How do you do it?

[bos]

How do you make a living in this field of work?

DR/forensics is not my primary line of business, but since 2016 I have invested heavily by spending a lot of time and money to buy tools and knowledge. I have visited numerous conferences, bootcamps and training to increase my skills in the trade. This year, after almost 9 years, I feel that I am on a good enough level to finally starting to try to make a profit, to give the red numbers in the ledger a fighting chance.

In Sweden there's Kroll/onTrack for DR, and basically that's it. The problem with them is they are expensive for the Common Joes, because they are simply the best. I am far away from best, but I think setting my prices at 10% of Kroll's is a fair deal. Also, learning from the pros on this forum, I apply the "no data, no fee" mantra.

Yet, the eight last DR-requests (only this year) have been turned down from my customers. Same answer from everyone: "Too expensive, not worth it". This takes quite a toll on me, given the amount of time/money invested from my side, and the stupid Impostor Syndrome knocks on my shoulder more often than not. Basically, if I cannot bring any profit to the company I feel that I have wasted 9 years of my life for nothing.

So: how the hell do you guys make a living? What's your secret?

[labtech]

More customers are needed.

It is a volume's game with attractive price (a little less than the big competitor, not a lot less), that will result in profit.
Maybe on initial declines, include a new drive for free to get them to approve the service.
On mechanical cases, offer no charge for parts if you already have the parts in stock. If you need to order parts, then charge for the parts upfront like a downpayment.
Do NOT offer to pay for ship in service, but offer to ship back for free (this will save you some money on non-recoverable cases, by telling truthfully telling them nobody could help and save from having to ship back to them). or try the other way around as most big companies do, where they send shipping labels for free and charge high on shipping back, but at the risk of complaints/bad reviews of course.

The immediate goal is cut down on unnecessary costs.

Play with these until you got a good service mix resulting in more case approvals & with profit.

For marketing, notice that AI is taking over for how people search and see results for companies. This is challenging.

[fzabkar]

So: how the hell do you guys make a living? What's your secret?

Maybe you should advertise your company in your signature line?

[Arch Stanton]

https://www.ribit.se/

[Arch Stanton]

but I think setting my prices at 10% of Kroll's is a fair deal

10% below Ontrack or 10% of Ontrack's pricing?

Do people in advance have an idea about ballpark costs? If I send some device and I know in advance pricing will be in 500 - 750 range, I'd be less inclined to decline a 600 quote. Do you set expectations properly IOW?

[northwind]

because they are simply the best.

Wait.
What?

[Setlec]

In Sweden there's Kroll/onTrack for DR, and basically that's it.

Weird, I know two companies that aren't those that you mentioned.

https://plexdata.se/ Daniel Milinovic is a very good friend.

https://datarecoverysweden.se/ Bosse Holmberg also is a very good friend.

Both are much better than Ontrack and Kroll.

[Swiftdata]

I believe Ontrack now is more like franchise and doesn't necessarily consist of most experienced engineers, just some access to some proprietary info etc. I am not 100% sure on this but it is impression I get from talking with clients who use them previously