How much to charge for computer repair

[Hexa Fox]

First off I came here looking to absorb some information of my own. I really think this topic depends. I have a lot of customers ask my opinion on what sort of computers they should invest in. Under most circumstances I do recommend that they buy the most expensive computer they can afford that will obviously fit their needs. For example it is well known that you can buy a top of the line computer for subjects like surfing the web, research, basic video watching/editing, and much more for about $1,000. I guess it is a rough estimate but give or take $200 and there you go.

I think that this is the best course of action because if you have a $300 laptop with the same virus, hardware fail, etc with the $1000 machine then the repair is worth it. If you catch a virus on a $300 laptop that requires a technician to simply restore it you may be better off putting your $75+ towards a new computer. Plus I find that after awhile people tend to get frustrated and unhappy with a small laptop running Windows 7 with 1 GB of RAM and a dual core processor.

So not only are you making a better investment with a more expensive computer, you are getting a more capable machine that will easily be at least as twice as productive than your $300 laptop from Wal*Mart. This is just my opinion. I work on peoples (mostly friends and family) computers a good bit. They do not mind paying me and most of the time I DO NOT charge them a penny. However when I have to remove a nasty virus then double their ram from 1 GB to 2 GB and charge them $75.00 they dread it.

Best Buy charges what? Is it not like $150.00 for their most basic protection plan on a computer? Then you ask them to up your RAM from 1 GB to 2 GB and you have just about exceeded the value or the machine.

 

[Saga Lout]

I've fixed PCs for my only living for the last twelve years here in the UK and my basic rate is £40 an hour. That said, a job is only worth what it's worth and in my view, the stop watch has to go out the window when you take this job on. I find folks are happier with a flat fee of £50 for malware removal because done properly, it can take a few hours of attended time. Installations are largely unattended but lately, the main waste of time is waiting for endless Windows updates.

Linux is free so I install it for nothing and save people hundreds of pounds. When they've had it a week, they forget what Windows was like and if they aren't dependent on Windows based software, they're quite happy.

I don't think prices should be based on someone's house value or the kind of car they drive or how much they paid for their computer. Over here we have an outfit called PC World and they charge upwards of £120 for more or less anything, then tell you to buy a part from them as well. I only have to drive my sign-written car round their car park twice to come out with a customer. - works every time. I don't charge for backups - I pound the routine into them and teach them how to do it when I take the machine back.

This is a very old thread and most of the early pricing advice has almost certainly gone up with inflation or down with the realities of the slump but the main rule for me is don't take people for mugs - charge a decent rate and you'll get more word-of-mouth jobs in future. I stopped paying for advertising three years back and my next car won't be sign-written so I'll be dependent on recommendations. The history of my business tells me I'll get them.

 

[Hexa Fox]

I've fixed PCs for my only living for the last twelve years here in the UK and my basic rate is £40 an hour. That said, a job is only worth what it's worth and in my view, the stop watch has to go out the window when you take this job on. .

Totally agreed with this part. Also is pretty much true for many things. For example I have been running a landscaping business for the past decade that offers everything from mowing grass to snow removal. The stop watch went out the window a long time ago. You really need to be charging for the completed job and that is everywhere.

If you are going to clear a 150 foot long driveway with a snow blower and shovel and charge by the hour you cannot expect the same rate using a well equipped tractor. The guy with the snow blower would get rich and the guy with the tractor would get poor really quick. The same goes for computer repair.

I have found that the hourly method in the past only gets people confused and frustrated because you always get something like "well it only took Joe Blow two hours to do what you did in four hours" or "it took you five hours to re-install Windows on my machine and upgrade the RAM?" and then you have an irritated customer. However on the same note your time is money so you need to set prices accordingly so that you are making money. Especially if you have a good idea of what you are doing.

Because most Information Technology Professionals/Managers in the United States get paid between $40.00-$80.00 per hour depending on who they work for and what exactly they do and what they are certified for. I just recently wiped a laptop with Windows 7 on it and I made the decision based around how far the virus had spread across the system. The customer has always complained about how slow the computer is and said it was okay when they first got it. Therefore I not only restored the computer to factory setting, which by the way is pretty simple to do with Windows 7, I am also upgrading the RAM from 1 GB to 2 GB. As I have always noticed that when I check out this customers task manager the workload of the memory was never under 75% even after it was booted up and let it calm down.

The RAM cost me about $30.00 and I am probably going to charge $75.00. Also this is a close friend that I am also trying to cut a break. My price is already half the amount they would have paid to take it somewhere and only have the virus removed let alone the RAM upgraded.

