How do I start a computer repair home business?

You are going to have to find a way to get word out about your business. Start with flyers and build from there. I have found the best thing is word of mouth. So building good relations with people is key are they will be a large amount of free advertising. How much you charge is really up to you. I recommended charging depending on who it is and how much work is needed to be done. Have a website for yourself that way people can look you up. Having business card with your information on it to hand out is also great.

If you'd do this after hours, or not as your main job, I would first check upon the legality of the matter, as it differs in various countries. (e.g: my uncle had to stop his mini 'business' after he got a letter from the government.)

If that is checked, I'd first make a website, make sure people can contact you, and more importantly 'find' you. As a new fish in the big sea, you might want to have some services that others do not. (e.g: 24/7 phone support.) All by all, advertising or not, your success will depend on the quality of the services you'd offer.

Once you have your first customer, treat him like a king. If he is satisfied by the work, he will most likely come back, and tell his friends, family etcetera if they'd ask him for advice. Mouth to mouth advertisement will go the fastest for a new business.

Other than that, make sure that your prices are reasonable. Try to compete a little with the other people in the market, especially with your first customers. It might be better asking 10$ less on the first couple repairs, than immediately charge big money.

Last but not least, as suggested by TheTechDude, print some flyers and business cards, try to get the word out etcetera. If you 'invest' in a small company, the first couple months (if not years) will be rather hard. You're not the only one doing it, and you do have to prove yourself to anyone that is looking into you.

I wish you the best of luck with all this, I hope it works out well. I hope to have such a business myself later too.

I did something similar i would help people with their computer needs on location (at their house), nine out of ten time a fresh instal of windows would do the trick so have those CD with ya also a portable hdd is needed to for saving files before formatting the computers. I charge around €50 for the formatting, posters and flyers help a lot.

The first step is go work for a Tech Shop, just because you have an A+ certification doesn't mean you know enough as networking, servers, and web are just as important as the basics.

My old boss was a freaking trip & a genius all rolled up into one!

Once you have 1-3 years experience you will be more recognized, knowledgeable, and you will understand the inside of the business..

If you don't want to work for a business, but want to learn, you are going to have to pay for that knowledge, nothing is free..

If you need business, financial, and technical advice on that scale, maybe you shouldn't open your business, and that's not meant to be rude, but you need more answers, and obviously you haven't asked enough questions to even be in that line of business.