As the autumn leaves paint a vibrant tapestry and the aroma of roasting turkey fills the air, it’s a sure sign that Thanksgiving is just around the corner. Beyond the delicious feasts and cherished family gatherings, Thanksgiving offers a unique opportunity to reflect on gratitude and appreciate the meaningful aspects of our lives. At Techspert, we find ourselves particularly grateful for the incredible clients who entrust us with their technological needs.

Thanksgiving, at its core, is a celebration of gratitude and appreciation. It serves as a reminder to pause and reflect on the positive aspects of our lives, fostering a sense of thankfulness for the relationships and experiences that shape us. Similarly, in the world of managed services, cultivating a culture of gratitude is not just a seasonal affair but a year-round practice.

At Techspert, we understand that our success is intricately tied to the trust and partnership we share with our clients. In the fast-paced digital landscape, businesses rely on technology more than ever, and we are privileged to be the ones helping them navigate this complex terrain. Our clients are more than just business relationships; they are our partners on the journey toward technological excellence.

Just like the varied dishes that make up a Thanksgiving feast, our clients come from diverse industries, each with its own set of challenges and aspirations. Whether it’s providing robust cybersecurity solutions, optimizing IT infrastructure, or ensuring seamless communication through cloud services, we take pride in tailoring our services to meet the unique needs of each client.

This Thanksgiving, we extend our heartfelt thanks to our clients for their continued trust and partnership. It is through their feedback, collaboration, and shared successes that we find inspiration to continually improve and innovate. In the spirit of the holiday, we encourage everyone to take a moment to express gratitude for the relationships that make a positive impact on their lives.

As we gather around the metaphorical table of technology, we also want to express our commitment to excellence. Our team at Techspert is dedicated to providing top-notch managed services, ensuring that our clients can focus on their core business while we handle the intricacies of their IT infrastructure.

To express our gratitude in a tangible way, we are offering a FREE consultation to both existing and potential clients. Whether you’re looking to enhance your cybersecurity, streamline your IT processes, or explore new opportunities in the digital landscape, our team is ready to assist. Let’s continue this journey together, building a future where technology empowers and inspires.

This Thanksgiving let’s not only savor the turkey and pumpkin pie but also relish the relationships that make our professional lives richer. From all of us at Techspert, Happy Thanksgiving!

One of the most common questions we get from new prospective clients calling our office is “What do you guys charge for your IT services?”

While price certainly needs to be one consideration, it’s extremely important you make an informed decision and choose the right IT services company instead of using price as the main deciding factor.

This seems obvious, but the reality is that most CEOs/CFOs/etc. don’t really know what questions to ask or what to look for when choosing one IT company over another and therefore put too much weight on the quote.

What you want to avoid is getting lured into a lowball quote from an IT company that is in financial trouble, cutting corners to lower their fees to get you as a client, but then unable to afford to hire experienced, knowledgeable techs, dedicated account managers and the security tools they need to ensure YOU are actually getting the security, stability and service you need.

So, how much is “too much” and what are the signs that someone is underpriced?

Recently, an industry report from Service Leadership, the leading financial benchmarking organization in the IT services industry, revealed that a whopping 28% of MSPs (managed services providers, or IT services companies) were unprofitable, and nearly half of all MSPs were under 10% net profit.

While everyone likes a “bargain,” here are the reasons why “cheaper” is not the advantage you think it is when you choose an underpriced IT company:

1. They are woefully short-staffed because the biggest expense in any IT company is the technical staff. THAT means if one of their techs quits, they’re quickly overwhelmed and unable to support your account, and response time suffers, not to mention critical security and backup maintenance of your network.
2. The staff they hire are at the lower end of the pay scale, which means you’re not getting the most competent people working on backing up your data, keeping your network secure and handling the critical operations and data your business needs.
3. They are very unlikely to have a dedicated account manager and team to work on your account because they can’t afford to hire them.
4. They are one or two bad months away from going out of business because they have no buffer. That means you could wake up one morning and find yourself without an IT company, scrambling to find a new one.
5. They are not “operationally mature.” Operational maturity means their business has the people and professional processes aligned to provide the highest level of QUALITY services to the end client (you).

In general, according to Service Leadership, the average “per user” fee for managed IT services is $205.07 to $249.73. Those IT firms with a below-average operational maturity level charge $146.08 to $157.49 per “user” (or employee using a computer or device they are supporting).

As you can see, if someone quotes you $120 a user for managing your network, it might feel like a good deal, but you have to ask yourself how they are able to charge nearly 50% less than IT firms that are operationally mature. The answer is obvious – they’re cutting corners, hiring cheap labor and leaving out critical security and compliance services.

If you want to know what types of questions you should be asking your managed services provider, then click here to download our executive guide, The Northern Ohio Business Owner’s Guide To IT Support Services And Fees.

This report discusses in detail exactly what to look for to get exactly what you need without unnecessary extras, hidden fees and bloated contracts. But most importantly, it will show you how to get the right support you want in order to lower your risk and eliminate the frustration of dealing with a less than competent IT company.