| There has never been a better time than now for a | | | | their systems, their users and their needs. They don't |
| talented Computer Consultant to start a small business | | | | want a dispatched "computer repair-man" whenever a |
| of his or her own. Operating as an Independent | | | | problem arises. |
| Computer Consultant can provide a level of job | | | | Low Cost |
| security, growth opportunities and income potential that | | | | They're not necessarily looking for the LOWEST rate |
| simply aren't very easy to come by in any other | | | | they can find. But they do expect to pay a fair and |
| available IT Jobs. | | | | competitive rate. |
| When a small business is looking for a an efficient way | | | | The MSP (Managed Service Provider) support model |
| to maintain their computer systems, they have several | | | | is designed to address the above Customer wants by |
| options to choose from. They can have a technically | | | | utilizing today's available technology to support larger |
| proficient employee pull double-duty as their in-house | | | | numbers of clients while dedicating fewer internal |
| support technician. They can employ a dedicated | | | | resources. |
| in-house IT administrator. Or they can outsource their | | | | The continued development of support utilities that |
| support needs to an IT Support Provider, a Managed | | | | provide remote monitoring, preventative maintenance |
| Service Provider or to an Independent Computer | | | | and remote computer and server support, has |
| Consultant. | | | | provided the means for those computer consultants |
| In today's market, the Independent Computer | | | | searching for a way of starting a small business to |
| Consultant represents the best available support model | | | | enter the market without the need for massive |
| for serving the needs of the small business client. And I | | | | amounts of start up capital. |
| firmly believe that any computer professional with the | | | | These inexpensive utilities now help IT support |
| skill set to maintain a small business network should | | | | providers of all types and sizes to serve their |
| strongly consider starting a small business of his or her | | | | customers more efficiently and for lower, more |
| own. | | | | predictable fees than was ever possible under the old, |
| In the early days of Computer Consulting, (and still to | | | | hourly-support model. |
| this day for many consultants) the break/fix, hourly | | | | With support becoming easier and cheaper to provide, |
| rate support model was the standard way of doing | | | | many well run and well funded support providers are |
| business. | | | | emerging and competing for market share. They're |
| Wait for the computer to break, call the computer guy | | | | working to establish brand recognition and looking to |
| to come out and fix it, he sends an invoice... repeat. | | | | carve out a dominate position in the market. As |
| It's obvious how this design puts the needs of the | | | | regional and national companies become continue to |
| computer consultant directly at odds with the needs of | | | | grow and as current market leaders in the small |
| the customer. | | | | business technology products sector, such as |
| The customer typically sees the computer consultant | | | | Microsoft, Dell, CDW, etc. enter the small business IT |
| as an undesired expense. If the consultant is required | | | | Support market, it can seem inevitable that the |
| to make an office visit to the client's site, it's probably | | | | Independent Computer Consultant is on his way out. |
| because a system has failed, which is costing the | | | | I Couldn't DISAGREE MORE! |
| client money - both in lost productivity and for the | | | | There is not a single item required by today's small |
| service fees. Under the hourly support model, it's | | | | business customer that YOU, as an Independent |
| natural for the customer to want to see the consultant | | | | Computer Consultant cannot provide reliably and |
| as little as possible. | | | | affordably. |
| This unfortunately works directly against the needs of | | | | - YOU can monitor your client's systems, identifying or |
| the computer consultant, who's simply trying to bill | | | | preventing potential problems. |
| enough hours each day to meet expenses. | | | | - YOU can reduce downtime by monitoring asset |
| If the hourly support model is a lose-win proposition | | | | inventories and tracking age and performance levels |
| (the more pain the customer experiences, the more | | | | of your customer's equipment. |
| money the consultant makes), how can we create a | | | | - YOU can provide your clients with real-time service |
| business model where everybody wins? For us to do | | | | reports, asset inventories and network performance |
| this, let's take a look at what each party wants. | | | | reporting. |
| The Computer Consultant Wants: | | | | - YOU can provide remote computer support to your |
| - To make a reliable and consistent (and probably | | | | customer's end-users INSTANTLY from ANY location |
| substantial) salary. | | | | with an Internet connection. |
| - To have a high level of job security. | | | | - YOU can provide your clients with the reliability they |
| - To be able to work with, learn and be challenged by | | | | want from a dedicated consultant who is intimately |
| new technologies. | | | | familiar with their network, their end-users and their |
| - To work with a diverse group of customers and | | | | technology needs. |
| computer systems, keeping the workdays interesting. | | | | And you can provide ALL of these items with lower |
| - To work reasonable hours and enjoy a balanced | | | | overhead than your larger competitors, which will result |
| lifestyle. | | | | in greater profitability and fantastic growth opportunities |
| The Customer Wants: | | | | for YOU! |
| - They want their systems to work reliably. | | | | Because the tools required for providing the necessary |
| - They want ZERO unexpected downtime. | | | | proactive system monitoring and remote computer |
| - They want to prevent problems from occurring | | | | support have become very low-cost or even free, |
| wherever possible. | | | | there are no longer any significant barriers preventing a |
| - They want an immediate response when a problem | | | | qualified network administrator to become his or her |
| does occur. | | | | own boss and support a small, but very profitable client |
| - They want smaller problems identified early, before | | | | base. |
| they can develop into larger problems. | | | | By providing remote network monitoring and support, |
| - They want their computer consultant to be able to fix | | | | the Independent Computer Consultant is able to |
| problems remotely, providing instant gratification. | | | | abandon the very cost-ineffective hourly support |
| - They don't want any surprises when the invoice | | | | model and start a small business on the much more |
| arrives. (a large invoice is ALWAYS a surprise). | | | | profitable flat-fee, proactive maintenance support |
| - They want up-to-date systems (even if they don't | | | | model. |
| always appear to want to pay for it). | | | | By charging flat rates for service, the computer |
| - They want a computer consultant who is familiar | | | | consultant is able to evaluate in advance the number |
| with their systems and their technology needs. | | | | of customers that will be required to achieve a |
| - They want to have confidence in their computer | | | | necessary income level. Once the consultant is able to |
| consultant's abilities to maintain their network and to | | | | secure an initial client base, any concern for finding |
| guide them in making good choices for future growth. | | | | enough billable hours in a month is eliminated. Income is |
| When looking at the list of what the customer wants, | | | | based on a pre-determined flat-fee, rather than a |
| it's clear to see what the consultant needs to provide: | | | | variable and unpredictable hourly rate. |
| System Monitoring | | | | And because this proactive model for support is |
| Prevents unexpected downtime | | | | designed to reduce and prevent problems, there will be |
| Provides for early problem detection | | | | plenty of time left in the day for a motivated small |
| Can provide Asset Management and Inventory | | | | business computer consultant to go out and secure |
| Reports | | | | even more clients, which will increase income levels |
| HelpDesk | | | | and help to secure the business. |
| Allows for immediate client communication and | | | | By implementing a correct model of flat-fee, proactive |
| response | | | | monitoring and remote computer support, there has |
| Allows for instant remote computer support for | | | | never been a better time for an Independent |
| end-user support requests and server issues | | | | Computer Consultant to pursue a goal of starting a |
| Personal Attention | | | | small computer consulting business of his or her own. |
| Customers want a dedicated consultant who knows | | | | |