Have you ever been a one man Geek Squad? (Of course you have)
SwellJoe: This is not a startup...it's a small business.  Nothing wrong with that, of course.  A small business is awesome, and generally better for your finances and emotional well-being than working for someone else.  But, it doesn't have the same end result as a startup, and the way you build one successfully is very different.I've done contract work for a few small businesses over the years, similar to the business you describe (though I charged more than Geek Squad, and provided somewhat higher end services...like Linux and UNIX administration, network infrastructure buildouts, etc.).  The yellow pages got me two jobs in the two years that I ran an ad (and a helluva lot of crazy people who wanted me to tell them how the government kept finding out what they were doing on their computer, or tell them how to find out what their spouse or child was doing on the computer, and for free).  So, that's a non-starter.  Advertising on Google AdWords, with very specific targeting might be the ticket.  It's how I found the dog walking and sitting service I use, and probably other services.Check Craigslist for people looking for some work in your areas of expertise.  It'll be bigger projects, of course, but it'll help with word of mouth.  If you do a good job, it only takes a few customers to kickstart a good career as a contractor.  If you always plan to increase your rate and the complexity of services you offer, you can definitely get to $100-$150k/year in a few years, at which point, you can either start hiring other techs and build your own Geek Squad (maybe even turning it into a startup!), or just keep working, and tucking away 20% each year.  I know several folks who retired in their early fifties on this plan, and with a couple million in the bank (I inherited a few of their clients).Personally, I found the work...ummm...frustrating, and draining, and far more stressful than I was comfortable with.  I was really good at it, and I kept cranking up my rate until I was making $150/hour, and clients were happy to pay it.  But, it just wasn't my bag.  You won't know until you try, though.