PCMech Forums - View Single Post - How Much do you charge to do a custom build or repair?

**Panama Red** · 09-21-2005, 10:35 PM

Seems like there's plenty of opinions on this subject. Here's mine. Computer repair is a hobby for me but I treat it like a real business. I printed business cards and have set fees for services. If this was my only source of income I'd probably charge more than I do. I've been doing this now for a little over two years and it just keeps growing.

For a cleanup/restoration - $50. This includes removal of viruses/trojans/adware/spyware and installation of Adaware, Spybot, AVG, and MS AntiSpyware along with instructions on how to run them. I also clean all the dust and dirt from the case and make sure all the hardware is fuctioning properly. Often I pick the machine up from the customer and reinstall it for them.

If conventional cleanup tools don't make significant progress in a couple of hours, I recommend a reformat and reinstall. That's a $75 fee. May also include pickup and deliver/installation. Any parts needed for either of these, inlcuding software, I charge at cost divided by .85 to make 15% profit. I keep over $1000 worth of parts in stock in order to provide faster service. My goal is to get a customer's computer back in 24 - 48 hours.

New builds I estimate in advance. I charge $100 labor and cost plus 5% for parts. The 5% ranges from $20 - $50 and pays for the phone support and any freight charges I may incur for returning parts under warranty. I use nothing but Antec cases/power supplies, Asus or Intel mobo's, and all the names we are all used to hearing here at the Mech. This allows me to promote a 3 year warranty on all key components. All my builds are for home or small office use so nearly all utilize mobo's with onboard video, audio, and lan.

I prefer to NOT do any onsite troubleshooting unless it involves network issues. My Comcast high speed allows for faster downloads/updates and I don't have customer help (make that interference!). I charge $25/hour for onsite service. Network setups usually run $50 plus parts and I make custom length Cat5e/ethernet cables. Parts again are 15% profit and I charge Cat5e at 15 cents a foot. (I get it for free from a friend in the cable biz).

I charge the same for friends and relatives as I do for folks I've never met before. My rates are so low, I defy any of my friends to find someone else to do the quality of work I do for less than I charge. Not only do they not question my charges, they trust my judgement and recommend me to all of their friends. My only advertising is a happy customer. I give everyone 4 or 5 of my business cards when I return their computer so they can recommend me to someone else. I also put a custom label on every machine I build or service with my business name, address and phone number just in case they loose my card.

I hope this helps some of you develop your own price guide for your business/hobby. Above all else, enjoy the work, invest the money and make new friends.

09-21-2005, 10:35 PM	#13
Panama Red Served with Pride Staff Premium Member Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: near the left coast of Michigan Posts: 14,565	Seems like there's plenty of opinions on this subject. Here's mine. Computer repair is a hobby for me but I treat it like a real business. I printed business cards and have set fees for services. If this was my only source of income I'd probably charge more than I do. I've been doing this now for a little over two years and it just keeps growing. For a cleanup/restoration - $50. This includes removal of viruses/trojans/adware/spyware and installation of Adaware, Spybot, AVG, and MS AntiSpyware along with instructions on how to run them. I also clean all the dust and dirt from the case and make sure all the hardware is fuctioning properly. Often I pick the machine up from the customer and reinstall it for them. If conventional cleanup tools don't make significant progress in a couple of hours, I recommend a reformat and reinstall. That's a $75 fee. May also include pickup and deliver/installation. Any parts needed for either of these, inlcuding software, I charge at cost divided by .85 to make 15% profit. I keep over $1000 worth of parts in stock in order to provide faster service. My goal is to get a customer's computer back in 24 - 48 hours. New builds I estimate in advance. I charge $100 labor and cost plus 5% for parts. The 5% ranges from $20 - $50 and pays for the phone support and any freight charges I may incur for returning parts under warranty. I use nothing but Antec cases/power supplies, Asus or Intel mobo's, and all the names we are all used to hearing here at the Mech. This allows me to promote a 3 year warranty on all key components. All my builds are for home or small office use so nearly all utilize mobo's with onboard video, audio, and lan. I prefer to NOT do any onsite troubleshooting unless it involves network issues. My Comcast high speed allows for faster downloads/updates and I don't have customer help (make that interference!). I charge $25/hour for onsite service. Network setups usually run $50 plus parts and I make custom length Cat5e/ethernet cables. Parts again are 15% profit and I charge Cat5e at 15 cents a foot. (I get it for free from a friend in the cable biz). I charge the same for friends and relatives as I do for folks I've never met before. My rates are so low, I defy any of my friends to find someone else to do the quality of work I do for less than I charge. Not only do they not question my charges, they trust my judgement and recommend me to all of their friends. My only advertising is a happy customer. I give everyone 4 or 5 of my business cards when I return their computer so they can recommend me to someone else. I also put a custom label on every machine I build or service with my business name, address and phone number just in case they loose my card. I hope this helps some of you develop your own price guide for your business/hobby. Above all else, enjoy the work, invest the money and make new friends. Last edited by Panama Red; 09-21-2005 at 10:38 PM.