GigCollege.com

Are you the person everyone calls when they have a computer problem? Have you considered getting paid for fixing near-fatal errors and turning your PC prowess into a business? According a recent report, sales of computer services are expected to exceed $47 billion this year in the U.S. alone, with PC repair leading the way.

“Almost all small businesses and home offices use computers and depend on them to be working properly,” says Chip Reaves, CEO of Computer Troubleshooters, a franchise network of computer professionals. “They don’t have the skills, the time or the desire to do their own computer service, repair and upgrades, and that puts us right in the middle of one of the fastest-growing industries in the world.”

But if your only business experience is selling your mom’s friend her first computer, how do you get started? Besides coming up with a business name, getting a business license and obtaining general liability business insurance (which ranges from $300 to $1500 annually and is obtainable through your local city hall), there are a number of things you need to do to get started on the right foot. Here are 10 tips that will help you successfully launch and run your new endeavor.

1. Know your street (and hourly) value. In the early 90’s, running a PC repair business centered around selling parts and products, with service on the side. Today, it’s about selling hours. “You’re making money by selling management services [of computers, networks and servers],” says Reaves. “It used to be that you made your money when a virus needed cleaning up or parts broke. Now we’re helping our customers prevent problems before they start by using management technology.”

To determine what your time is worth, investigate what your local competition is charging. While the national average is $100 per hour for computer service billing, it’s much higher in certain regions–$160 an hour in Manhattan, for instance. When you must order new parts, such as modems or motherboards, for a job, you’ll need to make the purchase worth yours and your client’s time, especially if he/she has pre-paid you. So remember to factor in shipping, handling and insurance costs, as well as an “opportunity” cost for ordering parts from lower-priced national vendors vs. a local supplier.

2. Determine who your ideal customer is. If you’re looking to sell and service computers within your local community and remain a one-person operation, residential clients may suit you best. They’re generally more responsive to advertising and marketing than small-business owners are, according to Reaves. Plus, residential work is less demanding and the market is huge, although the competition is fierce–think Best Buy’s “Geek Squad” and Circuit City’s Firedog services, both of which make house calls to perform installations and upgrades and to troubleshoot. Another downside to residential customers is that your clients will tend to be more budget-conscious than if you target the business owner.

If you decide to target the non-residential market, think small. “Niching is one way to go,” says Reaves. “Look at your existing contacts. Perhaps you know the principal at a school, a banker or the owner of a real estate firm. These folks may lead you in to an area of specialization since the software systems tend to be similar.”

3. Realize that financial stability doesn’t happen overnight. It’s tough to juggle a day job with a side gig, especially if you’re honing in on small-business clients. But if you’re not running your business full time, you run the risk of losing clients, especially if you’re targeting the business market. “If you’re not around to field tech support calls from nine to five, they’ll quickly pick up the Yellow Pages and move on to the next guy,” says Reaves.

You’ll need to build up a financial cushion–six to nine months salary is advisable–for when you ultimately do turn in your pink slip and become fully self-employed. “People make better decisions when they’re not worried about their money running out,” Reaves says. “And while it’s hard to relinquish the safety net of a paycheck and downgrade your lifestyle, you have to reach the point where you treat it like a business instead of a hobby.”

4. Know your strengths and weaknesses. If your background is strictly technical and you aren’t very business savvy, hire bookkeeping or accounting experts to handle the busywork and keep you at your most productive so you can steadily increase your billable hours. You can also invest in software products to handle administrative tasks. A few of the top software sellers, which can help you manage people, projects and processes more efficiently, include AutoTask, ConnectWise and Results.

5. Market your business every day. While you don’t have to walk around wearing a sandwich board when you’re out on the street, the phone on your desk isn’t going to ring until people know you exist. And you can’t rest on your past successes either. Whether you choose direct mail, pamphlet drops, telemarketing or web marketing, you need to come up with a marketing mix that works for you. For instance, advertising in your local community coupon book may prove to be a waste of money, while networking at business trade organizations and chamber of commerce meetings may pay off big.

“I easily put in five to 10 hours a week of promotion,” says Jason Kaufman, owner of Computer Troubleshooters of Mamaroneck, New York. “This doesn’t mean just sitting at a desk, punching out press releases. You’ve got to get your face out there, go door to door if you have to, to let people know you exist. If you’re bashful–not comfortable putting yourself out there or handling rejection–you might find this business isn’t for you.”

