (Other World Computing, Inc.) ($13,500,000/month) full story ➜

🌱 How To Grow Your Computer Upgrading Service Business

🏃🏼‍♀️ How To Run Your Computer Upgrading Service Business

How To Retain Customers For Your Computer Upgrading Service Business

Retaining customers is one of the most effective ways to grow your computer upgrading service business.

Oftentimes, it's easy to find yourself focusing on generating new customers, vs retaining your current ones.

Look at it this way - you are 60-70% more likely to sell a new product to an existing customer than you are a new customer.

That's not to say that finding new customers and revenue streams is not important, however, the easiest (and most inexpensive) source of new revenue is right there in front of you.

Here are some ways you can retain customers for your computer upgrading service business:

Responding to comments on social media
Send discounts (or freebies) to loyal customers
Provide valuable content, for free
Write a hand written thank you note
Provide awesome customer service and build relationships with customers

To find out more tips and tricks on retaining customers, check out this article ➜ here

OWC Larry, founder of OWC (Other World Computing, Inc.) dives deep into the process of attracting and retaining customers:

Case Study

Although today we are building an aggressive outbound sales capability, OWC from the beginning and still today is largely an outbound marketing force that brings customers into our website, channel partners, and inside sales team.

It's certainly evolved over the years from a substantial contribution from both print publications, trade shows, our website/SEO (Search Engine Optimization), and online advertisements to today, where social media, online ads/reviews, and our website are the primary drivers. Strong online SEO from good, accurate content has been a massive part of no link farms, just actual content that answers people's questions.

Your problems can't be your customer's problems in terms of expectations set and then missed.

Here are some more concrete ways we’ve grown the business:

How To Content

For over two decades, we have produced free, online, how-to videos that anyone can use. Give people reasons to come and learn about your company and what you offer. You don't have to force someone vs. to allow them to benefit from your knowledge, hoping they will become a customer.

Earning the trust and a strong word-of-mouth presence is priceless. The model has always been about customers for life, OWC team for life. Don't oversell. Support the real needs and earn the trust that will bring that customer back time and time again.

Press Releases

Starting in 2004, press releases had a considerable impact; there is no better way to introduce new products and services than a well-supported press release. Support means having your website ready with content that the release links to support reviewers who request those new items following a release.

And writing it with the company culture, real information, and the right words that bolster the SEO aligning with your site. It's about being real, not fluffy. Writing smart, not just trying to hit keywords - having accurate content that people want to read and thus helps propagate.

In addition to building the company's exposure, solid press releases also build your authority and lead to press opportunities above and beyond just the topics in various releases.

Customer Retention

Retaining customers is easy when you lead by example and build a team with passion and care for everyone, allowing you to be your customer. It's not about the size of the order. It's about making sure you are the go-to forever for each customer and those they will refer to you.

You never know what $50 order will lead to thousands of dollars or more in ongoing orders, customer referrals, etc. Knocking a customer's socks off on a small order builds trust and confidence no less than when it's a large order. Every customer is essential. Now, the customer is not always right - but always try to make it suitable for every customer regardless.

I'd add one other piece in here - just like the buck stops with you, every employee's action is ultimately cast as a reflection on you and your company - the same goes for general challenges in supply, delivery, etc. Although there is more forgiveness when a delivery carrier messes up, customers still look to you if you've allowed that carrier to be an option they can select - free or paid. Further, the most frustrating thing is when a supplier lets you down. Still, you learn that buffering those kinds of issues is essential as the customer only sees that you didn't deliver to them - it doesn't matter what you've busted your tail for in the backend. It comes down to what you said you'd do if you end up not being able to.

Your problems can't be your customer's problems in terms of expectations set and then missed. Always set yourself up to have high customer expectations and trust while still under-promise and over-deliver. I learned decades ago when analyzing customer feedback data that even being perfect to a commitment advertised can lead to scoring that isn't perfect. It's a fine line, but there is little room to over-deliver, delivery is faster - exceeding expectations is where you see the perfect 10s.

OWC Woodstock Campus:

This is the Woodstock campus and shows the OWC wind turbine

OWC Larry, on starting OWC (Other World Computing, Inc.) ($13,500,000/month) full story ➜

Diversify Your Product Line

Adding new products to your business is a great way to expand into new markets and grow your business.

It's important to note that adding new products and diversifying may not be in the cards for you right this moment, and that's okay. You can always consider it down the road.

Here are some reasons you may want to considering adding/diversifying your product

Meeting the needs of your customers
Establish yourself as a top provider in your industry and stay ahead of the game with competition
Resistance to downturns/trends fading
Create new revenue streams

Resources

We put together the best resources on the internet to help you start your computer upgrading service business.

Tools

Social media tools such as Instagram, Twitter or YouTube
Advertising tools such as Apple Search Ads

Books

Web Resources

Videos

Case Studies

I Was Too Young To Drive But Started My Business Anyway: Now We're Approaching $200M/Year

Part of

Starting A Computer Upgrading Service Business: Everything You Need To Know

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meet the author

Pat Walls

I'm Pat Walls and I created Starter Story - a website dedicated to helping people start businesses. We interview entrepreneurs from around the world about how they started and grew their businesses.

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