Poll: Down to Business

[The_Healer]

No this is not a thread involving sweaty and lustful encounters with a girl whose name you don't know and just want to get 'insert thread title here' with. GET THE FUCK AWAY FROM THE BROWSER'S BACK BUTTON!

I just want feedback on an idea I've had on how to earn some extra money.

Background:
I am a 1st year uni student who has a very full schedule and has trouble fitting in conventional work due to restrictive hours. Currently I am only earning ~$160 a fortnight total. This is not enough for me to have money to enjoy (like taking my girlfriend out to dinner) as well as pay for food and transport every day. So I want more money.

Idea:
I want to start my own small scale computer assembly company focusing on customer service and good prices. The focus would be on providing computers for families or other students, purpose built to what they require it for.
The focus for this group would be to alleviate them from dealing with the jargon etc. they are faced every time they go to buy a new PC and just providing them with a machine that does what they need it to.
I would also offer gaming and more high performance machines with a higher degree of personal customization to those who are interested.

I would offer free delivery and installation for all complete systems and an additional price for those who just want parts delivered/installed. This would be within a certain area of course.

As for prices, I would get an ABN (Australian Business Number) and therefore be able to deal with suppliers directly and would be able to therefore offer very cheap prices. Particularly as I'm not trying to earn a complete living, I just want some extra cash.

Assembly would be done at home (in my very large bedroom) and I would therefore have very few running costs. Advertising could be done around uni, not on the escapist, on random noticeboards and possibly at my old school (The source of my current, meager income).

I can design my own logos and website and therefore this would cost me nothing.

Note: I do not have any qualifications in the area but have built computers before and done a lot of fixing of both hardware and software problems. So sue me. (Not really)

Note 2: This idea would only be for homes and not businesses. Businesses make shit complex.

Anyway, tell me what you think of my idea.

Go on, pick out all the little holes in my plan and shout at me until I think of a way around them.

I thank you for advance for any feedback. And no this is not advertising so stfu. (My business doesn't even exist yet)

 

[Jamash]

It sounds like an good idea, but do you have enough free time to offer all those things?

Would your good customer service extend to dropping whatever uni work or lecture you had to help fix a customer's problem?

Also, in such a technological and skilled industry, would your lack of recognised or official qualifications be a stumbling block in obtaining customers, especially unknowledgeable home users who are impressed by qualifications and things like 9-5, 7 days a week technical support?

 

[clipse15]

I just don't see you making a lot of money with this idea. I don't think you have a viable market. People who don't have a lot of computer knowledge would hav other probably better options than you for they're needs. People who have a lot of computer knowledge will skip over you completely.

 

[Crazy_Bird]

Just go with it. i am a student in business administration and know it can be a hassle but if you want your own business and the freedom associated with this, it will work out.
Even if you were to fail, what I do not wish you my friend, you will learn a lot from the experience and you won't want to miss it.

So think about the stuff you are planing and share your ideas with friends and family but in the end sometimes you it is best to follow the "Just do it" approach.

 

[aPod]

Well you never know till you try it out right. I used to chop firewood and sell it. What works best if you ask me is going fishing over the summer when schools out. I'll usually bank in 20k over 3 months fishing and that goes a long way.

Like others have said its still a worthwhile experience. Entrepreneurship is alive and well. Who knows this might turn out great for you. Having done this before my only suggestion is to start small and don't make promises you can't keep.

 

[Kaymish]

that is a good idea the only problem i see with it is the supplier will not want to give you good deals since the product you are are shifting will be minute and advertising you need to get away from family and friends they just cause trouble and want mates rates i can see where you are getting your profit from which is the mark up on the parts which can cover your labour and your aim is pretty sound and i don't see your lack of qualification as too much of a problem just don't tell anyone
however how much time do you have to deal with the book's and taxes and stuff that can take up quite a bit of time even with a business as small as the one you are building

you can get a leg up on your competition by offering the tailor made systems and windows is all these people wast in the way of OS
that's is my opinion with the current information you may want to check out if anyone else is doing similar and stuff like that