6. Keep your skills current. Techies can easily fall into the trap of believing they can pick up new skills on the fly or after quickly reading a manual. But if you fail to partake in continued education and training, your knowledge base may become obsolete. “It’s the nature of the business,” Kaufman says. “You have to find time to see what’s new.” Make time to visit such websites as CNET and ZDNet to update yourself on new software applications and to find out about technology webinars being offered.

7. Reach out if you need assistance. “Coming from a 100-person IT department in a large setting where you have colleagues to help you and collaborate with, it can be pretty daunting and isolating if you do run into an issue or problem while out on your own,” says Kaufman. Fortunately, there’s great camaraderie in the tech community. There are fantastic web sites out there where you can bounce a question off an “expert” and get a response within a few hours (Microsoft’s Experts Exchange charges $99 per year for this service). Learn what you can and cannot do well, and ask for help when you need it.

8. Customize your workspace. Adjusting from an office cubicle to a home office environment takes a commitment to organization. You’ll need a clean, dedicated workspace (not the desk that the family PC rests on) with room for a repair bench area for your tools and easily accessible storage shelves and bins. The area doesn’t have to be too big to start out with, but it should be able to accommodate at least two tower PCs and monitors. A direct entrance to the area is nice, especially if you expect drop-offs or are employing interns or other tech people to work with you. A converted garage is a favorite area of a lot of techies.

9. Don’t sign on the rental line just yet. If your ultimate business goal is to open up a PC service center, realize that this type of venture takes more planning and management than you may expect. Service centers must operate regular business hours, so sufficient staffing is essential. Capital requirements are also significantly higher than for a work-from-home business, so a comprehensive business plan is essential. Prepare for the worst-case scenario, insofar as cash flow is concerned and make sure you have enough money or access to it, such as through a line of credit, to carry you through the lean times.

Before committing to a lengthy, expensive storefront lease, you might opt to set a more realistic goal of bringing on technicians within a year and opening up a space where customers can drop off their computers up the road. “The added expense of overhead can be dangerous and backfire, unless you already have steady clientele,” says Jim Greenfield, owner of Computer Troubleshooters’ New York Midtown South franchise location.

10. Hire smart. Your first hire is going to make the main impression about your company with your customers, so be sure to screen candidates on more than just their tech skills and certifications. Your first employee should be driven and well-versed in both technical expertise and interpersonal skills. Before hiring anyone, get three relevant, work-related references and written consent that you may perform a background check before hiring. “If you’re uncomfortable conducting an interview on your own, ask a friend or mentor with more experience to join you in the process,” advises Greenfield.

The first step in the hiring process is to get an EIN (Employer Identification Number) by filing Form SS-4 with the IRS. This nine-digit number is for you to use on tax forms specifically where it’s asked for by name–it’s not a substitute for your Social Security number. You can get an EIN immediately by applying to the IRS over the phone at (800) 829-4933.

About Author: Erika Welz Prafder is a New York-based freelance writer and the author of Keep Your Paycheck, Live Your Passion: How to Fulfill Your Dream Without Having to Quit Your Day Job (Adams Media).Regarded as an expert on career and small business topics, she is a popular talk-show guest on such TV and radio programs as Fortune Small Business, The Dolans and Fox & Friends.

Sure…you could go get a normal part-time job like your other college buddies, but maybe that’s not for you, maybe you’ve got an itching for something a little outside of the box. There are plenty of other, not-so-traditional ways of earning some extra cash while you’re in college. We make it our goal here at GigCollege to bring you the best ideas (or at least some crazy ones…that just might work!) Every month we will continue to add more and more unique money-making ideas.

Here are a couple to get your brain juices flowing…you can use the Christmas break to get your game plan together!

