The long and short of it economically speaking is that you're going to spend more value in time than you're going to produce in product. That is, you'd be better off getting a minimum wage job and spending the same amount of time working there, then just buying low-end PCs.

My friend said he will depend on government grants and other tech companies to donate for the cause. He is trying to make a non-profit organization focused on PC/Laptop repair for communites and companies for free. I am worried about this because how long will it take for companies to donate for a free service in PC/Laptop repair? In additon, he thinks the the government will give him grants for the organization? I am afraid to take a risk like this but how likely will this work?

Note: He is paying out of his own pocket to open a location in the future (pretty soon).

Governments and tech companies likely won't participate at all, because computer problems are already handled for them by their IT departments. It's extremely unlikely that they will donate any money since repairing random people's computers isn't a humanitarian issue.

The people who you help directly may donate a minimal amount, but it's unlikely to sustain you more than panhandling would.

In general, an operation like this needs to scale; You need to be able to have as few employees as possible fix as many computers at the same time as possible. You can only do this if you have all of those computers in one location at the same time, because most major computer problems have to be solved with physical access to the device. The in-van repair idea is nice, but it prevents you from helping multiple customers at the same time.

Paying rent on a business location is *also* extremely costly.


For the most part, people who have busted computers take/send them back to wherever they bought them for repair - Best Buy or Dell or Lenovo or whoever. Those places sell computers, and the profit from those sales easily absorbs the costs of repairing computers under warranty.

My friend said he will depend on government grants and other tech companies to donate for the cause.

Government money comes from taxpayer pockets. It's in everyone's best interest to do the economically sensible thing. It's not just optimal for the business person; It's optimal for society because it represents a more efficient use of society's limited resources. It's like this:

Widgets sell for $1 each and wodgets sell for $2 each. They have identical production costs.

Even if what you want is widgets, it makes more sense to manufacture wodgets and then use the profits to buy widgets, because you'll end up with twice as many. Society has a greater need for wodgets, and that's reflected in the market. By serving the needs of society more effectively you're able to double your gains. So if your friend wants to give people computers then that's his widget, and finding a more effective means of making that happen is his wodget.

Also, NPOs don't need to turn a profit, but they do need to pay their bills. As Nypyren pointed out, landlords aren't typically interested in a person's humanitarian vision, since landlords like to eat meals and sleep indoors. Unless some wealthy benefactor is offering to pay his way then this is an unrealistic venture.

Unless some wealthy benefactor is offering to pay his way then this is an unrealistic venture.

I told my friend the same exact thing. Depending on grants from the government and donations from companies will be unrealistic. Don't get my friend wrong about doing good for society. He wants to help the community and all but he also told me this is a "side" job for him. What I am trying to wrap my head around this dilema is that he hates PC repair and still he is willing to do this. I want to say "no thanks" but what if this idea of his becomes a huge success? Clearly, his idea is to help people with no technological skills or people with no experience in troubleshooting PCs/Laptops. Sadly, I agree with you Khatharr on his dependency for "wealthy benefactors" can be unrealistic.

Joining/Creating a business can be a real challenge. In addition, I hate taking a risk that I am not sure about. Is this risk worth taking? Including when I may have to pay $366 for the location in the future?

NOTE: He wants to open/rent a location near a mall and expect the both of us to pay the rent.

I want to say "no thanks" but what if this idea of his becomes a huge success?

Who cares?

The only benefit you get out of this if it succeeds is the warm fuzzy feeling of having helped people; if you want that feeling just go get it in one of the myriad ways that isn't so likely to be a colossal failure and doesn't require you to risk wasting your own money: donate some money to charity, donate blood, volunteer at a homeless shelter or other charity, etc.

Even in the extremely unlikely event of the idea succeeding spectacularly, you don't actually miss out on anything by not participating, so if you want to say no just go ahead and do it.


Based on what you're saying I honestly don't know why you're even considering it.

Based on what you're saying I honestly don't know why you're even considering it.

I am trying to convince myself to NOT join his cause.

I want to start making games on mobile devices and start my own company.

I don't see myself joining his company due to the fact that I hate dealing with customer service. In addtion, the people here at Gamedev help me see the pros and cons.

I am going to tell him that I am not interested.