I almost titled this thread "anyone build computers" but then i thought for half a second.


Anyway, I'm building a few(somewhere between 5 and 15) computers for my friends/acquaintances, and I was wondering if anyone else built computers and sold them (like, for a profit), and if so, how much they charged for labor.

Thanks,
Jeff

Quote: Originally Posted by Dakas I almost titled this thread "anyone build computers" but then i thought for half a second. Anyway, I'm building a few(somewhere between 5 and 15) computers for my friends/acquaintances, and I was wondering if anyone else built computers and sold them (like, for a profit), and if so, how much they charged for labor. Thanks, Jeff

I never charged for labor. Hmmm.. Thats why I'm poor.

That all depends on your state.. I charge about a 25% markup and no labor when building.. Most local stores here charge 25 to 40.00 and hour and no markup..Check with local shops and see what they charge..25% is verry competetive and keeps costs pretty low..But if you start charging you better stand behind your product...

I do it for free, and give free tech support. In return, people pretend to be friends with me. I guess I'm cool like that.

Well, I just did one for a friend, and in return he got me a nice videocard. I gave him my GeForce 5900XT and he bought me a AIW 9800 Pro. Good deal I think.

For me it depends on who it is. If its a friend no charge, but for people i dont know I charge a flat fee of 50 bucks for labor and software installation.

I know one guy who was like, If your so good at this, why don't you charge for it. I replied, I do.
waws funny at the time anyways... Im gonna crawl back into my corner now, forget you saw me.

If you are going to operate as a business, I would follow Bio's advice. He operated a small pc business while he was in college a couple of years go.

What are you doing for an OS?

I do, got two Dell Pentium 3 866's shipping out for 150 each at the end of the week,then I'll have enough cash for a dual Pentium 3 mobo and a nice videocard.

If you do a better-than-dell job (componenets. wiring. tuning software) then I'd say keep it under the competition (Alienware, Hypersonic PC)... I've compared their systems and alienware adds about $750 to their midrange AMD. I'd say as long as you don't add more than %40 you'll be fine

At work, I don't do a markup like that, because I don't build computers in the way you are asking. However with friends and family, I typically go 10% for close friends 20% for aquaintances and none for immediate and close family.

yeah i'm doin it for free for my buds, and for my parents, but i have no such love for classmates and teachers, so i was thinkin like a 10% markup (since it doesn't take me much work to order parts/put together, and i like doing it)

for the OS i'm stealing it off Kazaa. haha Just Kidding, seriously. I get OEM licenses when I buy harddrives, so XP pro is what I do for people.

better than dell? i sure hope so...I'll be doin all my little tricks to make the machines scream (I'm an OC n00b, but I can tweak windows like a mo...) along with providing the free tech support i provide everyone i know... and of course all the warranties that come with the hardware.

thanks bio, i'll check around. even though most of the local shops just went out of business...

I charge a pretty much flat fee of $100 over parts when building a system - done about 5 in the last month and a half and everyone is happy so far.

After all is said and done, I usually add about 30%.

^^ Some day when I'm not poor, people I know will get a discount.

P.S. For the OS, check out getting a COA. You'll have to buy an OEM disk the first time, but it saves a good bit of money later.

I get all my XP COAs off pricewatch - usually pay $57ish shipped. I have an original XP Home with SP1 so no problems there - as well as Windows XP Pre Installation CD.