Do I need a terms and condition for my computer business?

Question

I just opened my first computer business. As of right now I am doing home calls and plan to open in a stable location once I am settle more with my clients. I do computer service that includes but not limited to hardware repairs, enhance performance of your pc, installations,home network setups, recover bad hard drives, etc. I have given my business a name and have business cards also with some of my clients I provide a receipt because i need to take their pc with me. However should i have a terms and condition or a waiver if something should be wrong with the pc that i cant resolve so that the client does not come back to sue me and says is my fault or things of the natue? what are the needs when it comes to this type of paperworkk for my business? any insight would help thanks

Answer 1

The purpose of a contract is to ensure that both parties understand the nature of the service being bought. Think of a T&C as a way to help both you and your customer to understand the expectations and have - as lawyers like to say - a meeting of the minds.

Putting a waiver in front of a customer is sure to scare them. It is best to write it in the form of "I do this and you do that". What to put in is a little bit harder. Obviously, if you can't fix it, you can't fix it. Because of that you should keep accurate records of the things that you did and the time that you spent on it, they are paying you for your time and you better have it documented. You should probably put in what sort of respect for the privacy of their data that you intend to hold.

The tricky bit is if they claim that you return it in worse shape than you got it. Here again documentation of all your actions will save you more than a line in your T&C. You might want to provide itemized invoices telling them that you really did work on it. You might also want to add "not liable for incidental and consequential loss" which means that if their Hawaii photos are accidentally deleted that you don't have to buy them a trip to Hawaii to replace them. By now it is beginning to sound like a big, ugly contract. Keep things simple and make the tone like a friendly agreement. Part of the reason customers will use you is that you are a person and not a faceless corporation.

Finally, you should probably check into insurance. Most homeowner policies won't cover business losses from an in-home business.