Small Business Computer Consulting

Want to know how to start a computer repair business?  All small businesses use computers and depend on them to work consistently, predictably and dependably.  However, it is not cost effective for most small businesses to have their own in-house IT department.  Still, they need someone like a computer repair business to help keep their IT assets up and running, so they can stay competitive in the marketplace.

No matter what your business experience or level of technological expertise, you can start your own computer repair business.  Those that love computers, technology and working with people find that running their own business is incredibly fulfilling and can bring them substantial revenue.  All it takes is following some logical, plotted steps and planning very carefully how to start a computer repair business.  

The following 5 tips can help you figure out how to start a computer repair business.

   1. Determine the Characteristics of Your Ideal Clients.  Before you start your own computer repair business, you need to figure out who you want to serve.  Know who your ideal clients are and which characteristics they share.  How large are their businesses?  Which major business problems do they face?  As you start to fine-tune your idea of the ideal computer repair business client also think about whether you are serving a niche and what your specialty is.  Are your clients all in a specific industry or do they naturally all use the same specific software or hardware?  Having a niche and a specialty can really help you with marketing and sales.  You will position yourself to offer solutions that no other technology professionals in your area are offering and thus be even more indispensable to your clients.

   2. Know Your Strengths and Weaknesses.  As you figure out how to start a computer repair business, you need to know your own strengths and weaknesses.  You might have a very strong technical background but are not very business savvy.  In order to succeed, you need to have a good balance of business, technical and also strong social skills, so you can best respond to the needs of your clients and build long-term relationships with them.  Make sure you take the time to go outside your comfort zone and work on honing skills that come less readily to you than others.

   3. Set Your Rates Right from the Beginning.  When you run your own computer repair business, time is money.  You can’t afford to set your rates too low in the beginning.  Not only will you have to work incredibly hard just to make ends meet, but you will also have a hard time raising rates substantially once you’ve already started your business, without losing clients and compromising relationships and your reputation.  To make sure you start your business using competitive rates, identify your local competitors and research what they are charging their clients and how their services compare to yours.

   4. Be Patient and Let Your Business Evolve Over Time.  You can’t expect to instantly get a full roster of clients and steady revenue for your business.  When you are starting your computer repair business, you should expect it to take a while to get off the ground – sometimes as much as 6 months or even a year.  Why?  A successful computer repair business is built on strong client relationships and relationships take time to evolve.  You need to get prospects for your business that know, like and trust you in order for them to turn into steady, high-paying, long-term clients.  Be patient and follow clear steps when qualifying clients and forging connections through marketing and networking events. And take each client carefully through the sales cycle.  If you are diligent with your efforts, they will pay off in time.

   5. Remember that Marketing is Key.  When you are just figuring out how to start a computer repair business, you’re going to be wearing a lot of different hats.  You will probably have to do the marketing, sales, administrative and all other tasks by yourself in the beginning.  Establishing a well-crafted, diversified marketing plan that incorporates a lot of different targeted activities is the only way to build your business and make sure your sales funnel is fed. So this way, you can attract new clients on a regular basis and still have time to manage other elements of your business.

In this article, we explored 5 critical tips to help you as you learn how to start a computer repair business. To learn more about how you can get more steady, high-paying clients, sign up for free tips on How to Start a Computer Repair Business now at the attached link.

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Many small business computer consultants rely on Microsoft Small Business Server to help them organize their networks and provide them with a support system for the IT solutions they implement.  Microsoft has been making big changes to its products recently in an attempt to build excitement over new business products and features.

In a recent article, IT expert and researcher Mark Smith discussed whether the revelation of these new products by Microsoft is impressive or a sign that the company is too product-focused with marketing its new Microsoft Small Business Server and other versions  and not following a solution- and customer-focused model that is so dominant in all sectors right now.  He feels that by following this product-driven model Microsoft will potentially move past its usefulness with Microsoft Small Business Server and other important business products.  

To learn more about what Smith had to say about Microsoft Small Business Server and the future of Microsoft’s product-driven mentality visit the attached link.

Blogged By:  Joshua Feinberg

Microsoft continues to add more than just Microsoft Small Business Server to its offerings to small businesses.  Now small and mid-sized business customers have more ways to earn cash to buy software through partners.

