Users are idiots and people will continually to break things. I used to repair and format for a flat $60 but after continually getting called, I charge to fix PCs the same rate I charge for IT, network, and VoIP consulting at $150/hour.
Fixing user problems will quickly make you hate IT.
I did an ipod screen replacement for a friend who’s kid drop it a few weeks back. I’ll let him buy me lunch the next time we go out but nothing beyond that.
It really depends on what the problem is, and how close they are. I don’t charge siblings, or my parents. My close friends I’ll do favors for, but nothing huge. all my friends get a -$30 an hour discount on my usual $75 an hour that I charge at my shop. I want to be known as that guy who fixes computers, but not that guy who fixes computers for free.
Amen to that. Usually I’d rather have people bring me their computers, rather than take them to bestbuy for $200. I deal with students all day so I hear stories of how best buy works. A lot of the time people state “The had to wipe everything so I lost all my stuff”…really? REALLY?
The problem I do have is NOT charging the “friends” who call or text out of the blue and say “hey man my computer crashed can you fix it?”. That is exactly what I want to spend my weekend on after spending my whole week fixing computers. I figure the going rate is probably what? $80-100 an hour? So If I charge half that should still be good eh?
This. As when I ask for help in something to their expertise and get the “ah your money is no good just buy me lunch or a beer” it’s a nice trade.
I wanted to chime in as I’ve done one or two jobs where I actually charged.
Family, do it for free.
Here is an example where I charged. Took a laptop that was fucked. I had to go as far as take the HDD out, extract the data, reimage with an OS that I provided; they bought the key. Get it all working with existing software, printers, shared drives. This was a real PITA. But was a good friend and I was doing this for his boss. I charged $30/hr and printed up a service bill with details on all I did, including time spent, software versions, steps I did to correct each issue. The user was down right impressed with the turnout and it didn’t look unprofessional. He’s since called me and paid to fix unrelated issues.
Do I feel liable if anything goes wrong? Hell no. It was all working perfectly when I left, and the user was happy with the end result. It’s not your fault the next few days if the user starts messing with the pc and deletes the wrong file, moves a directory… Thats why we do what we do.
If it was just hooking up a printer, installing drivers, os small similar issues, and for a friend… Buy me a case of beer, and we’ll drink them.
I know what my company bills the client for me to go onsite or spend time on an issue remotely, but I assume this is all side work.
Regardless of family, friend, or friend of a friend, you’re going to fix their problem, and just always be professional. The ecomical value of you fixing their problem means so much that how we put a price on this work.
Let me know if you want my templet for service work. It’s always nice it have a copy for you and the client, also their sign off to note that the issue was resolved to have on record.