So I started my own IT services business, now what?!

willwoody · 2016-05-18T19:47:09.000Z

Hey everybody, I’m Will. I’m 22 and not doing much other than (recently started) school and working. Back in August, I got my hands on a great opportunity. My father, who is a radiologist, asked me to help him and his group set up 5 workstations. I got that done, and they told me to go ahead and get all the software set up and running. Then some work, and some more, and now I have made over 5K from them. I got so into the IT admin field that I started an LLC with the goal of acquiring clients and furthering my career in IT. All of this has happened in the past month and a half so I haven’t exactly moved forward yet, but I am working on it.

My services are commercial and residential, I set up and maintain networks, workstations, servers, and just about anything else the client wants. I invested in a Synology NAS, and I swear I’m still learning to do new things with it, but through that I offer “cloud” storage services as well, which has many uses.

My scare is that I’m getting in over my head. This is because I have not one class of computer science and the only experience I have to show for is vice-pres and pres of a tech club back in high school, and them some random work that nobody can really attest to besides my family. What I have done personally, well that’s a whole 'nother story. I’m sure you guys understand me when I say I have a way with computers. I was using them before I could speak, literally, so I comfortable enough to think “I got this”.

I want to advertise to local small business such a restaurants, hotels/motels/b&b’s, specialty shops, and so on. Nothing where I can really get to over my head, for now. Along with that, send out my residential pamphlets in the mail to the higher-equity neighborhoods because it’s easier to sell cool tech to people with lots of money and an ego to stroke. At the same time, they hold you to higher expectations.

I do have a website here . I have been getting feedback that my grammar is not it’s best, and that I have run-on sentences. English is not my best subject, but no exceptions, it needs to be better. I have business cards, too, which I think look very nice.

img20160406.jpg800×482 179 KB

So I feel like I’m making the right steps towards a professional, profiting, operating business. The thing is, I know I’m great with technology, but I don’t know about running a business, YET! So what am I missing? What could I do better? What’s next? I want to hear it all. I feel the best way to share knowledge is freely with the community, so enlighten me, please. Did I say that I am currently in school for a bachelor’s in Computer Science, I flunked my first several years, but that was a different guy if you catch my drift.

nashbrydges · 2016-05-18T20:51:08.000Z

Start by reading these 2 threads. This comes up occasionally and I keep these in my back pocket to share as needed…

Starting up your own IT Support Business Industry-Specific IT

Hello! I am looking to start actively pursuing my long term goal of having my own IT Support company. I've worked within IT for large organisations for about 8 years, working as desktop support, server support and now a network engineer looking after a large array of firewalls, so I'd like to think I have a good all round knowledge to support SME's. The plan is to initially work alongside my current role and hopefully grow it to a point where it can be my full time commitment. So I'm aft…

Thinking of starting up on my own... IT & Tech Careers

Just trying to get a idea of what people think. I’ve been made redundant and on the 19th of April i am free to work again (30 day holiday /planning time). I’ve been given a settlement that would cover me for around 4-5 months. I’ve always wanted to start up on my own but never had the money to do it. I have experience in IT consultancy from a previous role, where I did about 5 years of it. But never had to go out and get my own clients… My concerns are: My age - I’m 27 would people put their…

Best of all…good luck. Hope you do well, both for yourself and for your clients.

thunter · 2016-05-18T21:06:24.000Z

I would be very, very careful. If you’re providing services to businesses and they’re entrusting their data to you, that’s a big responsibility. What happens if it goes south and they sue you personally? I admire your initiative, but I wouldn’t be comfortable throwing up a nas and saying I now provide cloud services. I’d start talking to some insurance brokers and lawyers.

I think the expectations are less on the consumer side, but that sort of work comes with its own challenges. Good luck.

zuphzuph · 2016-05-18T21:07:01.000Z

Alright, couple pointers here… If you haven’t yet gone live and printed cards I highly recommend you redo the site… Setup a real CMS and server if need be and self host if you want. WIX is total junk and anyone with half a brain honestly isn’t gonna invest anything if they visit that site of yours.