The “Big Easy 2.0” program is an update to a February-launched program that will allow small businesses to purchase certain products – including Microsoft Small Business Server – through authorized specialist partners and get a 10-22 percent discount on other services.  This will help small business computer consultants immensely and add to the services Microsoft has continued to offer small businesses in the past few years.  To date, the Big Easy program has seen $13 million from Microsoft.  

Along with this program, Microsoft has offered new security products that will help small business owners.  Forefront security products will be offered as part of Big Easy 2.0.  Customers will receive more discounts and extras if they use more Microsoft products.  

Microsoft also merged two product groups – Windows System Center Essentials and System Center Configuration Manager – to make the new Big Easy offering.

Eventually, Microsoft hopes to add more products into the Big Easy package, including some incantations of Microsoft Small Business Server.

To learn more about this story, visit the attached link!

Added By:  Computer Consulting Kit

If you’re still on the fence about the value of the Computer Consulting Kit Home Study Course, here are some more customer success stories about how it helped develop their IT marketing campaigns to bring them steady, high-paying clients.  What better way to understand the real worth of the field-tested, PROVEN tips and resources than to hear it directly from the mouths of other consultants JUST LIKE YOU throughout the world that have grown their businesses and changed their ways of thinking?

"By applying your information to my marketing program, I increased my sales to $80,000 last year and over $100,000 this year.  Thanks to the Computer Consulting Kit, my income is back in the six figures."

- John Lindbloom, A+, Network+, Server+, TCC, MCP, PC Netbuilder Plus, Brookfield and Franklin, Wisconsin (Founded in 2001, Microsoft Small Business Specialist

"The Computer Consulting Kit’s marketing and networking audio tracks were invaluable in helping us during tough times."

- Len Forsyth, Western Data Corporation Pty, Ltd.Brisbane, Queensland, Australia

"The best part of the Computer Consulting Kit was the emphasis on hot and warm leads. This has definitely been my main source of income. Traditional mass-market advertising has been costly and ineffectual. Plus with what I’ve learned, I’ve been able to sell a monthly service plan, with no resistance."

- John Braakhuis, Computer Troubleshooters, Frankston, Victoria, Australia

To learn more about what IT consultants are saying about the Computer Consulting Kit, visit the attached link.

Blogged By:  Computer Consulting Kit

According to a recent ZDNet blog entry, many Microsoft Small Business Server users (and those that use other Microsoft products) have been confused by licensing issues.  Some of the problems include lack of clear instructions as to how to install and reinstall Windows and of course, the activating the license in the first place.

One of the major problems with licenses attached to Microsoft Small Business Server and other products is the fact that after going towards a much more streamlined, simpler way of handling licenses (including the introduction of a single-pack edition of software that would allow resellers to distribute unopened packages to other system builders without hardware purchases), they seemingly went back to a difficult system that does not disclose the exact specifications of product licenses, despite keeping the exact same license claims.

For more information on this Microsoft Small Business Server story about licensing, visit the attached link.

Added By:  Computer Consulting Kit

If you’ve been paying attention, you already know that many IT consultants just like you all over the world have benefitted from the tips, tools and resources offered by the Computer Consulting Kit.  These MANY resources have been field-tested and proven to bring small business computer consultants more steady high-paying clients than just trying to go it on your own and feel your way through the process.  These strategies help you truly plan out your business so you can be more profitable as quickly as possible and continue to grow your business and ENJOY what you do for a living!

Here’s what a few Computer Consulting Kit customers had to say about their experiences with our resources.

"9 months ago, I launched my consulting business with $2,000 in savings and a list of contacts. The business has grown steadily and is able to pay my salary, rent, inventory, insurance and provide work for three other subcontractors. This is all done in a small town of 8,500 people nestled in the mountains of West Virginia. Thanks to the Computer Consulting Kit, I have two new customers on contract. The forms included were worth the money."

Mike Gallogly, Mi-Tec Computer Solutions, Elkins, West Virginia

"As I moved from corporate IT to consulting, the Computer Consulting Kit helped me develop my service agreement strategy. Now I know how to present services and rates in a way that customers can easily understand and approve."

