From buying and selling PC hardware to product development and selling services, "Start Your Own Computer Business: The Unembellished Guide" offers a realistic picture of making it on your own. Bestselling author, Morris Rosenthal, has 15 years of experience in the computer business, building and repairing thousands of PCs and helping hundreds of customers. The book mixes practical advice and cautions with real-world anecdotes of successes and failures. Dollars and cents play a prominent role in the book, as Rosenthal stresses that the real challenge of succeeding in the computer business is the business part of the equation. Managing employees, inventory and scarce financial resources are covered, along with how to remain sane and when to quit. The book is illustrated with a series of original cartoons on the computer business subject.
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Editorial Reviews
From the Author
I originally started writing this book after a childhood friend mentioned he might quit his government job to go into the computer business. He had never been in business, and he thought that if he could build a PC and mark the parts cost up 10%, he could make a pretty good living with a small shop. I explained that he'd be lucky not to lose money working out of his basement at that margin, and that he'd lose his house if he rented a storefront. In the end, he stuck with the government job, though he may try the PC business when he retires with a full pension in a couple years.
I didn't write this book to promote some get-rich-quick recipe that will fail for 99 out of 100 people. I wrote the book to show what to expect based on my own experience in the computer business, from working out of the house to a storefront business with millions in sales. The idea isn't to scare you out of trying, as some kids who've reviewed the book have suggested. It's to give you a heads-up on where to concentrate your time to make money and what problems to expect. If you want somebody to tell you, "It's easy, all you have to do is Step 1, Step 2, Step 3..." this isn't the book for you.
Morris Rosenthal - July 22, 2011
I didn't write this book to promote some get-rich-quick recipe that will fail for 99 out of 100 people. I wrote the book to show what to expect based on my own experience in the computer business, from working out of the house to a storefront business with millions in sales. The idea isn't to scare you out of trying, as some kids who've reviewed the book have suggested. It's to give you a heads-up on where to concentrate your time to make money and what problems to expect. If you want somebody to tell you, "It's easy, all you have to do is Step 1, Step 2, Step 3..." this isn't the book for you.
Morris Rosenthal - July 22, 2011
About the Author
Morris Rosenthal is the founder of the Yahoo! computer_business group for independent computer business owners, with over 4500 members. He is the author of McGraw-Hill's bestselling "Build Your Own PC" series, "Computer Repair with Diagnostic Flowcharts" and "The Laptop Repair Workbook." His books and eBooks have been translated into a half dozen languages and sold in over 80 countries around the world.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
49 of 51 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Whether you are planning to start a computer repair business, have already started one, have doubts about how you run business, or need to view your business from a fresh perspective to improve it, this book will be well worth your time and money. Questions about how to get started, how to market, what works and what doesn't work as well, to rent or not, to hire or not, to build or to buy, to upgrade or to replace, etc are all covered. The answers to these questions are not dictated, but the issues surrounding them are brought out by the author's opinions and experience, giving enough reasons to make your own conclusions.
I read this book after being in business for 3.5 years. I wish I had this resource before I started, if so, I would be much further along. The book seems to cover almost every topic that I have struggled with to date. In almost every case, through trial and error I have come to the same conclusions as those voiced by the author. In other areas, I was still trying to decide an approach regarding aspects of the business, and the book's content was useful in coming to a conclusion. Despite having been in business for a time, I still have much to learn. With some aspsects of the business I had concluded foggily that something did or did not work, but had not pinpointed the reasons, and reading the book made it more clear.
I read this book after being in business for 3.5 years. I wish I had this resource before I started, if so, I would be much further along. The book seems to cover almost every topic that I have struggled with to date. In almost every case, through trial and error I have come to the same conclusions as those voiced by the author. In other areas, I was still trying to decide an approach regarding aspects of the business, and the book's content was useful in coming to a conclusion. Despite having been in business for a time, I still have much to learn. With some aspsects of the business I had concluded foggily that something did or did not work, but had not pinpointed the reasons, and reading the book made it more clear.
With many topics it was reassuring to read that someone with more experience than myself had arrived at the same conclusion using similar logic. If you find yourself working hard, and making too little money for your efforts, reading this book will help you start charging what you should be making.
