How much for tech support?

sgtpepper · Post by **sgtpepper** » Fri May 18, 2007 10:27 pm

I help a lot of my dad's friends with their computers, teaching them how to use them, troubleshooting problems they might have, etc. Up until now they've paid me pretty randomly, anywhere from free computer parts to cash. I've been payed a few hundred dollars, a graphics card, a 500GB external drive, and various other things, but my dad wants me to come up with an hourly charge so that it will be more structured.

So if I were to charge an hourly wage, what would be "fair"? There are tons of places like Geek Squad that charge WAAYYY too much for simple things (like installing Windows? $130!!!) and I don't wanna be a ripoff like that. I still wanna make some good money though...

atari2600a · Post by **atari2600a** » Fri May 18, 2007 11:41 pm

$10-$15/hr sounds good.

vskid · Post by **vskid** » Sat May 19, 2007 8:32 am

atari2600a wrote:$10-$15/hr sounds good.

Yeah, it also depends on what you're doing, maybe less for an easy job, more for one that makes your brain explode.

Post by **bicostp** » Sat May 19, 2007 9:06 am

The shop I used to work for cost $40/hour plus the cost of necessary parts. Then again it's a one-man operation with a storefront so charges like maintenance and rent apply...

When I fix computers for people I charge $20/hour plus the cost of parts. (No sense in charging them $20 if they need a new $100 hard drive!

) Charge them by the hour. This will automatically make tougher, more involved jobs more expensive.

Post by **Sparkfist** » Sat May 19, 2007 11:49 am

Well I'd have to say $10-20 an hour if you are just doing it as a hobby. If you go and get a business license, like a friend of a friend has and runs a business, charge a nice fee at the start. This guy I know charges $100 for the first hour, geeksquad (yes those ripoffs) charge $150 for the first hour.

sgtpepper · Post by **sgtpepper** » Sat May 19, 2007 1:20 pm

Yeah I've looked around on the net, and I've seen a lot of different prices, and I think $30 bucks an hour sounds about right. Last night I spent five hours teaching a 65 year old how to use a Mac so that he can eventually use Aperture for his photography needs. The guy's a dentist, totally rich, and not even retired. So I don't feel bad about charging him $150 for 5 hours.

One question to anyone else who does this sort of thing (Bicostp, I'm looking at you). Do you know of a good program (Mac OS X) to keep track of earnings and print off simple invoices?

Post by **marshallh** » Sat May 19, 2007 2:04 pm

I charge $35 / hour. Depends on your level of expertise. Most people people who are willing to employ someone young like you don't care what they have to pay.