Self-hosted repair shop software: run your shop without a subscription

This guide explains what self-hosting means for a phone or computer repair counter, what it asks of you, and how to decide if it fits your shop.

What "self-hosted" means

Self-hosted software is installed on a machine you control instead of being reached over the internet on a vendor's server. The shop computer runs the program, and the rest of your team opens it from a browser on the shop network. Your tickets, customers and inventory are stored on that machine.

Why shops look for software without a subscription

A monthly charge per user or per location adds up, and it keeps going whether the shop is busy or slow. Shops that look for repair shop software without a subscription usually want three things: a cost that does not grow with the team, records they keep even if they stop paying someone, and a counter that keeps working on the shop network.

What self-hosting asks of you

Self-hosting is not hands-off. Be honest about these before you switch:

• A computer to run it. One shop machine stays on during business hours to serve the app.
• Backups are yours. Nobody else is holding a copy of your data, so you need a backup habit.
• Network basics. Staff devices need to be on the same shop network to reach it.
• You own the setup. Installing and moving it is your job, so the install should be simple.

Backups: the part you cannot skip

Your records are only as safe as your last copy. With a virtual machine, the simplest plan is to back up the entire VM and keep that copy off the shop computer. More in backing up repair shop data.

Moving to a new computer

Computers die and shops move. Self-hosted software should not lock your data to one box. A virtual machine helps here: you can back up the entire VM and run it on another computer as easily as you installed it.

Data privacy at the counter

Repair shops hold names, phone numbers, device passcodes and IMEI numbers. Keeping those records on your own computer, behind your shop network, means you decide who can see them. Pair that with staff roles so each person sees only what they need. See customer data privacy during repairs.

Quick checklist

• The software runs on a computer you control.
• Staff open it from a browser on the shop network.
• The cost does not grow with every new user.
• You can back up the whole system and keep a copy off the machine.
• You can move it to a new computer without rebuilding it.
• Staff roles limit who sees what.
• Intake, tickets, inventory and POS live in one place.

How RepairAmigo helps

RepairAmigo is free repair shop software for cell phone, computer and console repair shops. It was built inside a busy repair shop that has processed more than 50,000 repair tickets. Made in Texas.

• Runs in your shop. RepairAmigo runs as a VirtualBox virtual machine on a Windows, Linux or Intel Mac computer, and your team uses it from any browser on the shop network, on desktop or mobile.
• Smart intake. Device, brand and model pickers, problem lists per device type, and returning customers found by phone number. Each check-in prints a receipt with a barcode.
• Live inventory. Screens by model, quality and color, plus batteries, ports, cameras and more. Parts deduct automatically when a repair is saved.
• Repair workflow and POS. Technicians record the repair performed, a status and comments, and the counter rings up the sale on the built-in cash POS.
• Roles. Owner, Manager and Technician roles, so each person sees what they need.
• Your data. Records stay on your own machine. Back up the entire VM and run it on another computer as easily as you installed it.

A full Spanish edition is available. Read why a local VM is safer, see free repair shop software or check the custom installation guide.

Download RepairAmigo free or read the setup guide.

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