36 of 38 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
I have a couple of friends who have tried the "computer business" and I've also worked at couple of computer stores, so I've always been interested in this topic...When I got my hands on this book, I was a little skeptical. I figured it would be mostly technical, and that it wouldn't have the "business" side of the computer business covered. Most people I know who have gone into this business have been technical geniuses, but light on business know-how, and they have all failed. Well, if they had read this book, they might still be in business today! Morris really tackles the business issues head on, from cold calling to number crunching. This one of the most entertaining, compact, and insightful business books I have read. Morris doesn't pull any punches here, such as his criticism of spending money and time on credentials: "You're going to need all the cash you can get your hands on. Don't waste it on pieces of paper nobody will read to frame and stick on the wall. That's a game for people who want to be somebody else's employee." Probably the best material in this book are Morris' real life examples about how to make sure your profit margins are enough to support your sales. Too often, new business owners don't factor in all the costs and Morris has learned this the hard way. I would have liked to have seen a little more info on the pros and cons of incorporation, but there are books on that subject already. This is a must read for anyone who is involved (or about to be involved) in the computer business!
26 of 27 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
I can safely say that before reading this book, I did not feel capable of taking on my own computer business. But, it was a quick and easy read- down and dirty with all the details. The business forum on yahoo that is recommended several times in this book has proven invaluable. Don't give it a second thought! Buy it today!!! You have nothing to lose.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
With 3 stars I'm being kind because of the holidays.
Based on other reviews, I thought this book would be a great hands-on tool to help my young adult son turn his sometime-hobby of toying with PCs into a part time, money making... Read more
Published 5 months ago by swtrader
Informative, but dated!
Great seller and an informative book over all. For those who are just starting out it helps to read this book, but I wish it was updated since it will soon be 10 years old!
Published 10 months ago by Opeth666
Don't waste your time with this one!
I sure wish I could get back those 2 hours of my life! Fortunately, that's all I spent on this "book". I don't think I took away a single useful fact or insight. Read more
Published 17 months ago by Richard Wainwright
A Good Starting Point
Bottom-Line: "Start Your Own Computer Business: The Unembellished Guide" a good starting point from which to gather information about the computer service and repair business,... Read more
Published 17 months ago by Vincent E. Martin
Well worth the price
"I didn't find it as good as the reviews would have you believe. It was a good book and it does have some sage advice and interesting parts; some funny parts and some really dull... Read more
Published on April 24, 2010 by Roger L.
Excellent Sourcebook On Starting A PC Repair Business!!!
This valuable sourcebook, 'Start Your Own Computer Business' is essential for people who want to have their own computer store or computer repair shop, in such areas as: ordering... Read more
Published on March 5, 2010 by James Lydon
This is a lousy excuse for a book!
First of all this book is NOT geared toward the computer repair business as the Title on Amazon leads you to believe.
Secondly, the author is VERY NEGATIVE. Read more
Secondly, the author is VERY NEGATIVE. Read more
Published on November 29, 2009 by TKOP
Should be half as long or even less
This book has 160 pages; 6 are blank, 8 have stupid cartoons on them, 19 are about building custom PCs (which virtually no-one does any more), 41 are about subjects on which Mr... Read more
Published on October 31, 2009 by Matthew Parry
Excellent Starting point
Simply practical... Morris writes out your options, and where to go...Loved it!! He uses some humor in his writing to making it an easy read. Read more
Published on July 8, 2009 by B. Edmunds
Start your own Computer Business
Start Your Own Computer Business: Building a Successful PC Repair and Service Business by Supporting Customers and Managing Money
When I ordered this book I was not sure... Read more
When I ordered this book I was not sure... Read more
Published on March 10, 2009 by Mark Ingle
Inside This Book
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First Sentence:
You've sold your first PC to your mother's friend Doris, and then find out that whether you order it assembled or in pieces, there's not going to be any profit because you included Windows XP in the price but forgot to add in the cost. Read the first page Key Phrases - Statistically Improbable Phrases (SIPs): (learn more)
checkbook register Key Phrases - Capitalized Phrases (CAPs): (learn more)
Return Merchandise Authorization, Internet Service Provider New!
Concordance | Text Stats Browse Sample Pages:
Front Cover | Table of Contents | First Pages | Back Cover | Surprise Me!
You've sold your first PC to your mother's friend Doris, and then find out that whether you order it assembled or in pieces, there's not going to be any profit because you included Windows XP in the price but forgot to add in the cost. Read the first page Key Phrases - Statistically Improbable Phrases (SIPs): (learn more)
checkbook register Key Phrases - Capitalized Phrases (CAPs): (learn more)
Return Merchandise Authorization, Internet Service Provider New!
Concordance | Text Stats Browse Sample Pages:
Front Cover | Table of Contents | First Pages | Back Cover | Surprise Me!
Citations (learn more)
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- From Serf to Surfer: Becoming a Network Consultant by Matthew Strebe on page 53
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