 

[jbochard]

I've been doing this a long time started back in the days of key punch cards. Resonantly I had to step away from it for that same reason (customers) After a year off I just got back in the game three days ago. I had to get away from people that want top quality expert work for beginner wages. I mainly do custom work with programing and machine. They tell they have a problem with there computer and I say yeah , you haven't gotten it to me yet. It doesn't cost anything for the first half hour then I give then my assessment. For the most part a average $300.00 machine I can take and make a $1000.00 maintenance and effortless free for a min 2yr. for around $300.00 + parts design just for them. turn around time 3 to 4 days, there happy and am happy, I don't hear from them till its time to replace it. It really cuts back on all the head arch's.Pride and showing off to yourself priceless, you'll never get out what you have put in when its done right the first time but pride and peace of mind has no price to me. I just finish my first custom job after a little more than year off, it feel good. You'll think I'm crazy. Customizing a Inspiron 1750 - a new LCD, new 160gb hdd partition with a recovery an backup system, upgrade ram to 8gb, New wireless network card.19 special programs, 5 system maintenance's programs working in the back ground working with the customs habits, all drivers and programs updated, networking for up to 8 wireless device in home, and finally, system programing setup cleanup and hdd alinement. 30hrs labor, COST $450.00 and will put it up against any $1000.00 machine except for an alien computers. CRAZY!!

 

[Saga Lout]

Your expertise will be very welcome here at Tom's, jbochard.

 

[pcmedixofdallas]

That's your call. I try to price things way under the box stores. I charge 40 for virus removal and maybe like 20 for install updates and transfer data.

Yeha I know its my call but I dont know where I should really start for pricing. I wouldnt feel comfortable charging to much. I though 150 for a 300 laptop was insane but she wouldnt take some of the money back..

I am assuming that all repairs related to the virus removal are being taken into account ?? (checking/repairing corrupted system files, cleanup of junk files, which should be done anyway to avoid wasted scan times, ensuring no lurking registry entries leftover by malware) just to name a few... You would not feel comfortable charging what the job should cost, or is your time effort and knowledge worth too much?

When the job is done right I don't care what PC it is an average virus and malware removal takes 3 (three) to 6 hours min, and prey its not a system with a 500 gigs or more hard drive that is filled with files! When I hear techs say virus removal takes about an hour, I weep for the people they do work for!!!

If the OS has to be reinstalled are you using a pirated copy to reinstall windows ? Win 7 - 8 cost $80 -$1++ by itself per licensed copy.

There is cost in everything when its done right! Charge what you do, regardless who you are doing it for. IF, and I use that term loosely If you are not half assing the job, and provide good solid work the value will always be way less than you feel the work is worth, being fare in my eyes is doing 150% and getting back 100% satisfaction on a proper job done right without inflated revenue.

 

[Saga Lout]

I set a maximum of £60 British for malware removal, again because charging for every hour is out of the question. That allows me one and a half hours paid time regardless of how long it takes.

Manually combing the Registry and User\AppData folders can take two hours. particularly when I have to go back and forth to Task Maanager to find out what's stopping me deleting a file.

 

[Hans Beaubrun]

I need some help in figuring out how much money should I charged for changing a laptop battery at my own expense and also fix the slowest "All In touchsmart pc" where I had to free over 40gb of trash. Also removed a virus and few other. Malwareso. 7+ hours of labors. And also added 3 new software to protect against virus, malware, and an additional one to clean up the files.

 

[Saga Lout]

I'm working on one now where the customer was stupid enough to be conned over the telephone and invited the crooks to take remote control They set the old type of Windows password that needs to be input before the welcome screen shows up. I worked on it all day yesterday and most of today but I'll still charge a flat fee of maximum two hours in case there was a quicker way I didn't know.

You will get more repeat business and recommendations that way - trust me.

 

[facede]

There is an unscrupulous woman who owns the cyber cafe round the corner from me and she charged some old fella £80 to change a cpu fan in a laptop. I wanted to say to him I would do it for £40, but he had given her the lappy. I get people ask me all the time,but its friends and I will help them out for a nites ale.
Charge friends half the going rates, and just under going rates for friends of friends.
Data retrieval however, take no prisoners. It is £100 just to look at it anywhere in the U.K..

I've read most of the posts here and i'll simply tell you my rates. I've been in business with a retail shop + onsite service in the Northeast US for 15 years. OS reinstall soup to nuts including updates and data backup + an software the customer gives me is $95 in shop. Fan replacement in a laptop is usually around $105 inlcuding part. I only charge $20 + part if the laptop has an access panel to get at the fan. Data backup is $45 from a working hard drive and $80 from a hard drive that diagnoses bad or has lost its partitions. (We don't open or fix drives). Housecalls are $90 residential /hr Business$100/HR, minimum 1 HR. Screen replacement in Laptop is $70 + Part.

 

[GeorgeStobbart]

I work in IT, a co-worker brought in his personal laptop for me to fix, loaded up with malware viruses, even after cleaning it was extremely slow, talked with him decided reformat and reinstall Windows was the best option, which I did and install the latest drivers, some anti-malware programs etc,etc. How much should I charge for this. I had someone bring in there computer earlier and they gave me 150 bucks to repair a 300 dollar computer...