Carlos Miranda, PRITECH, Manatí, Puerto Rico

"The Computer Consulting Kit showed me how to focus on clients and better-quality leads. As a result, I was able to decrease the number of non-billable hours and enjoyed $5,000 in additional revenue."

Gary Gell, 8 Days, Los Angeles, California

To learn more about how the Computer Consulting Kit resources can help you, no matter WHAT stage your business is in, visit the attached link!

Added By:  Joshua Feinberg

Microsoft Small Business Server product “Office Live Small Business” was recently reported to be suffering from intermittent email problems according to interviews of users and postings in discussion forums used by more than a million people.

Microsoft confirmed on August 26th that last Friday there was a short email outage that cause some Microsoft Small Business users to permanently lose emails and other important information.

Many business owners use Office Live Small Business to host Web sites and provide email and some were dismayed by the loss of data.  This product used by many that use Microsoft Small Business Server was launched in 2006 and helps users set up their own Web sites, run email and also even run e-commerce stores and Web advertising campaigns.  Some services are free and others require a fee.

The outage is reported to have lasted approximately two hours.  Microsoft has offered to help at least one customer retrieve lost data, but this user reported that the data has not yet been recovered.

This is at least the second outage for Microsoft with its “Live” services, the last one being a much larger outage in February that affected multiple services.

For more information about this Microsoft Small Business Server story, visit the attached link.

Added By:  Computer Consulting Kit

First reported in January, 2008, a bug in the Microsoft Small Business Server home-based product Windows Home Server continues to need patching.  Initially, this particular version had not been mentioned in the reports by Microsoft, who thought that only Microsoft Small Business Server was affected, but soon it became apparent that this product was also at risk.  

While the problems have been patched, Microsoft continues to look at design issues that created this problem in the first place as it prepares to create new products.  According to the notice, supported editions of Microsoft Small Business Server 2003 and Windows Home Server contained the same code as Windows Server 2003, which was the origin of the initial issue with the product.  This code combined with some default settings for Internet Group Management Protocol that are enabled unless settings are changed manually meant the product experienced some problems.  

Those that were taking advantage of the vulnerability could send malicious data packets to Microsoft Small Business Server users who would then be infected with malware or have their systems controlled by an outside user.  

Windows Home Server owners received the patch via update mechanism in January, but Microsoft continues to advise new and old users – even 7 months later – to make sure they are checking their Microsoft Small Business Server regularly for updates.

Added By:  Computer Consulting Kit

IBM recently announced the release of new data protection solutions designed to help users of Microsoft Small Business Server and other major products for small businesses.  This protection will help customers handle data recovery better while still meeting legal requirements and regulations.  

IBM has created the new Tivoli Storage Manager FastBack software that will offer customers better efficiency with their businesses and more comprehensive data recovery.  They will be able to use this product with Microsoft Small Business Server and other popular solutions and products.  Of course, this product can also be used by enterprise companies and others with more sophisticated or extensive data protection needs.  

Solution providers have noted increased amounts of data as well as more compliance requirements by authorities and thus have created this new suite of products to respond to this need.  The new suite offers steady data protection and almost instant recovery of applications, databases and important file servers in case of emergency.

For more information on this Microsoft Small Business Server story from IBM and a list of the features of the new Tivoli IBM data protection products, visit the attached link.

Added By:  Computer Consulting Kit

On July 17th, Microsoft announced, in the year of launches of new Microsoft Small Business Server packages and others that it had reached a revenue of $60.42 billion, an 18% growth over the previous year.  

Kevin Turner, COO of Microsoft, based in Redmond, Washington in the U.S. stated that the accomplishment of such an impressive revenue increase is the result of new technology solutions as well as great work done by partners and global sales and marketing teams.

2008 saw new releases of Microsoft’s major server products, including Windows Server 2008, SQL Server 2008 and Visual Studio 2008.  Improvements were made on Microsoft Small Business Server and partner programs instilled that welcomed many new small business partners into the fold.

For more information on this Microsoft Small Business Server and Microsoft products and revenue story, visit the attached link.

Blogged By:  Computer Consulting Kit