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LAN Party Forums => Support Group => Started by: Petch on June 04, 2009, 11:24:33 AM
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Alright, so here is the deal. I have been planning to open (or reopen) my in home computer repair business. I did this in high school and for a few years in college, while working for other local computer shops. I figure the cash is good, I'm Fudgein stellar at it, and my day to day job is suckin my nuts lately as far as raises and promotions go (they claim to be "restructuring" parts of the company which is holding up real raises and promotions), so I want to start getting back to my roots and making some side cash. Doing enterprise level network Crap all day is getting fairly tiresome and I want to get back to doing some repairs and other Crap that I actually enjoy doing.
Here is where I could use some help. I keep putting off filing my paperwork and writing my business plans for the smallest and most stupid reasons; picking a business name is one of them. So I am asking for some assistance with crafting a new business name. I am looking for something that is fitting for the scope of the work I'll be doing, but is fairly unique. Lately my creative skills have been quite lacking, so I am reaching out for some help.
While in high school the business name I had was Tech Solutions, which was fitting but WAYYYY over used. Also, I have been making an attempt to stay away form names such as PC Medic, PC Paramedic, PC Doctor, etc....
The only real name I have come up with thus far has been After Hours or a slight variation of that.
I will be looking to provide my services after normal work hours (which you can see where I came up with my name) and on the weekends. I'll be providing services like PC Repair, Network Setup/Troubleshooting/Repair, common A/V setups (there are so many people that still cant hook up surround sounds, etc), servicing anything MILFs need (might even tag Czar along for the GILFs) and so on....
Your effort won't be fruitless, because if I do pick a name from the forums I'll be sure to get whomever came up with the name hooked up with something at a future event.
Thanks in advance.
-Petch
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"Where's The Any-Key?!"
And when you answer the phone..just shout: "Where's The Any-Key?!" like you're all flustered.
Check your state's guidelines regarding naming. Here in PA, if you use your last name in your business name, you don't have to register it and pay a fee. So see if you can take a business name and then tack your name on the end. For example: After Hours by Mike whateveryourlastnameis. Petchkowitz or something.
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"I touch weiners PC repair"
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"Insert My Floppy"
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"Plug your ports Technicians"
in all seriousness...a name like what Czar had initially is something that I did with my piddly little business. I named it Blasted Computers because usually people will yell out expletives when their Crap don't work. I chose Blasted since words like 'Fudgein' Computer" or "God Damned Computer" or "Piece of Crap Computer" usually do not sit well with prospected customers.
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After Hours sounds like a Adult Entertainment business. I would go with Czar's idea, I am no good with making up names.
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Ya I wasn't really settled with After Hours, but I liked the idea of something like that.
I do like Czar's idea, but I was trying to keep the same something that was more formal, but didn't have the PC tie ins (since I will be providing other services outside of PC repair).
Check your state's guidelines regarding naming. Here in PA, if you use your last name in your business name, you don't have to register it and pay a fee. So see if you can take a business name and then tack your name on the end. For example: After Hours by Mike whateveryourlastnameis. Petchkowitz or something.
I live in PA now (Waynesboro), so I would be registering this in PA. Does this only work towards sole proprietorships, or can I leverage this towards an LLC also?
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Sole proprietorship would be the easiest way. Paperwork is all online and takes about 30 mins or less. No fees. You`ll have to file taxes quarterly which is done online too and takes about 5 minutes. With a SP, you can do a business name too (and the last name trick works for it..Hence: You've Got Maille.. by Alex Van Patten)
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Blasted computers!!!! Na nevermind that name sux!
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Blasted computers!!!! Na nevermind that name sux!
Jerk. ;P
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Sole proprietorship would be the easiest way. Paperwork is all online and takes about 30 mins or less. No fees. You`ll have to file taxes quarterly which is done online too and takes about 5 minutes. With a SP, you can do a business name too (and the last name trick works for it..Hence: You've Got Maille.. by Alex Van Patten)
I was looking for something that I could shield my personal assets from my business assets, which was why I mentioned the LLC. So in the event that something happened while working for my business, the most I could lose is what the business has in assets/money, and my personal assets/money couldn't be leveraged.
