Remember the last time you stopped by a gas station to fill up your tank or grab a quick snack? Did you pay any attention to the surveillance video cameras shyly hidden in the corners of the station? Here could be your niche, video surveillance.
Installing & Supporting Video Surveillance Cameras
Surveillance can sound scary maybe. But actually it’s not at all what you think!
Thanks to the IP/Networking video technology that now exists making video surveillance systems can be as easy as opening up your laptop or desktop and logging in to easily manage the entire system! Connecting cameras to a desktop instead of the traditional CCTV systems is much easier than ever before, not to mention can be business friendly for you. Besides, you just install the cameras, you don’t watch them, that’s the business owners thing.
The Great Transition To Digital IP/Networking
This is basically the key because there are millions of customers who are in need of migrating their old technology to the new Digital IP Networking. This new technology is cost effective, end user friendly (the customer can watch their own store from the comfort of their home) hence reflecting better quality. Despite this revolution in the surveillance technology, there is another factor that makes this business hot .
A Need For Security
SECURITY has become the highest priority in this century, and that makes not only small business owners demanding your service but also home owners as they will want to install surveillance cameras in their homes and back yards. Best part for them is that they also can watch from their work places.
Installing Camera Systems
Is it a very complicated process to install a surveillance camera system? The answer simply put is no, it is very simple for someone who is familiar with installing computer hardware and just about anyone else can learn by picking up a book from their local library.
Video Surveillance Systems Contain 4 Parts:
1.) A Computer (PC) , any desktop is OK and will work but to optimize the entire process using a PC with the highest speed, memory and hard drive is much better.
2.) A DVR (digital video recorder) card, easily obtained at any computer store or online. This cards job is to transfer the video from the camera(s) to the PC. DVR records motion video in digital format to the hard disk of your PC. If you don’t want to deal with installing a DVR card inside your PC you can just buy a whole system that has one already, not necessary to buy a new system but if installing the card isn’t comfortable for you and you have extra cash to spend on a better PC… go for it!
3.) Video cameras of which prices start from less than $100 and can reach into the thousands. It really just depends on the quality of the cameras and you can always do some research online to find the best deals and which cameras you like better.
4.) Cables and Coax
Hooking Up The Cameras
Think it’s complicated right? Nope, just hang the cameras on the wall, a shelf or ceiling and connect the cable into the PC. There are many websites on the Internet that have a lot of information on how to install a surveillance system with easy to read directions, anyone with Google can find a few.
Getting Familiar & Known
1.) Now that you have bought one surveillance system and installed it in your basement and it is working fine for you, you will understand just how easy it is to do. Try to install it two or three times just to get familiar with it.
2.)Print a few fliers and go to the gas stations in your area, especially if you live in or around a metropolitan area. You will be surprised that many of them will tell you yes we need your system and they will even recommend you to their friends. You can also market to dollar stores, small Mom & Pop shops, schools, day cares, and many many other businesses. Don’t forget the restaurants.
I don’t recommend to you to go to big name stores or corporations unless you want to get disappointed, indeed they will turn you down. Your best clients are the smaller private business owners.
You are now in business.
Customer Support Could = More Money
There is one thing that is bound to happen to you, which may take some time adjusting to. After you finish the installation of the cameras the customers will more than likely call you telling you that he is having a problem (it seems that mostly all new customers will do this).
Pretty easily you set up an appointment and visit him, help him adjust cameras or fix something that he did to it after you left. Low and behold he will probably call you again .
Don’t get frustrated I will tell you how to turn this problem to your advantage and generate an extra bit of money.
How?
Coming up with an agreement that can be signed when starting the project or at the end when you begin to receive phone calls can remedy these phone calls and help to generate a bit more income for your business.
The agreement should contain that you will support him for certain period of time after installation, or hourly after thereafter. This time period is up to you but it must include training him. You can make this agreement based on hourly fees or simply just within one month or so after your job of installation is finished, then after that it’s per hour. You may receive calls now and again after the month has lapsed but if you have an hourly fee, no worries, it’s just extra income.