Are there any IT professionals here??

[clayb226]

Hello everyone, I own a start up computer business, which started out as a hobby. I have been building, fixing, networking, and setting up servers for about 8 years now. I run Linux on everything I can, especially servers, and have even set up my own remote desktop system to fix computers over the internet. I was just curious how many others there are on here like me.

 

[Caat]

My hubby is IT. He owns his own biz. However he's on a bit bigger scale. He does no residential, all commercial and most of it is resort/hospitality. He also consults on large scale projects, net working, wiring, pc set up, software implementation and so-on and so-forth. He works way too much

ETA: He also runs exchange servers and mostly runs windows servers (various years depending on what's on the server)...

 

[clayb226]

Quote:
I hope to some day get that big, I live in a recessed area, so commercial work is really hard to find. If they are big enough, where they need that much work, they hire a full time tech, or have a tech/something else person. Plus, I am still trying to build my reputation, and residential helps fill some gaps. Thanks for the reply, IT is fun for me.

 

[AEFarm]

I own a small IT company. We currently have 26 employees. Be careful what you wish for in a business. You just might get it.

 

[clayb226]

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I am 32 now, if it is going to happen, I am going to have to push it along. One thing holding me back, is I am no good at marketing.

 

[AEFarm]

Small Business Owner = Salesman

The best suggestion I can give anyone starting an IT company is very simply, the answer is always YES!

Talk to everyone about it. When you are asked if you can do offsite backup, the answer is yes (Then go get a LogMeIn backup account). When you are asked if you work on website maintenance, the answer is yes (Then go to guru and get a contractor to do it).

Always try to figure out the residual income. It will build faster than you think. $10 a month is always better than $120 today when you own the business. Figure out a way to get any business customers you currently have on a support plan. If you charge $100 an hour give a discount of $20 bucks if they get on a support plan that they pay for 2 hours of service up front each month. Then if they don't call for service in the month, head out and do some updates, cleanup, virus scans, etc...

Good luck, and remember.... Yes! We can do that. It's all just ones and zeros after all

 

[clayb226]

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Thanks for the advice, I will work on that. I only use a virus scanner after I have manually removed any malice software/services running on the system, so I could easily spend a couple hours there. I even have one client that will not run an AV program, talked him into using one once, installed it, a week later he got rid of it. After my twins are born in July, and I help my wife until she has it down, I will really be pushing my business. I will put these things you have mentioned into affect. Thanks again.

 

[AEFarm]

I even have one client that will not run an AV program, talked him into using one once, installed it, a week later he got rid of it.

I have some of these. I love these people. Either pay me to protect your system, or pay me to fix it. I care not which

 

[clayb226]

Quote:
I have some of these. I love these people. Either pay me to protect your system, or pay me to fix it. I care not which

My thoughts exactly, job security, I gave my recommendation and they know it. It also builds trust, because they call often, it grows into a good business relationship.

 

[P-Funk]

Unwittingly I became the sole IT tech for Mom and Dad. That means every time there is a computer problem they call me.