Community Forums

nothermark · 03-04-2016, 08:03 PM

FWIW I might try offering a free clinic at the clubhouse. There are enough people afraid to mess up their machine that you could show them until the cows come home, they will still want you to do it for them. ;-)

Assuming you are not trying to sell software take a look at securitytango.com. Nick generally keeps the site current.

Earl E · 03-04-2016, 09:43 PM

Whenever I have had issues I have asked at the office who they recommended. They have never steered me wrong. Moral of the story...if you float through a week at a time, forget it. It you stay long enough to get a reputation and a recommendation from the office, you are in.

W4RLR · 03-04-2016, 10:42 PM

Also consider that there may be local or state laws that require you to have a business license to ply your trade. And there is the matter of remitting possible sales taxes to the state, county, and/or city. For me, it would be too much of a headache. If you were in one place permanently and you worked with local RV parks to get on their services list, that would be more doable. One last thing to consider, when my wife and I were running our mobile pet grooming service we let the local RV parks know about our services. Most were glad that we stopped by and added us to their service list. But there was one campground on the beach in Destin who would not allow us in the park unless the park received twenty percent of income earned from their customers as a "commission". Since our mobile grooming shop was self contained and the only thing the park was providing was access to their captive customers we declined their offer.

Mr_D · 03-04-2016, 10:56 PM

I was so glad to get out of the IT business I would never consider it now! But then I mainly worked with rack mount servers and SAN's (Storage Area Networks) as an Oracle Financials team leader.
I hated dealing with the "chair/keyboard interface"!

Chuck_Hammer · 03-05-2016, 05:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mr_D

I was so glad to get out of the IT business I would never consider it now! But then I mainly worked with rack mount servers and SAN's (Storage Area Networks) as an Oracle Financials team leader.
I hated dealing with the "chair/keyboard interface"!

Me Also.. but I am a retired auto mechanic..

"wheel and petal operators."

Boostable · 03-05-2016, 06:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mr_D

I was so glad to get out of the IT business I would never consider it now! But then I mainly worked with rack mount servers and SAN's (Storage Area Networks) as an Oracle Financials team leader.
I hated dealing with the "chair/keyboard interface"!

Funny, I to am retired IT Technical Director myself and have taught/trained many over the years and was reading this thread thinking hmm, this isn't a bad idea maybe I can do this as well... Until I read your post and I came to my senses, lol. I'm with you....

To the original poster, go for it! Can't hurt right. Magnetic sign, or a custom license plate on the front of your rig.

spritz · 03-05-2016, 06:15 AM

So far I could have used 2 of the services mentioned above
Laptop took a dump
So I needed you.
And a dog groomer, so far its weeks ahead of time to get the girls a haircut. Looking at next Thursday for that.

Tim

scottandanna · 03-05-2016, 06:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Betr2Trvl

First, let me say please do not take this as personal attack or questioning your abilities, ethics, or motivation. But this is about keeping my data secure from others in general.

Let someone into my computer I don't know, will never see again, and that does not work for a known business entity, is NOT going to happen, NO WAY.......

And I'm not going to let anyone set up my wifi, router, or whatever that I connect to either.

Regards,

Hmmm, I never really thought about it like that.

Now I feel kinda creepy and dirty...

But, would you trust that kid at Best Buy? No matter who works on your computer, they can see what they want, if they want to.

I know what people use their computers for, and I try my best to NOT go looking for their personal stuff. Sometimes, I can't help it, eg. the porn site was the SOURCE of the problem for that friend of mine in prior post.

scottandanna · 03-05-2016, 06:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nothermark

FWIW I might try offering a free clinic at the clubhouse. There are enough people afraid to mess up their machine that you could show them until the cows come home, they will still want you to do it for them. ;-)

Assuming you are not trying to sell software take a look at securitytango.com. Nick generally keeps the site current.

THAT is not a bad idea!!!

But overall, yeah, I agree with most of you. The part about being "transient"...I wouldn't trust my stuff with me either! Who says I won't leave tomorrow with 5 of your laptops!!!