I know an LLC takes a few hundred bucks to get all the needed paperwork done, but I was still thinking this was the best avenue to pursue. I only came to this thought after having a long discussion with one of the owners of a previous computer store I worked for (he has been very successful in the last few years). I worked for him when we were still working out of his basement, and I helped the transition to a real store front and worked there for about a year. I saw a lot of the short comings he ran into, and I just didn't want to repeat them, and one thing he was very adamant about was starting off as an LLC so you don't have to go through the headaches of transitioning later (in the event that it becomes more than a side job).
Again this might not be my best avenue to start out, but it was just something I was heavily considering.
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"When Least Expected"
After hours, your comptuer breaks, you're fudged, except you're working at 2am and thus you're saved. Just quick thought.
EDIT: Plus it's vague as bejesus so you could really do a variety of things.
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"When Least Expected"
Like the Spanish Inquisition!
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LLC does sound good. Yer on your own with that as I have on experience with it :)
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For an LLC you could do the application for it online.
LLC Pricing @ legalzoom.com
Economy $149
Standard $249
Express Gold $359
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Check the PA official sites before ya go for legalzoom. Its really not that hard to do it yourself. PA -wants- to make it easy for you.
http://www.paopenforbusiness.com (http://www.paopenforbusiness.com)
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Check the PA official sites before ya go for legalzoom. Its really not that hard to do it yourself. PA -wants- to make it easy for you.
[url]http://www.paopenforbusiness.com[/url] ([url]http://www.paopenforbusiness.com[/url])
Good find, I'll keep that in mind when I get to this point!!
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"When Least Expected"
After hours, your comptuer breaks, you're fudged, except you're working at 2am and thus you're saved. Just quick thought.
EDIT: Plus it's vague as bejesus so you could really do a variety of things.
That's the line of thinking that I am looking for... I think my creative mojo has been stolen though.
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Tis the site I used to register my SP
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Do you have anything thoughts of eventually hiring people to work for you? I ask because it might be slightly awkward if you start hiring people to go out and fix stuff, and they are working for a company with your name in it. Dunno.
I used to work for 2 different computer shops (meridian computers inc. and CCI). Though, since i've gone corporate, i just do random things on the side to keep my skills fresh. I don't do anything formal, so i just stick to something incredibly bland, like <my name> consulting. Implies they are hiring you and not a generic company to help them out.
If you want an actual company name, there's also coming up with something made of a few words, but market it from the acronym. Sounds really bad, but the company 'CCI' I worked for was really Crafty Computers Inc. (the owner's last name was Craft).
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Is this you?
http://www.mahalo.com/answers/small-businesses/can-anyone-suggest-a-great-name-for-my-computer-repair-business (http://www.mahalo.com/answers/small-businesses/can-anyone-suggest-a-great-name-for-my-computer-repair-business)
If not, there's a bunch of suggestions there, maybe one would fit you too.
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my fave on that page was Ctrl Alt Fix.
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Is this you?
[url]http://www.mahalo.com/answers/small-businesses/can-anyone-suggest-a-great-name-for-my-computer-repair-business[/url] ([url]http://www.mahalo.com/answers/small-businesses/can-anyone-suggest-a-great-name-for-my-computer-repair-business[/url])
If not, there's a bunch of suggestions there, maybe one would fit you too.
Haha that wasn't me, but I'll be sure to read over all the names!
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'Double Click' Tech Services
'Flashing 12:00' Solutions
The MoFo of The MoBo
RAM This
System Restore
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Mr Floppy's home service?
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Hard Drive a Bargain
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"The Any Key"
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"P.E.K" (Petch's Electronic Korp)
"Byte Me"
"Late nights and Hard Drives"
"I fix IT real good"
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Nice fellas nice... I am still thinking about what I want to go with, I have just been distracted lately with all the BS going on at work...