Need assistance starting a custom gaming computer manufacturer

[Nick_N]

A little information about myself before I start: I'm Nick Nishanian. A 16 year old who lives in LA, California and goes to all AP classes. Yes you know great a idiotic kids who thinks he can start a business. Well I've done it before.


Experience: In the past I've started 2 .com businesses which I've sold to a private buyer. Also since the age of 10 I've been helping and watching my dad in his business. He owns couple of the Hamton Inn & Suite hotels in California, He owned once of the most popular banquest halls in LA district which he sold, and also a major real estate owner. Also at age 15 I've gotten my front desk, night audit, and assistance management certification from Hilton to assist in my fathers hotels. So this clears up myself. Been building computers and repairing them since the age of 9.


What I want to do now: Since my video of my custom computer on YouTube, I've been asked by couple of individuals to make them computers, mainly custom gaming computers. Been doing this for over 4 months now and made well over $6,000. I decided if I can do this and enjoy doing it, why not start a business doing it.


What makes me different than others: I've been building and repairing computers since 9. I have a dream for these kind of stuff. I mainly want to build computer based on the gaming business and thats where most of the money comes these days. I also am I hard core gamer so when I build it comes, its build by not only gamers but hardcore gamers FOR hardcore gamers! I also have some stuff up my sleeve that I don't want to release to the public that will HIGHLY increase my reputation in the business cause of these strategy decesions I have in mind.


What do I need: I need assistance in starting the company. Where can I go to get a guide or some sort of information on companies started like this. I have the location already, its going to be at one of my dads buildings that he has set for me. It's not big but I can fit 10 computer docks for myself to work on since at the moment it'll just be me, it also has a desk room for myself and a front desk room. I need also have no idea where to buy the parts straight from the manufacturer since these days individuals buy from the reseller but I want to know where the reseller buys it from. Also how do warranty and issurance work? What legal action do I need? What certification do I need? What do I do? All these things need to be answered.


So please if any assistance will be welcomed, you can talk here or on my AIM sn at Nickwahh5. Thank you!

[sauer13]

It seems like you already have a leg up 99.9% of people starting out, both because you already have ready, willing, and able buyers for your product, and your father appears to be a tremendous informational and financial resource.

As a 16 year old, however, I don't believe you can enter into the necessary contracts to secure insurance coverage, or apply for an EID # (needed to purchase parts wholesale in most cases). I could be wrong about that, but I believe you will need a partner or trustee.

I'm not aware of any certifications you would need to build and sell computers, although, things vary from state to state.

As far as warranties are concerned, it is a personal preference for how long you are willing to support the products you build. Legally, I believe you are required to provide some type of warranty unless you are explicitly sell products AS-IS, and the laws governing warranty structure also vary from state to state.

I've never purchased wholesale computer components; I just buy my parts from NewEgg.com, so I can't really offer anything there. However, stay away from anyone that doesn't require an EID #. I think some of the old threads on this forum talk about WorldWideBrands or something like that, it may be a starting point.

Danny

Edit: PS. Can you post the specs for your machines. I've been thinking about picking up a high end gaming machine.

[Nick_N]

It seems like you already have a leg up 99.9% of people starting out, both because you already have ready, willing, and able buyers for your product, and your father appears to be a tremendous informational and financial resource.

As a 16 year old, however, I don't believe you can enter into the necessary contracts to secure insurance coverage, or apply for an EID # (needed to purchase parts wholesale in most cases). I could be wrong about that, but I believe you will need a partner or trustee.

I'm not aware of any certifications you would need to build and sell computers, although, things vary from state to state.

As far as warranties are concerned, it is a personal preference for how long you are willing to support the products you build. Legally, I believe you are required to provide some type of warranty unless you are explicitly sell products AS-IS, and the laws governing warranty structure also vary from state to state.

I've never purchased wholesale computer components; I just buy my parts from NewEgg.com, so I can't really offer anything there. However, stay away from anyone that doesn't require an EID #. I think some of the old threads on this forum talk about WorldWideBrands or something like that, it may be a starting point.

Danny

Edit: PS. Can you post the specs for your machines. I've been thinking about picking up a high end gaming machine.

I think what I can do now is just buy from resellers like NewEgg/TigerDirect, and sell it on Ebay or on my website to give my website a boost. After maybe a year or two of loyal customers I can then start spending major cash on advertising and then once I see my customer rate growing I can then buy from the source and start building when I get orders.