Oh well, luckily, we have enough to float through on. I was just looking for a little extra income so we could have the occasional sushi dinner. I hear the "fresh from the ocean" sushi in Wyoming is THE BEST!

TQ60 · 03-05-2016, 08:27 AM

Having owned a storefront years ago there are other things to consider and this was before all security concerns.

Another poster mentioned business license so already coveted but some states such as california have specific licenses required for even touching consumer electronics.

Being a federal licensed tech myself did not count and there were no entrance criteria other than a payment.

The rule was as long as owner was in 100% control okay but if you touched it and they also were not touching it then permit required.

If someone complains and they will you get in big trouble.

Only thing that saved our butt was the federal license showed we had skills and documentation that we had visited city hall to get all licenses and we had no clue the license from state was required.

Insurance against fault also needed.

Once yiu post a sign or hand out a card yiu are considered a professional and must abide by all rules and regulations.

Accepting any money for any tasks meets that definition as well.

Doing something "for fun" or "just helping" and receiving a "tip" is often overlooked but it only takes one person ( usually someone else who does same thing) to make a complaint and you are done.

If you make it known to the cg by asking if it is okay work on them...Ask something like this..." I like working on my computers outside on good sunny days, would having a table full of computer parts visible from the road be an issue here?"

That let's them know yiu know how to work on them and if the ask if you do it as a business you state for friends for tip money...

Betr2Trvl · 03-05-2016, 02:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by scottandanna

Hmmm, I never really thought about it like that.

Now I feel kinda creepy and dirty...

But, would you trust that kid at Best Buy? No matter who works on your computer, they can see what they want, if they want to.

I know what people use their computers for, and I try my best to NOT go looking for their personal stuff. Sometimes, I can't help it, eg. the porn site was the SOURCE of the problem for that friend of mine in prior post.

I'm not necessarily worried about someone coming across personal info if they are working on my machine, but taking that data, or loading something onto my machine that may skim data or compromise it otherwise. Someone else also mentioned being able to undo a fix that proves more problematic than the initial problem.

Yes, I know the kid at Best Buy etc. could do the same thing, but in theory those "known entities" have standard business practices etc. that thier employees are supposed to adhere to. And, hopefully they have been properly screened as well. Yes, all in theory, I get it. But if something happens and it can be traced back to something that has a time stamp on it, you could at least have some place to go for remediation of the problem with a "known company".

People are rightly paranoid about someone skimming thier data on a public wifi, so I consider it significantly more risky handing my computer to someone that just happens to be in the campground I am in.

And no, I never do "business" over campground wifi, no credit card transactions, no banking business of any kind, etc. Any sort of confidential data goes over my own devices cellular services.

I appreciate you taking my thoughts as I intended.

All the best!

scottandanna · 03-05-2016, 04:22 PM

I have never done ANY business while at a campground...too busy playing, fishing, hiking, swimming, walking the dog, etc

MJFZ · 03-05-2016, 06:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TQ60

Having owned a storefront years ago there are other things to consider and this was before all security concerns.

Another poster mentioned business license so already coveted but some states such as california have specific licenses required for even touching consumer electronics.

Being a federal licensed tech myself did not count and there were no entrance criteria other than a payment.

...

I am just curious, what federal license covers IT support technicians? I learn new things every day.

Thanks,

Mike

TQ60 · 03-05-2016, 08:26 PM

My license is for radio communications, back in the day you needed one to work on transmitters.

No license needed for it but when we had store we were fixing various electronic devices which also did not need any federal license but we did need the state license from consumer affairs department.

No skills required for that one, just fill in a form and pay your money.

The radio license on the other hand requires extensive skills to pass the exam.

Because of having that license we were able to convince the agent who was trying to fine us huge bucks that we knew how to fix things so their license was more just a way for them to collect money, filled out their form and paid the 50 bucks instead of the 500 they wanted.

There are many certifications now for IT fields that allows companies to filter their applicants but not aware of any government requirements for a skills based license.

The requirement for FCC license went away many years ago but some places still require it or similar.