Keeping It Legal
I've got the knowledge and experience. Do I really need a piece of paper?
Q: I would like to start a
computer repair business from home. Do I need to be certified, or
is my personal experience enough? Do I need a license?
Name withheld
A: While we have yet to hear
of a state that requires a professional or occupational license to
do computer repair, it's wise to verify this with the agency in
your state responsible for such licensing. You can find links to
the Web site of virtually every regulatory agency in North America
at the Council on Licensure, Enforcement and Regulation's Web
site. If you find out you don't need a license, it's
still a good idea to get something in writing from the appropriate
agency stating that fact before you start your business.
Even when licensing is not required for your business, however,
certification is often expected by corporations and other
sophisticated customers. Certification also establishes you as a
specialist, thus enabling you to charge higher rates for your
services. Think of it as a way to establish your credibility with
prospective clients and keep up with changing technology.
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Fortunately, you can find many sources of training that lead to
certification: community colleges and trade schools, correspondence
courses in print and on CD, and online education. You can learn
about these many avenues in Anne Martinez's book Get
Certified and Get Ahead (McGraw-Hill Professional
Publishing).
Paul and Sarah Edwards' most recent book is The
Entrepreneurial Parent. Send them your start-up questions at
www.workingfromhome.com or e-mail entmag@entrepreneur.com.