I know this is a unusual question.

OS reinstall can be quite time consuming. I would say around 100$. Always bear in mind that computer price has nothing to do with amount you charge. you can inform the client that it might exceed the value, but don't be afraid to charge it if necessary. It's like bringing the old car to mechanic. He will charge you regular price anyway.

 

[warwagon1979]

If the OS has to be reinstalled are you using a pirated copy to reinstall windows ? Win 7 - 8 cost $80 -$1++ by itself per licensed copy.

If it's an OEM PC there is a Windows 7 product key on the computer / laptop that you would use in conjunction with a Windows 7 CD or USB installer it activates just fine. If it's Windows 8 the Product key is already in the BIOS. Just reinstall using Legit Windows 8 Media on CD or USB, that activates just fine too. You are saying that if you reinstall you have to use the customers restoration media?

 

[Saga Lout]

Lately I've done seventeen upgrades from Windows 7 to Windows 10, each for £50 GBP. The earlier ones when the mass downloads were floating around were a pain in the rear because you could wait three days for the download. I'm short of space in my shop so I was glad when it all speeded up a bit. £850 isn't too bad for the attended time on those systems. If a machine sat about for a day and a half, I'd only be on it for forty minutes tops.

Everyone gets a safe installation (all Privacy options reversed, etc) and I get to make some cash.

 

[Gabriel_13]

Regardless of how much you charge, I believe it is important to keep track of the time you use for each job. I suggest to determine yourself an hourly rate even if you do not charge per hour.

I believe that even if you are not charging per hour, it is a good idea to set yourself an hourly rates. It helps a lot following up on your profit, readjusting prices, negotiations, etc. If you use a time tracking app (a good one, at least) it also helps creating reports and bills.
There are also other good ones out there.

Link removed by Moderator.

 

[Ceotase]

That is sound advice Gabriel.

 

[Saga Lout]

My view is that there are several jobs which, when done properly, take far longer than it's reasonable to charge under an hourly rate. I doubt you'd get many recommendations or word-of-mouth advertising (the only free kind) if you were seen to do that.

That's only one old man's take and looking at the world from England. Other countries may be different in outlook.

 

[snodinn]

I know this is an old thread but I'm giving my 2 cents anyways for the next guy who comes along. Kapn Kevin has a great response. I agree with Beachnative as well although being a nice guy is always part of the job. Some other good responses too.

I couldn't agree more about being undervalued. Too many techs (backyard Joes) out there trying to undercut the competition. People need to remember that this puts food on the table like any other job. I only wish this industry would sets its prices like gas stations but also REQUIRE a license to provide this sort of work. I know I would have a lot more business if we did.

$75 for a reload is a good starting point. Anybody who has been around knows that the reload plus all the updates is going to cost 2 - 3 hours of bench time so $75 is a good starting point. Don't get me wrong, shop rate is $70/hr. so we offer a flat rate for these jobs unless we are doing them onsite. I charge $60 for virus and Malware removal in the shop too. If that doesn't fix it then I charge the difference for a reload.

Recently I have been jumping straight to the reload just because of time constraints. I will be raising my prices soon too. Seems my competition are all charging more than I. At least my official competition is. I know there is some home guys doing it for less but all they do is undermine the economy. Of course, try and explain that to someone wanting it on the cheap.

Reload = $75
Virus clean = $60
Add components = $35 but $20 for memory. (free depending on other work being done)
Motherboard = Minimum 1 hr.
Laptop(including MacBook) repair starts at $45
PC (including Mac) starts at $35

I currently have a 7 to 10 day wait time. First come first served and I will not hold a spot in line.

Hope this helps.

Cheers

I'll spend no longer than 15 minutes trying toremove viruses otherwise I back up & reload the OS. How many times do you fix it then the customer goes to the same site or willingly compromises their computer and calls you back saying you didn't fix it? That happened to me at least 200 x till I started reloading the OS. Then when they call back and complain I explain :
I reloaded your OS due to a nasty virus so your computer is back to new... so what did you do?

Put the ball back in their court. Sure there are few that say they did nothing and complain about another trip to see them EVEN AFTER I WARNED THEM but when meeting them face to face, out of 100 only one person was still complaining they did nothing.

I'm tired of being the nice guy and giving away services for free because of someone else.
I'm trying to get more into the medium sized office IT consulting business but my skill set is not as good as it should be....If I had 1/100th of Riser's skill set I'd be sitting pretty.

My latest fiasco is trying to fix Server 2008R2 with Exchange 2010 sp1 with an owner that screwed things up and wants me to fix it....This is uncharted territory and I'm having a bitch of a time with certificates and a corrupted Exchange database..... the fun never stops!!! But the pay is good!!!