SPECS: I have the computer I first build on at YouTube just search "One of the best Top 20 Gaming Rig of the Year!" and its by NNTechService

Case: Master Cosmos S edition
Power Supply: 1000W Corsair HX
Processor: Intel Core 2 Quad Q9450 2.66GHz Overclocked @ 3.40GHz
Motherboard: nVidia 790i Ultra Core 2 Quad
System Memory: 4GB DDR3 Corsair at 1333MHz Overclocked @ 1600MHz
Hard Driver: 500GB Western Digital
Optical Drive 1: DVD±R/RW/CD-R/RW (DVD Writer 20x / CD-Writer 48x) (LightScribe Edition)
Optical Drive 2: DVD±R/RW/CD-R/RW (DVD Writer 20x / CD-Writer 48x)
Network Card: Bigfoot Killer Network Card (Features MaxFPS and UltimatePing Technology
Video Card: nVidia GeForce GTX 280 1GB Overclocked
Sound Card: Creative Sound Blaster X-Fi FPS Fatal1ty Champion (Included Front I/O Unit)
Extreme Cooling: Liquid Chilled FrostBite CPU Only (Artic Blue Liquid)
Internal Lighting: Blizzard Internal Lighting (Blue Edition) (Cold Cathode Tubes)
Modifications: LCD Temperature Display & Fan Controller
Windows OS: Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium (64-Bit Edition) (For Ethusiasts)

[flnazrael]

Ingram Micro is one of the biggest digital/electronics distributors in the world, if not the biggest. My dad and I used to buy from them when we had a computer business.

Just remember, if they don't require a sales/use tax ID number, they're a middle man. Tiger, NewEgg, the places on Pricewatch, eBay, none of them are real wholesalers.

[MoneyMagnet]

As a 16 year old, however, I don't believe you can enter into the necessary contracts to secure insurance coverage, or apply for an EID # (needed to purchase parts wholesale in most cases). I could be wrong about that, but I believe you will need a partner or trustee.


I've never purchased wholesale computer components; I just buy my parts from NewEgg.com, so I can't really offer anything there. However, stay away from anyone that doesn't require an EID #. I think some of the old threads on this forum talk about WorldWideBrands or something like that, it may be a starting point.)

I believe you mean EIN #. And you do not use your EIN # to get accounts with wholesalers. You need a Resellers Permit, also called sales tax permit, to get accounts with wholesalers.

I don't think age is an issue as long as a company is being used, but I could be wrong.




Nick: If you want to find out where to buy your hardware parts, just call the companies directly and ask them for a sales rep. It sounds simple, because it is. So if you wanted to find out where to buy AMD products...call AMD and ask them.

[flnazrael]

A lot of the big distributors have an involved applications. I've had to fax copies of ID over to many. When dealing with some of the bigger ones you may want to use your dad's info instead.

[Nick_N]

Thank you. At the moment yes I think I will be selling over Ebay and my main website. I will start off by creating custom computers already built and just selling them as is. Then once I get loyal customers to get active on my forum/chat I put on my website and get some nice ratings on Ebay and see my customer margin go up, I can start taking customer orders. Thank you.

Some questions:

1- What employees do I need to hire in the future and now, as in staff and management. I know I need technicians and customer service. What else? VP of Marketing? VP of Foreign Affairs if I wanted to ship overseas etc...? Please assist

2- How can I copyright my NNTech name? Will it cost major cash?

[sauer13]

I believe you mean EIN #. And you do not use your EIN # to get accounts with wholesalers. You need a Resellers Permit, also called sales tax permit, to get accounts with wholesalers.

Oops sorry EIN, but I was pretty sure that wholesalers and distributors wouldn't talk to someone with a soc sec # on the permit. I learn something new every day.

1- What employees do I need to hire in the future and now, as in staff and management. I know I need technicians and customer service. What else? VP of Marketing? VP of Foreign Affairs if I wanted to ship overseas etc...? Please assist

I would avoid hiring anyone until it became a necessary condition to expand operations. New entrepreneurs need to wear many hats. Congratulations you will be the Chief Cook and Bottle Washer!

2- How can I copyright my NNTech name? Will it cost major cash?

I may be wrong again, and someone will surely correct me if I am, but by filing your articles of incorporation you will automatically be protecting your name. As an aside I would also avoid creating a complicated legal entity until it was essential. I wouldn't worry to much about the value of your name until you have established a reputation, it has no intangible value yet, possibly sentimental, but I wouldn't figure that into the equation.

Danny

[Silverion]

Hi Nick,

Congratulations, your qualifications to develop this project are excellent, as well as your circumstances. Could you tell me if you are planning to develop this business to the scale of something like Alienware in the future?

[flnazrael]

Oops sorry EIN, but I was pretty sure that wholesalers and distributors wouldn't talk to someone with a soc sec # on the permit. I learn something new every day.

No, I've got several wholesale accounts with it... but an EIN is better for security reasons.

[Nick_N]

Silverion: You don't know what I got in plan! The first thing what comes in my mind is how am I different than anything like Alienware and Dell, and oh my oh my you want to hear it. I can't say it on public forum since I'm scared someone will steal it but contact me in a PM or email Blizzshow @ gmail.com or AIM at Nickwahh5. Yes I want to be AS BIG as Alienware but not be so overpriced as them.

sauer13: I don't want to hire just for free employees. Like peolpe to work for small things and get paid WHEN I get paid but VERY VERY little.

[Silverion]

Hi Nick, check your messages and your mail.