Neally · 2016-05-18T21:09:33.000Z

I’d get a real domain, you can forward it or whatever but the wrix thing looks unprofessional.
Same with the Dyndns address… or a gmail email address…Just buy a domain and to what you need to with it.
https://domains.google.com/

The big problem is, as you noticed yourself, and that’s one of the main reasons I have not done that myself as well, acquiring clients and building a customer base.

Sounds like you’d like to run an MSP kind of business, the problem is the competition is super tough in the SMB field.

I have no idea how things are in Louisiana. Also, another thing to consider, what do you do if there is a business critical outage and you can not fix it? Or your break something (my boss just dropped the other day a $35000 blade by accident), so you have to make sure your LLC and you have the right insurance. Or a data-breach, huge liability.

What’s your availability, there is an urgent need for you to fix something, but you are in class, can you just leave?

Starting a business is a fantastic idea and you got bollocks to do that, however you should have a business plan before you start, otherwise well, you end up where you are right now.

Running your own business you have to be a lot more on the ‘sales’ site than on the ‘tech site’.

Good luck!

zuphzuph · 2016-05-18T21:26:30.000Z

Another thing… why is there a plex link on your site?

zuphzuph · 2016-05-18T21:27:00.000Z

When you do setup a real site get an SSL cert please.

apsutcliffe · 2016-05-19T04:48:49.000Z

Most places have some local support for new business start-ups; they offer advice on things such as creating a business plan, controlling P & L, Cash Flow etc. Really important stuff if you want to stay in business! In the UK, this used to be through Business Link. In the USA try https://www.sba.gov/

The really key thing is that you have to get your foot in the door and tell your story to every single business that you can. You have got to become a marketing and sales guru. You have to become disciplined to going out and finding business; it will very, very, very seldom come to you. (Usually only after you have built up a good reputation; at which point, "word of mouth recommendations are like money in the bank.) Yes, a good web site is important, but you have to become a bit aggressive and go looking for that work rather than wait for it to come to you.

You also have to be prepared to answer some very tough questions; why should they deal with you? What do you offer that they won’t get elsewhere? DO NOT operate on the basis of being the cheapest; this never works for long and you’ll kill yourself in the process. You have to have a Unique Selling Proposition (USP); this could be your willingness to do grungy jobs that others won’t, your contacts with other local small businesses, lots of different approaches.

Running your own business is a lot of fun and immensely satisfying. But it can be so much hard work.

jaredatkins · 2016-05-19T07:52:41.000Z

From what I’ve read in the community, there are many factors that can benefit or hinder the growth of your new business. Area’s of consultation, are you willing to travel so far etc. I’ve also read that business can be hard to start off, but once you have your profile of customers who hopefully will return again and again, this worry should be no more. Wish the bets of luck to you mate, let us know how things go on down the line

EDIT: Grammar mistake

daviddean2 · 2016-05-19T09:14:00.000Z

Read the threads that Nash suggested. You will find things in there you haven’t thought of. With your level of experience it will probably not be easy to get SMB clients. Even with over ten years as a sysadmin it was hard getting people to have faith in a new business when I started. That is because most of them will not be around in a couple of years.

When I started I read a book that was useful. It is a little simplistic and kind of outdated now but still worth reading in your situation:

http://www.amazon.com/Serf-Surfer-Becoming-Network-Consultant/dp/0782126618

willwoody · 2016-05-19T12:44:45.000Z

Wix has only been a testing ground and I always have had intentions of acquiring a domain and according email address. Everything is always a work in progress. I realize I need to make a lot of progress education and experience wise, before I will even be able to do some real work. Wouldn’t want to make a bad name for my business either. But I learn quick when I’m driven. I swear this takes up all of my free time, willingly. Thank you for all of your advice, while some may have been reality checking, it’s what I need. I look forward to hearing what else you guys have to say.

Kenny8416 · 2016-05-19T14:13:22.000Z

As others have said, get a real site & domain - you can usually get a 1st year into offer with one of the big players for next to nothing, domain and email included.

I would echo the comment earlier that having a synology box at home does not equate to being able to offer cloud storage services. What’s your backup plan, security auditing & credentials, business continuity if your house burns down with the synology in it? To be taken seriously as a provider of any services you need this - to offer cloud services you need this x 1,000,000