Movin’ On Up

Computer Troubleshooters

Movin’ On Up

Computer Troubleshooter franchisee, Steve Rice, tells us how his business has gone from strength to strength…

After spending 20 years working as a software programmer for a well-known bank, Steve Rice from Kent decided it was time for a change; the long hours spent commuting and the usual office politics grew increasingly unbearable and Steve found himself yearning for a new challenge.

“I just got fed up with it all,” he recalls. “I wasn’t even enjoying what I was doing anymore, and I just got so tired of everything that I resigned without having another job to go to.”

Far from resting on his laurels, once Steve had liberated himself from the daily grind he was keen to get things moving, so using the internet, he started to investigate the possibilities that were available to him. It wasn’t long before Computer Troubleshooters caught his eye.

“I wanted to go into business for myself,” he says. “But it was a big step so I didn’t fancy going it totally on my own – which is why I started researching franchises. Computer Troubleshooters was basically the first company that I saw, and it appealed to me straight away. So I read up on it and asked lots of questions and the more I heard, the more I knew it was the right choice.”

Founded in Australia in 1996, Computer Troubleshooters is an international franchise network that provides quality on-site computer services to small businesses and home offices, so given Steve’s extensive background in programming it seemed like a perfect match.

After making the decision to take up the franchise, Steve then completed a weekend training course with Computer Troubleshooters where he learned the essential aspects of getting his business up and running.

He also took it upon himself to complete extra training courses to bolster his technical knowledge and qualifications, so he was well and truly prepared to deal with all his prospective customers - little did he know how quickly his client base would grow!

“Customers seem to feel more confident about using a tried and trusted name so I’m constantly busy, which is great and the best part is that I can schedule the hours to suit me. I can still leave a little time free for a round of golf at the weekend - it’s quite flexible.”

Initially Steve worked from home, but then given the increase in his volume of business, one year later he moved into an office, and enlisted the help of his wife, Suzanne, with administration and accounts. Things are going extremely well, and Steve particularly finds the continued support and brand name recognition that he receives as a franchisee to be invaluable to the continued success of his business.

“Taking up a franchise with Computer Troubleshooters has meant that I am part of a global network of nearly 500 other franchisees, which means we can offer each other technical support on various problems that arise.”

“We also have a conference each year where we meet with various vendors and suppliers – we have better buying power as a group so we have access to all the latest technology at the most competitive prices.”

And now, just under two years on, Steve is still in the process of growing his business, but despite the daily challenges, he has no regrets about his decision to leave his job at the bank and take a chance on something better.

“Yes, I’m working extremely hard and because we’re still growing I’m re-investing my money back into the business, so I don’t quite have as much ready cash yet as I did when I was with the bank, but I’m actually enjoying my work now – it’s a lot more satisfying.”

Steve’s tips for success

• It’s a big decision so give it a lot of thought and be as prepared as possible – then once you make the decision you have to keep at it and work hard.
• Enthusiasm is the key, you have to be willing to learn so you can offer more to your customers.

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