Mr. Fix-IT A self-proclaimed geek heeds a sign to start a computer franchise.
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Matthew Lewis was interested in computers, but he wasn'tsure exactly where that interest would lead him-until he saw asign, literally. In spring 2003, just after he graduated from theUniversity of Texas, Arlington, with a degree in web design ande-commerce, Lewis drove by a Geeks on Call billboard. Heimmediately made some calls to learn about the company.
About a year later, Lewis attended Discovery Day, a Geeks onCall event that gives future franchisees the chance to learn howthe business started and where it's going, as well as meet withthe president and CEO of the franchise. That day sealed the dealfor Lewis. "I knew this is really where I needed to be,"says Lewis.
Geeks on Call sends technicians in their offices onwheels-Chrysler PT Cruisers-to customers' homes and offices tohelp with anything from troubleshooting and upgrades to trainingand consulting.
Lewis, 34, recognized the franchise as a great service for smallbusinesses that can't afford an on-staff IT employee. With astartup investment of about $55,000, he opened his first Geeks onCall franchise in December 2003, a second in April 2004 and a thirdin December 2004. This rapid growth exceeded even his expectations."My original goal, after being up and running for a year, wasto buy my second franchise," Lewis says. His new goal: to have10 Geeks on Call franchises in the Dallas area in the next five toseven years.
With estimated combined sales of $250,000 for his franchises in2005, not counting sales of computer parts, Lewis believes otherprospective Geeks on Call franchisees can achieve this level ofsuccess. "Depending on what your desire for growth is,"says Lewis, "the only one who can stop you from getting as bigas you want to be is you."
