Teens inspire with computer repair business
By Nicosia Smith
Stabroek News
June 18, 2004
Late nights at work and then studying till dawn are the lot of three teenagers who have opened a computer repair business while attending university.
Keevil Maughn, 17, Simeon Forrester, 17, Frederick Deane, 18, all former students of Bishops' High, started Cybertech Systems located at 10-10 Hadfield St., in April, after deciding that working for themselves would be much more profitable than getting a job.
The trio, all first year computer science majors at the University of Guyana, have with the help of their parents become entrepreneurs.
Forrester previously worked for four years at FCE Systems on Hadfield Street and at Unified Business Service on North Street.
"I love the field [and] I just wanted to make money," says Forrester, who began working in the computer business when he was 13.
Maughn on the other hand, took a three-month apprenticeship at eBusiness Centre at D2 Louisa Row, Worthmanville, where he assisted in computer repairs.
"The pay is better," says Maughn, now that he is co-owner of a business, adding that he has more freedom to get involved in other aspects of computers. But he notes that with more flexibility comes more responsibility.
Frederick, who previously worked at Durban Electronics for a month, says becoming an entrepreneur was not new to him since his mother is an entrepreneur (she sells floral arrangements and does catering).
"[My] love for computers began when I met Simeon," says Deane but notes that he is catching up fast.
The business allows them the flexibility to attend university classes and having a computer repair business gives them lots of practical training.
Presently Cybertech Systems gets a lot of business from customers whose systems were attacked by computer viruses through internet use and from hardware failures, sometimes caused by power failures. They advise everyone to continually update anti-virus software.
Cybertech systems specialises in networking, linking secure information among employees and from outsiders and providing better data back-up.
The teens say their prices are "reasonable" and they are efficient. To market their services, they have shared out flyers and taken out some classified advertisements.
Maughn explains that without the substantial monetary input by their parents they would not have been able to start the business.
Since a computer repair tool kit alone costs $19,000 and a computer over $100,000, to reduce the cost of the computer the teens choose to buy computer parts separately and assemble it themselves.
In addition, Maughn told Stabroek Business that their parents do not expect to be repaid for their input, they only want them to be successful.
By the end of the year it is hoped that the business will have 65 permanent customers.
Maughn, while encouraging others to follow their dreams, warns them that some of the sacrifices will include burning the midnight oil - at times the trio leaves their business at 2 am and have to get up early to study.
Forrester says as long as teens have the money to invest in their own business venture then they should and if they fail in this regard then they will learn something for their next business venture. "Have faith in yourself and believe you can make [it] and no matter how bad things seem, never give [up]," says Deane.