FAQS

Yes. Every company has technology in the form of computers, mobile devices, and more these days. Things can go wrong, so you need competent and available small business IT support. They help your business run smoothly, overcome obstacles, and solve technical problems quickly.

In some ways, taking care of the IT side of your business is like maintaining a vehicle. Your car needs regular servicing so it stays safe, reliable, and efficient. If you never got an oil change, replaced the tires, or did any of the other upgrades it needs, you might end up on the side of the road stranded.

In business, if you do not keep up with your computers and tech systems, you run the risk of everything grinding to a halt, losing data, or worst of all, experiencing a security breach. If you wait until a problem happens, it may cost more and cause more time off work than you expect. A broken down car is a few hours of annoyance and a big bill. A broken down company could spell disaster. Avoid it with a business IT support contract.

This question has no definitive answer. Every company’s needs are different. How many computers do you have? How much do you rely on them? Both large companies and individual consultants can get the job done right. However, if you go with a single tech, availability may become an issue. After all, no single person can work 24/7 every day of the year.

Unfortunately, every industry has businesses run or staffed by incompetent people, and IT is no different. Perhaps a firm lacks true leadership and organization. Maybe a small business IT support freelancer does not have the education and training necessary to take care of a whole office full of computers. The last thing you want is a ‘tinkerer’ who thinks they know everything because they rebooted their home computer and connected to WiFi.

Even if you choose a larger, established business, you may still run into problems if they do not keep up with the latest tech advances. With today’s high speed of innovation and development, no one can rest on their laurels in this industry. Would you call a plumber who still used lead pipes? Or an electrician that wanted to install home fuses? When it comes to hiring an IT company, ask for recent Microsoft and other system qualifications.

Remote IT servicing occurs frequently these days. The technician connects directly to your system online and control everything as if they had their hands on your keyboard and mouse directly. This means that you perhaps could choose an IT company halfway around the world. However, preparing for any potential issue makes contracting with a local service provider much more sensible. After all, if you have an emergency situation, getting someone who knows what they’re doing on hand may make all the difference. When you find the best team near your place of business, forge an ongoing professional relationship with them.

IT support for small businesses may cost anywhere along a broad scaled based on how large your company is, how many computers or systems you operate, whether you just want regular maintenance, or need emergency help with a massive problem. An acceptable average falls somewhere in the £40.00 – £80.00 range per IT user in office. Therefore, if you employ 25 people, your contract would have a monthly cost around £1000 – £2000.

If you currently spend more than this on your IT needs, I would suggest shopping around and getting some new quotes. Chances are you could save a bit of money off your monthly expenses and thus increase profits. If you are, however, spending quite a bit less than this, it might warrant a question about why the prices are below market average by so much. Quality technicians with proper training, the latest technological equipment, and effective processes cost money, which is passed along to you by the IT team.

If someone selling a “like new” Mercedes offered it to you for £500, you would just know there must big problems they are not telling you about. If your IT company quotes a price of £250 for a 25-person office, you should have the same misgivings. Remember too that an IT service provider must have more clients, and if they are getting the same prices, they could be responsible for hundreds of users for £10-£20 each. No one can hire quality technicians for those prices.

Although some may say they give comprehensive contracts, not everything gets included in one price. Read the fine print of any agreement before you sign and pay. Usually, the following things will bring extra charges.

• New devices and programs require separate purchases.
• Non-remote services and physical office visits will have extra costs associated with the time and travel necessary. These generally initiate a separate invoice because they are not regular occurrences.
• Comprehensive installations and IT projects that are outside the bounds of regular maintenance and upgrades also cost more than your monthly bill. This can include new computer installations, moving all equipment to a new office, and similar one-off events.

Always ask your service company what is included, what is not, and how you will get an invoice. If the firm appears to avoid giving you specific information, that puts up a red flag.

IT support for small business is about a lot more than software updates and peripheral installations. The primary consideration about quality comes from customer service, open communication, and the time they spend ensuring no problems arise that interrupts your company function. Good communication does not depend on frequency, but instead on how effective it is overall.

Expect monthly reports that clearly outline what you get for your contract subscription fee. The best IT businesses average around one problem per two users each month. So, in that office with 50 employees using computer systems, you should have no more than 25 issues.