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I am wanting to start my own company and wonder if anyone has any thoughts or experience they would like to share. It would only be me for now and start out as a evenings/weekends side job. This is just some planning for the following years to come.

I recently finished my schooling for IT, mainly learning networking, servers, Windows, Linux, hardware, ITIL. I am 22 and will be working full time in IT but would one day like to have my own company. I live in a small town of 15000 people, with the major city about 45 minute drive away of 750000 people. My town is a little behind on technology so I feel there is a good market for IT(probably a MSP) to start up.

I know enough networking to set up a home or small business, I can set up various servers, I have worked with cabling and hardware lots in my previous job, I am good hands on and with tools as well. I have good social skills and would be comfortable talking with customers. I have some cash available for various startup costs(tools, parts, etc.).

  • Tips for working with customers in home projects?

  • Should I start out installing home entertainment, small business networking, servers

  • What could start up doing that can help build the name but doesn’t have a lot of risk?

  • What are some obstacles that may come my way?

  • How do I set up prices? Do I offer free work/very cheap to start to gain some extra experience?

  • How can I get publicity for my company? social media, advertising, word of mouth?

  • Do you have any stories that could help?

EDIT: Fixed a few things up since the post got featured.

55 Spice ups
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Just from reading this, I’d strongly suggest to keep your job and first make a very thorough business plan.

Most points and questions you asked a cringe worthy …

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Get some nice business cards, let everyone know you are available to help, and see what happens. A lot of the details don’t matter until you’ve had some paying customers and a little experience. I’d start pricing on the lower end to get some good referrals since you can always raise the prices later. Word of mouth will likely be your best marketing so over deliver and ask for testimonials whenever you can.

There are a few online services that match people to tech gigs (like Uber does for rides) that could help you get your feet wet.

I’ve found that working with small businesses is more interesting, profitable, and rewarding than helping home users.

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I mentioned in the post that it was a side job startup,

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That’s pretty cool, the issue is, doing this on the evening and weekends limits your options, a LOT. You do NOT want to do residential / private stuff. Stay the heck away from that.

Did you actually work in IT? the issue is what they teach you VS real world hands on experience, things are a LOT different.

How does the competition look like? Are there others offering services? Are there MSPs in the area? It’s a tough market.

The issue is usually not the setup but the follow through, ongoing maintenance, what if it breaks? what if it is something you break, what if you can’t fix it?
What if you did not break it but the customer claims you did? In SMB and home stuff, happens sadly all the time.

1 - Again I’d stay the heck away from home users, at least go with small businesses. Do you know a few who would hire you?
2 - ??
3 - omg many any, read above
4 - No, you do not want offer free work. Usually the MSP market is already super competitive. maybe get a quote from a competitor to gauge what they charge and see how you can adjust pricing.

5 - all of that, but word of mouth is usually the best way. be professional, do good work and people will recommend you, have businessscards, a good website, put businesscards and flyer in all locations they let you, maybe get a few cheap car magnets and see if you can ad dit on your car and maybe friends of your or whatever to promote a little

Bottom line, much much much planning to do here. Good luck!!

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Create a Business Plan is what I would do.

As a side business, I think that’s a good starting point. Eventually your company might move towards a direction where the market needs are. I would try to keep a low overhead as much as possible. And VERY good bookkeeping is VERY important. Don’t get in debt.

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Another suggestion is to do pro-bono work for non-profit organizations to have it on your portfolio. Maybe do one or two projects for them.

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Assuming you’re in the US, I’d suggest contacting SCORE . It’s a volunteer organization that specializes in helping people start small businesses.

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Canada actually. I can look around for a Canadian version of the company though. Thanks!

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Take all the side work you can get your hands on regardless of the"specific" area of electronics i.e. don’t turn down home entertainment because you only work on PCs. At some point you will gravitate towards an area you like most, be it networking, management or other. The whole time you will be gaining the experience you desperately need to run a successful business on your own.

Then there is insurance, bonding and incorporating - all 3 are a must or you risk everything you own. Incorporating protects your personal assets from being taken away from you in a legal action. Insurance pays for your mistakes and bonding absolves your customers from any liability. This explanation is grossly oversimplified and I strongly suggest you seek legal advice from an attorney in business law… Oh and don’t forget your business taxes, you’ll need a CPA for that.

Hmm - suddenly working for someone else is not so bad :confused:

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My girlfriends family owns a merchandise franchise they have lots to offer in help from a business side so luckily I have all that help on the hard parts. My biggest issue is getting my foot in the door. Makes sense though to just take everything and see where i end up, strengths and which work i like better will help in the long run. thanks!

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Most people put in 15-20 years i the field then start on their own. I suggest you get a job at a MSP and learn on the job, then start your own company. Its hard to trust a kid fresh out of college to touch any of my production servers.

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Ya definitely, luckily my current job is with the city government so I am learning lots and gaining a very good reputation for my work. I think i may end up having doing more home/personal jobs to start out. There is no MSP in my town of 15000 so there is hope I could be the company to fill that.

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Stay away from home users. They are the absolute worse users out there and will not want to pay. Then in 6 months when they break something it will be your fault.

Keep the day job for now and learn all you can. If you get customers now and tell them you are only available after hours then that can work. However be prepared for that emergency call from one of your side jobs and they need you now.

Sounds like you got a good start but have a long way to go. Build a test lab and start configuring routers and switches. Get routing and networking under you belt.

You can always just print up some business cards and hand them out.

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I would go work for an MSP first. You have nearly zero experience and you just got out of school. Go work for a successful provider first, to see how one actually operates.

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Had one come back 10 months after a lightning strike, that was obviously my fault since the new NIC was not lightning proof.
So, yeah well…

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I am working for the government managing the major citys IT devices, that is where i am getting my experience.

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No no no. Government is the WORST place worldwide to get experience. (apologies to those in gov)

That is the land of madness. That is not real commercial companies. Look for an MSP role or join an IT team, get out of Gov before they teach you how to do everything wrong.

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I do not have any MSP in my town and the GOV job lets me work with tons of different devices, I get lots of hands on time with the computers fixing/replacing them since there are so many. I have lots of social interactions through out the day which will eventually help when I am dealing with customers. I get to work with all the different server features involved and understand how the major networking for the company is done.

Closest thing to an msp in my town would be selling computer parts and maybe once or twice a month fixing a computer with viruses, also i think they would go broke having an extra hired staff instead of the old man running the place.

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ive just let down my own company behind after 12 years.

Trust me!!

Dont associate with your family or friends.

You will lost both of them

bussiness are bussiness not for family or friends. be your own boss and partner

@louisdurand

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