To Rodney, and others who may help.

[residentevil3]

Hi, now that im 17 almost 18 (August 5th) i was thinking of starting some kind of buisness computer related. My mom of course will help out alot but i need some advice.

I plan to hire someone to help me make a website for custom built computers or get a buisness loan and start a local computer shop. I will of course prob hire a bunch of people i know who can really benifit on what im want to do. Im not exsactly sure on how to proceed on this subject. Like for one how do i buy computer parts in wholesale so it will cheaper for me to build the computer then street prices. I'm a real noob at this, where do i start and where do i end ? I dont plan on doing stuff like newegg.com or someother places i just want to do things sorta like Alienware, except have the customer pick his/her own parts out and build the computer from scratch, and i can have pre-built comps for people who need them for for school heavy gamming or just regular work.

Where do i start ? I'm not ganna do this right away im ganna do alot hard work and research ect.

[marko3xl3]

Originally posted by residentevil3
Hi, now that im 17 almost 18 (August 5th) i was thinking of starting some kind of buisness computer related. My mom of course will help out alot but i need some advice.

I plan to hire someone to help me make a website for custom built computers or get a buisness loan and start a local computer shop. I will of course prob hire a bunch of people i know who can really benifit on what im want to do. Im not exsactly sure on how to proceed on this subject. Like for one how do i buy computer parts in wholesale so it will cheaper for me to build the computer then street prices. I'm a real noob at this, where do i start and where do i end ? I dont plan on doing stuff like newegg.com or someother places i just want to do things sorta like Alienware, except have the customer pick his/her own parts out and build the computer from scratch, and i can have pre-built comps for people who need them for for school heavy gamming or just regular work.

Where do i start ? I'm not ganna do this right away im ganna do alot hard work and research ect.

Go to your local small computer store and talk to them... they might help a bit.

Mostly it's just basic. Find a place to have a store @ find a good reseller and make your shop look good and advertise. Start off small and grow. If you have a shop you could showcase stuff and then have a cutom rig service where you talk to a customer and show them the parts you got in the store and then talk with them about the system and build it. That's how my local shop did it.

[JCYC5]

Email computer parts manufactures, asking them for distributors in your area, then ask them for bulk pricing...

[Artcwolf]

Originally posted by residentevil3
Hi, now that im 17 almost 18 (August 5th) i was thinking of starting some kind of buisness computer related. My mom of course will help out alot but i need some advice.

I plan to hire someone to help me make a website for custom built computers or get a buisness loan and start a local computer shop. I will of course prob hire a bunch of people i know who can really benifit on what im want to do. Im not exsactly sure on how to proceed on this subject. Like for one how do i buy computer parts in wholesale so it will cheaper for me to build the computer then street prices. I'm a real noob at this, where do i start and where do i end ? I dont plan on doing stuff like newegg.com or someother places i just want to do things sorta like Alienware, except have the customer pick his/her own parts out and build the computer from scratch, and i can have pre-built comps for people who need them for for school heavy gamming or just regular work.

Where do i start ? I'm not ganna do this right away im ganna do alot hard work and research ect.

Try doing your research on the web. Check out the SBA (http://www.sba.gov/starting_business/index.html) website.

E-mail companies that are in similar business as the one you wish to start and see if you can get any information from them. Ask many questions, even if they are reluctant to answer them. Check with local as well as distant companies and don't limit yourself to just one company.

Check with your bank, they may be able to give you ideas and suggestions.

Write everything down. Look at businesses that are sucessful. For example, a major frozen yogurt franchise (one that I used to work at) is strongly suggested to be located a certain distance from a main road and facing that road. You don't want to put yourself in a location that isn't going to get much traffic. You also don't want to put yourself in a location that cannot logistically support your business nor one that has a lot of competition while you're trying to start up your new business.

Figure out what "gimmick" or "gimmicks" you have to sell your business and services. In other words, why would I come to you when I can go down the street to "Charlies fish store with computers on the side".

Do your homework. I cannot stress this enough. It is vital to your success. Know your business. I would highly suggest a college degree, even if it an associates. If you do not wish to go that route, get some certifications (A+, Net+, MCP, MCSA). Customers want to know that you know what you are doing and this can help show that.

Find out what type of insurance you will need. You don't want something happening to your business and it not be insured. If you're going to hire employee's you will need to have benifits. It's what helps attract good employee's.

I would suggest working for someone else for a couple of years to gain some experience prior to you going out and starting one green. Education, experience, and research are the three main ingredients to your success.

[wazman]

Before you go talk to a bank, you're going to want to have some kind of business plan drawn up. This should include the purpose of the business, type of business, what your intended customer base is, how many employees you plan to have... Things like that.

Basically, I have two tips for you:

1) Research, research, research. Know your field, know your competition, know your market. The more you know, the smarter you'll look and the better you'll do.

2) If you have a community college in your area, apply to it and take a couple small business classes if they're offered. The one near me offers some, like "Owning and Operating a Small Business" and the like. These classes will help you out immensly (I need to take some myself).

Basically, just take your time, and make sure you've done some homework on this before you talk to anyone officially. I don't know how receptive the banks and such might be to someone your age, but if you go in there like a professional businessman and show them you know your stuff, you're likely to impress them. And that might make all the difference.

Of course, there's a lot more to it than that, but I don't know everything about this - I only know what my dad did before he opened his store. But just remember it takes time to get a business up and running. Don't rush it.

[getit29]

I have to agree with what wazman said,

1) Research, research, research. Know your field, know your competition, know your market. The more you know, the smarter you'll look and the better you'll do.

2) If you have a community college in your area, apply to it and take a couple small business classes if they're offered. The one near me offers some, like "Owning and Operating a Small Business" and the like. These classes will help you out immensly

two things you will need before talking to distributors in your area, and asking them for bulk pricing is (1)a business license and (2) a resellers tax ID number. Most if not all distributors will require you to have the business license and tax ID before they will sell to you at wholesale prices. When you decide when and where you are going to open your business just go to your local county court house and give them your business name and type of business you are wanting to open and get your business license. Then you will need to contact your State offices and apply for the reseller tax ID and then just go for it!!!!:thumb

[thephenom]

The guys said it all above. Only other advice.

"Plan you work, work you plan.
A failure to plan is a plan to failure."

[residentevil3]

Im ganna go job hunting ina few days iv never had a job before so before istart all this stuff im ganna do what you all mentioned and look for something that has to do with computers. Preferably a local shop.

[thephenom]

Originally posted by residentevil3
Im ganna go job hunting ina few days iv never had a job before so before istart all this stuff im ganna do what you all mentioned and look for something that has to do with computers. Preferably a local shop.
That's an idea.... go pursue a higher education relevant to what you want to do. (getting computer certification certainly helps looking for jobs)

[JCYC5]

Originally posted by thephenom
That's an idea.... go pursue a higher education relevant to what you want to do. (getting computer certification certainly helps looking for jobs)

agreed!