| There can be some advantages to buying a franchise | | | | other type of retail business that benefits from national |
| when you want to own your own business. Some | | | | advertising and support that may be possible but no |
| franchises offer benefits like training, equipment | | | | such company exists in the computer repair business. |
| packages, quantity pricing, and support in both running | | | | Overhead costs are the 2nd biggest reason most |
| and marketing your business. Many franchises also | | | | new businesses fail (number one is lack of sales). The |
| have national advertising and name recognition that | | | | biggest attraction to a franchise is to get up and |
| can help establish a new business. | | | | running and generate sales quickly. Breaking even is |
| But some types of businesses don't really lend | | | | the first goal and without a solid advertising and |
| themselves to franchising. Some of the more famous | | | | marketing plan it doesn't matter how much operational |
| and successful franchises are in the fast food | | | | support or training you receive. |
| business. Other popular franchise businesses are Real | | | | Since the Computer Repair Franchise is a service |
| Estate, Automotive, Graphics and Printing services, | | | | oriented business venture, the ability to seek out and |
| Tools, and more. All of these types of businesses | | | | find repeat business is key to success. So you need |
| benefit from some of the advantages listed above. | | | | to be able to hold the accounts you find and that is the |
| But the Computer Repair Business area doesn't fit the | | | | most challenging area for any service businesses. And |
| mold for this type of franchise business. There are a | | | | that type of training or support is often missing from |
| few who offer it but the benefits are not as effective | | | | many franchise organizations. |
| and the stat up cost is prohibitive. There are very few | | | | For businesses that sell a physical product, some key |
| retail type Computer Repair Businesses for one good | | | | elements are inventory and price. Whereas in a |
| reason. The cost of retail locations is hard to | | | | service business key elements are buyer satisfaction, |
| compensate for and selling parts or equipment has | | | | knowledge, and prompt professional service. Almost |
| been taken over by the large electronics outfits like | | | | anyone can learn the skills for the technical aspects of |
| Best Buy. Computers have become a commodity item | | | | computer repair but it's also important to be able to |
| and it's very difficult to compete in price alone. | | | | communicate and establish a rapport with the clients. |
| Add in the warranty and support hassles with selling | | | | When buying a franchise you are paying for the |
| new computers and it gets ugly fast on the profit | | | | experience and knowledge on a successful business |
| margins. Doing service type work can help bring up the | | | | model. If the cost is reasonable to the possible return |
| profit margins but retail location costs would require | | | | and there are plenty of successful franchisers, then it |
| huge amounts of walk in traffic to make it work. | | | | could be a great deal. But make sure you really check |
| Advertising and national name recognition is not a big | | | | out the company and it's claims before you sign up. |
| enough benefit in the computer repair business. Most | | | | If you are thinking about buying a Computer Repair |
| any type of franchise start up costs are in the 6-figure | | | | Franchise, talk to current franchise owners (not the |
| range (over $100,000) and also may require additional | | | | ones they recommend, go find your own to talk to) |
| funds for the first 6-12 months of operation capital. If | | | | and ask a lot of questions. Ask about the training, the |
| you are running a high volume fast food business or | | | | support, and the ongoing fees and cost. |