• Computer Tech | Are you pretty tech savvy? You could be the go-to guy for computer tech needs. Make a name for yourself by always being available to troubleshoot students’ computer problems for a cheap price.
• Guinea Pig | Find out if there are any medical studies being conducted at your school or city, and volunteer to be apart of the study. Most studies will pay pretty decent for what is usually a fairly short ordeal!
• Resumé Writer | If you are good at putting information together in an appealing way, you might consider offering your services to other students (especially juniors/seniors) by writing a resumé for them.
• Tutoring | If you are good at your major or concentration…or anything really, you could be a tutor. A lot of colleges offer positions as tutors, this is nice because you get paid whether anyone shows up or not. You could rent yourself out to desperate students, but that would require getting the student to fork over the cash.
• Create a Website | If you are passionate about something, and it could be anything, why not make a website and write about it! If you continue to publish great content that other people are interested in too, you can make some good money with Google Adsense, serving content related ads on your site. (We’ll be covering this in more detail in another post)
• Sell Your Cells | Your blood plasma cells to be exact. While there are time limits on how often you can donate plasma, it can bank you from $20 to $30 a visit!
• Dissertation Assistant | Know any  graduate students that are stressing about their dissertation? Offer yourself as an assistant, proofreading, editing, or researching!
• Campus Food | Get a job with an on-campus food location. You can earn money and more than likely eat for cheap or free!

Look for more unique jobs soon! Make sure to leave feedback on your thoughts about these jobs. Do you have any other unique ideas for making money in college? Leave a comment or send us a message!

In today’s world…especially today’s economy…the realm of home based business is growing explosively! Because technology is growing each day and, more importantly, becoming more readily available to the masses, there are no more physical boundaries to stop someone from starting a home-based business whenever they want to!

Here are some of the reason others have decided to start their home business. If some or all of them appeal to you, maybe you should be the next home based business owner! If you already have a home business, please leave a comment about the benefits that you enjoy most!

1. Freedom from certain things – You don’t have to deal with a boss hovering over you, traffic jams on the highway, dealing with co-workers. While this allows for more family time and a flexible schedule, it also comes with the responsibility of time management, scheduling, and personal motivation.

2. Saving Money – You can save money that you would normally have spent on gasoline driving to work!

3. No Office Expense – You save on the extra costs of maintaining a business location because your office is the home you’re already paying for!

4. Quality Family Time – One of the most enticing advantages to a home business is the extra time with family. You are your boss. You set your work hours. This is especially great for an extra income from a stay-at-home mom or retired individuals who want to help their retirement budget.

5. Learn New Skills – When you run your own business you are forced to gain experience in the various areas, such as advertising, sales, marketing, planning, development, etc. If you are running the home business as a supplement to your regular job, you can learn these skills and build the business gradually until you are ready (and skilled enough) to make the jump to soley working from home.

6. No Stress of Unemployment – In today’s recession and people losing their jobs right and left, having your own business relieves the worries of being fired. You are your own boss, so as long as you do the work and keep up with today’s trends, you’re job is secure!

7. Tax Advantages – You can deduct a part of your costs for maintaining your home as valid business expenses!

8. Money, Money, Money – Why are there so many people doing it? Because they are making money! But even more than that is the security you have when you’re making money doing something you love!

9. Personal Control – Your sense of self-worth heightens when you do something on your own. Starting your own business, while having it’s risks, gives you a sense of accomplishment. The more confidence you have, the harder you will work at it…the more you work at it, the more confidence in yourself is confirmed. As you achieve your goals, you will be encouraged to push it to the next level!

10. Early Retirement – Who wouldn’t want to retire early? There is no guarantee that it will happen, but with hard work and determination and a little bit of luck, your home business could turn out to be a huge success! It would just make life that much better to be able to retire early!

Did any of these reasons spark to life an interest in the dormant entrepreneurial self you know is inside you? Leave a comment! What are your thoughts, ideas, plans? Again, if you own a home business currently, please contribute to this list by adding your own reasons for starting your business!

If there is a subject that you love talking about, then you owe it to yourself to find an audience for it through podcasting.

     Although this is still a fairly new medium as far as making money is concerned, it is clear already that there is money to be had, as some people have latched on to several ways that they can do just that with it.

     The key is to find a subject that people are interested in and reach that audience in as many ways as you can by making your podcast available to them – and then it’s just a case of waiting for the money to start rolling in.

     Okay, so you have a subject you love and you could talk about for hours. Does that make a podcast? No – you need to work on it to make sure you can create podcasts that everyone will want to listen to. You need to script each one at least roughly so that you know what to expect. Otherwise there will be a degree of umming and aahing and you don’t want that. Short podcasts – let’s say fifteen to twenty minutes for example – do very well, so you don’t want to be waffling on for hours at a time. Keep the structure tight and well planned.

