A Boy and His PC Service

When customers call the PC Investigator to seek help, few of them realize their technical support is only 16 years old.

Chad Hogan is the owner--and sole employee--of the high-tech help shop. The Mission Viejo youth, who started the service when he was 14, has earned a reputation among his clients for being meticulous and reliable. His customer base, about 50 companies in Orange County, ranges from doctors’ offices that need PCs configured in a certain way to insurance firms looking to network their machines.

Chad’s bedroom is also his headquarters and repair shop. A separate business line feeds into his room, where he handles questions, books appointments and arranges to get a lift to work. His worst problem? Persuading a bank to give a teenager a line of credit and to allow him to open up a business checking account.

“I started out doing this for free, but it was taking up so much time that I decided I’d better start charging,” said Chad, who pulls in $35 to $45 an hour for technical help and computer consulting. “It got to the point where I was going to Fry’s every week to pick up new parts.”

Tired of relying on retail shops and their unpredictable stock, Chad applied for--and received--his reseller’s license. Now, he buys computer products from distributors such as Santa Ana-based Ingram Micro Inc. at a lower price and, Chad said, passes on these savings to his clientele.

“Everything he makes he puts back into his business,” said Larry Hogan, 42, Chad’s father. “This is his company, his future. People might be surprised to see that he’s so young, but they’re always impressed with what he can accomplish.”

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P.J. Huffstutter covers high technology for The Times. She can be reached at (714) 966-7830 and at p.j.huffstutter@latimes.com.