The honest answer is it depends on what's wrong, but most common repairs fall into a predictable range. Here's a breakdown so you know what's fair before you call anyone.
The diagnostic fee
Most repair shops charge a diagnostic fee to figure out what's actually wrong — typically $25 to $75. At Howard Resource Group, it's a flat $24.99, and that fee gets credited toward the repair if we fix it. If we can't fix it, you don't owe anything beyond the diagnostic. That's the right way to do it, and not every shop does it that way — so ask upfront.
Common repairs and what they typically cost
These are realistic ranges for North Georgia, not national chain prices:
- Performance tune-up (cleaning up a slow machine): $75–$100 at most shops. We charge $74.99 flat.
- Virus and malware removal: $80–$150 depending on how deep it is. We start at $79.99 — a light cleanup is quick; a badly infected machine takes more time and is quoted honestly before we start.
- OS reinstall (wipe and fresh Windows): $50–$100. We charge $49.99 and reinstall your software before handing it back.
- Hardware upgrades (RAM, SSD, etc.): $50/hr labor plus parts at cost. The parts are usually the bigger number — an SSD for an older laptop runs $50–$100, for example.
- Data recovery: $49.99 if the drive is logically recoverable, and free if we can't get anything back. Physical damage (dropped drive, flood, fire) is a different situation — we'll tell you honestly if it needs a specialist lab, which typically runs $300–$1,500.
What makes a price fair
A few things to look for: Does the shop charge to diagnose separately from the repair? Do they tell you the price before starting work? Do they have a no-fix, no-charge policy? If the answers are yes, yes, and yes, that's a shop running things the right way. If they quote a flat fee without looking at the machine first, be skeptical.
When repair isn't worth it
If a machine is more than 8–10 years old and needs a major repair, the math often doesn't work — you might spend $200 to extend a computer's life by 18 months. We'll tell you that honestly if it applies. Sometimes the right answer is a new machine, and we can help with that too if you want local or a custom build shipped to you.
We're in Dawsonville
We serve all of North Georgia — Cumming, Dahlonega, Gainesville, Canton, Jasper, and surrounding areas. Diagnostics are $24.99, credited toward repair, free if we can't fix it. (706) 203-2563 or start a repair request here.