| If you've previously delivered your service B2C | | | | "real" network. |
| (Business to Consumer) and now want to switch to | | | | These five reasons are why most computer |
| B2B (Business to Business), you may think that you're | | | | consulting firms doing really well with services are |
| ready to run out there and just get some small | | | | looking at prospect companies that have at least |
| business clients. It's not that simple. In this article, | | | | eight or ten PCs. At that point, it becomes really |
| you'll learn how to define the "small" in small business | | | | difficult for these companies to continue running a |
| computer consulting. | | | | peer-to-peer setup, or wait for the sometimes |
| If you focus too much on home-based businesses | | | | glacier-like response time of volunteers and |
| and micro small businesses, you'll have a tough time | | | | moonlighters. |
| selling a lot of services. While "micro" small businesses | | | | When a small business is "big" enough |
| (under 5-10 employees) are technically small | | | | Usually small businesses with more than 8-10 PC's |
| businesses, micro small businesses may not be a | | | | start to get serious about putting in a real client |
| good fit for your small business computer consulting | | | | server network, putting in a real tight back up |
| company. Why not? | | | | solution, putting in a real UPS, and a real firewall. In |
| The Five Reasons to Avoid Targeting Micro and | | | | order to do these things correctly, small business |
| Home Businesses | | | | decision makers typically understand that the |
| 1. Lots of consumer grade PC's | | | | systems need to be designed by a more |
| 2. Pirated software | | | | sophisticated IT services or network integrator firm. |
| 3. Reluctance for paying for services. A lot of micro | | | | In other words, as a small business goes through |
| small businesses want to look for volunteers to help | | | | growth spurts, the stakes go up. And these |
| them with their computer problems like someone's | | | | businesses generally recognize the need to use IT |
| niece, brother or friend. You can't compete against | | | | more strategically. Also, typically the small businesses |
| free! You'll also have a tough time competing against | | | | have made the decision that IT is actually important |
| moonlighters; these people are on someone else's | | | | to the company, and that they can't afford a lot of |
| payroll during the day and don't have to fund their | | | | downtime. So they need someone to coordinate |
| own certifications and benefits. They can undercut | | | | everything computer-related. These small businesses |
| your price tremendously. | | | | want someone to take ownership of the whole |
| 4. IT isn't that important to their company, so they | | | | problem, and that's where your small business |
| don't need a great response time. | | | | computer consulting comes in. |
| 5. Too small to afford a "real" dedicated server and | | | | |