     The next step is to work out how you will make money from them. It is possible to treat podcasts in much the same way as you would treat e-books, CDs or DVDs – release them in a program that you can charge money for. Perhaps one or two a week on a specific subject, revealing information that people would be prepared to pay for.

     Be wary of this though – you can’t do this unless you have really good information that people cannot get elsewhere without paying anything.

     Another good way to make money from podcasting is to use it as a way to promote an existing business. Let’s say for example that your business sells e-books. You could start a podcast on e-books in general and mention the name of your website, or perhaps some of the books you sell, once or twice during the podcast itself. This can provide very good publicity and your sales should start to go up as a result.

     You can even make special offers to those people listening; offer them a bundle of books on a specific subject, or a special package deal that lasts for a limited time. Direct them to your website to buy it and see what revenue you get from that. If it works well you can extend it to take place with each podcast you make. This in turn should get you more listeners as well.

     If your podcast becomes very successful you can also sell advertising space on it. Businesses are always looking for new ways to find new customers, and if your podcast can connect them with their ideal target audience then you can make extra money in this way too.

     Some people have even started creating special promotional items that feature the podcast itself, and sold them to their listeners. Not only does this fill a need if your podcast is that successful, it also means that you get some additional publicity yourself.

     There are plenty of ways to make money from podcasting, but as always you will get the best results from researching your subject and finding out what people want first. Once you can do this you stand a better chance of starting a podcast that will run for a long time, and pick up more and more listeners as you go.

     And don’t forget YouTube. If you aren’t charging anything for the podcast itself, you could film yourself doing it and put it on YouTube for some valuable extra publicity.

Written By: 101WaysToMakeMoney.com

E-books are big business online – especially if they teach other people how to do things. How to earn more money, how to sell on e-Bay, how to write a bestseller… the possibilities are endless if you have the knowledge and the perseverance to actually write a book and then get out there and sell it.

What’s more, you can apply exactly the same principle to creating a course too. By splitting it up into sections you are creating more value – and you can charge more as a result.

If it’s done properly it can be a real money spinner.

You don’t need to be an expert on e-books to know they sell extremely well if you pick the right subject. “How to…” e-books and courses are particularly good at shifting lots of virtual copies, since they reveal the answers to things that people want to know.

The first thing to remember is that you need to pick a topic that isn’t going to suddenly become unpopular. The topics are obvious here – money, sex or health. Those are the three biggest selling topics around. If you look at all the e-books and courses online, you’ll see that they all revolve around one of those topics in some way. The successful ones do, anyway.

But it’s not just a case of picking a good topic. You need to pick a great title and get the best information to go in it as well. If you want to write a whole course then you need to ensure you’ve got plenty of material and you can divide it naturally into separate sections.

It helps if you already have some knowledge of the subject you are writing about. One of the keys to success is to find your own unique angle, as this is what will sell copies. Don’t try and tread over the same old material that is already out there. It will only be a waste of time. If you have tried something yourself or come up with your own foolproof method of doing something, and other people you know have tried it and got the same results… now that is something worth writing about.

Along with writing the product itself, you’ll also need to write the sales page to go with it. If you’re no good at writing you can always hire a ghostwriter to do it for you; this will cost money but if it’s ghostwritten you can still put your name to it at the end.

Now you need to decide how much to charge for it. The more value it has the more you can charge, and it’s important not to price it too low otherwise it won’t be taken seriously. When it comes to pricing the course you can charge more; it’s up to you whether you supply the whole thing for a flat fee, or set up a payment model where you dispatch one part every month (perhaps via email) in exchange for a monthly payment. This can sometimes result in more people taking you up on the offer, since a smaller monthly amount is easier to pay than one large fee up front.

While you can and should do plenty of research and plan your book or course carefully before you even start to write it, there is still a degree of risk involved. Even ideas that you think will be guaranteed winners might flop, whereas other ones you’re not so sure about could sell massive amounts.

But you will learn plenty from your first effort, and you can use that knowledge to launch your second e-book. And your third, and your fourth…

Written by: 101WaysToMakeMoney.com