Entrepreneurship in ICT – SS1 Computer Hardware & GSM Repair Lesson Note (Third Term)

Entrepreneurship in ICT is the act of turning an ICT skill, such as phone or computer repair, into a business that earns money.

• Skill alone is not enough: a repairer with tools but no business plan earns little.
• Aim of the lesson: to move from the bedroom or school lab to your own repair centre.

Behavioural objectives

By the end of the lesson, students should be able to:

1. Explain what a niche is and describe the specialist, the all-rounder and the support store.
2. State what to consider when choosing a shop location and arranging the front and the lab.
3. List the basic tools for a repair business and explain working capital.
4. Price a repair job so that it covers the part, labour and generator fuel.
5. Describe how to build customer trust through honesty, deadlines and a job card.
6. Name ways of marketing a repair business.

What is entrepreneurship in ICT?

Entrepreneurship is starting and running a business, and accepting the risk, in order to make a profit.

• Entrepreneur: a person who starts and runs a business and takes the risk of loss.
• ICT: information and communication technology, such as phones, computers and networks.
• ICT business examples: phone repair, computer repair, accessory sales and airtime loading.
• Why it matters: a repair skill can give you a steady income and create work for others.

What is a niche and what kind of repair business should you run?

A niche is the particular part of the market that your business focuses on.

There are three kinds of repair business described here: the specialist, the all-rounder and the support store.

The specialist

• What you do: you fix only one kind of device, such as iPhones or high-end gaming laptops.
• Advantage: you can charge more because you are seen as an expert.

The all-rounder

• What you do: you fix many brands, such as Tecno, Infinix, HP and Dell, and even calculators.
• Advantage: you get more customers.
• Cost: you need more tools and more knowledge.

The support store

• What you do: you repair hardware and also sell accessories, load airtime and help people set up email accounts.
• Advantage: you earn from several sources.

• Golden rule: it is better to master one thing than to be “okay” at everything.
• Advice: start with what you know best.

Where should you set up your repair shop?

Your shop should be visible, tidy, safe and have a reliable power supply, because your location is your first advertisement.

1. Visibility: choose a place near a busy road, a market or a university campus, so that people see you and trust you.
2. The front and the back:
   1. The front: keep it clean. Here you talk to customers and display accessories such as chargers and pouches.
   2. The back (the lab): this is your “surgery room”. Keep it organised and well lit, and keep it away from customers who might touch a hot soldering iron.
3. Power: have a small “I pass my neighbour” generator, a solar system or a good inverter. Without power you cannot work.

What money and tools do you need to start?

You can start with a basic kit and a small amount of working capital, then grow the business.

Basic tools

• Screwdriver set: opens phones and laptops without damaging the screws.
• Soldering station: joins or removes components on a circuit board using heat.
• Multimeter: measures voltage, resistance and continuity to find faults.
• Hot air gun: heats a board to remove or fit small surface-mounted parts.

Working capital

Working capital is the money you keep aside to run the business day by day, mainly to buy parts.

• Example: a customer brings a broken screen. You must buy the new screen from the market before the customer pays you back.
• Other uses: shop rent, generator fuel and replacing worn tools.

How do you price a repair job?

A repair price is the cost of the part plus your labour plus generator fuel, with a profit added.

1. Find the cost of the part.
2. Add the cost of your time (labour).
3. Add “light” money, which is the fuel for the generator.
4. Add a small profit so the business can grow.

• Note: these figures are made up to show the method. Real prices change with the market.
• Pro tip: never undercharge just to get customers. Low prices leave no money for better tools later.

How do you keep customers happy?

You keep customers by earning their trust, because people hand you phones that hold private photos, bank apps and messages.

• Be honest: if a phone is dead and cannot be fixed, say so. Do not collect money for “trying” and return a broken phone.
• Keep deadlines: if you promise Tuesday at 4:00 PM, have the phone ready by 3:30 PM.
• Use a job card: give the customer a small receipt that describes the phone, the IMEI number and the problem.
• Respect privacy: do not open or share a customer’s photos, messages or apps.

Why is a job card important?

• Proof: it shows which phone was brought in.
• Protection: it stops a customer from returning with a “fake” phone and claiming you swapped the original.
• Record: it lists the fault, so there is no argument later.

How do you handle a customer who returns with the same fault?

1. Greet the customer politely and listen without interrupting.
2. Check the phone in front of the customer.
3. Explain the cause in simple words.
4. Repair it free of charge if the fault is from your work or is covered by your warranty.
5. Thank the customer for coming back.

How do you market your repair business?

You market a repair business by telling people about it, using WhatsApp, word of mouth and a warranty.

1. WhatsApp Status: post pictures of a phone before and after you fixed it.
2. Word of mouth: tell your neighbours, your church or mosque members and your old schoolmates.
3. Warranty: offer a “7-Day Warranty”. Say: “If this screen stops working in 7 days, bring it back for free.” This makes customers feel safe.

How does a small repair shop grow?

A small repair shop grows through patience, honesty and continued learning.

• Start small: many large companies, such as Microsoft and Apple, began as small businesses.
• Stay honest: happy customers bring new customers.
• Keep learning: new phone and computer models need new repair skills.

Evaluation

1. What is a niche? Name the three types of repair business described in this lesson.
2. What three costs must you include when pricing a repair job?
3. Why should you give every customer a job card?
4. If you have only ₦50,000 to start your business today, which three tools would you buy first?
5. A customer comes back and says their phone is still not charging after you fixed it. How would you talk to them to keep them happy?

Assignment

Write a one-page business plan for your own repair centre. State your niche, where you would set up, the tools you would buy first, how you would price a repair, and two ways you would market the business.