In Business: Wayland Computer

A subcontractor and then an employee for Charleswater Products in Newton as director, Dana Hugenberger continued on as a subcontractor when Desco Industries bought the business in 1992. He manufactured several electronic products for them from 1993 until 2014. He was also VP of Engineering for Syon Corporation in Ashland from 1990 until it was sold in 2002.

“While at Syon Corporation, I was responsible for a special project for the US Army Natick Labs, winning Syon’s Most Innovative Small Business of the Year award in 1996,” said Hugenberger. “I then went to work for CompUSA in Framingham, MA until I started Wayland Computer in 2004.

He then worked for CompUSA in Framingham until going out on his own, starting Wayland Computer, which he runs out of his home on Old Farm Road, in 2004.

What made you decide to open this type of business? I was the VP of Engineering at Syon corporation in Ashland MA. Which was purchased by ITW in 2002. I then went to work for CompUSA in Framingham until I decided that there was a real need for someone to provide reasonable, reliable, in-home computer service and started my own business in 2004.

What do you like best about it? The thing I like most is that this industry never gets boring and pretty much changes every day. Helping clients understand and make the best use of available technology is very rewarding. A few simple suggestions can often make a huge difference in how much use someone gets out of their technology.

Biggest struggle? The most difficult part of this business was getting started. This is a referral type of business and It took about four years to even get to a break-even point. People are inviting you into their home or business and often have sensitive information on their computers. They are very hesitant (for good reason) to just pick someone out of the phone book to work on their computer. So it took a lot longer than I expected for word of mouth to get around. But now I have a very good word of mouth customer base and my customers are more than willing to refer me to their friends and neighbors. Another part of being self-employed is finding time to take off to spend time with family. It can be hard because customers need you 24/7. Fortunately, I do have someone to cover for me on occasion. I try my best to be available by phone or remotely even when I am away.

What do you see for the future? The computer and electronics industry is only going to grow with the introduction of Smart Homes and all of the products that go along with them. I do see a slight broadening of my business from personal computers to include pretty much any and all Internet connected devices with a greater focus on Wireless Networking.

Politics and small business: how does government affect your business?
Government regulations don’t have too much effect on my business at the moment because I don’t have any employees. So I don’t have issues with minimum wages or providing health insurance but being self-employed is not all fun and games. You don’t have a fixed paycheck that you can depend on and you have to pay your own health insurance and often get killed on self-employment tax and social security.

In Business is a regular feature on Shrewsbury Patch that spotlights local businesses. Have a business that should be profiled? Email charlene.arsenault@patch.com.