Small Biz Tech Talk ™

Dallas-based Dell, Inc. stated Friday that it will buy the UK-based IT consulting firm The Networked Storage Co.  Network Storaged was created in 2002 and has 26 employees.  While a spokesperson for Dell would not discuss the deal with the IT consulting firm or the company’s revenues, the company advises many of Europe’s top financial institutions and customers that need help with infrastructure maintenance and management.  

At the same time as it decided to buy the IT consulting firm, Dell decided to work with retailer Tesco in order to sell XPS and Inspiron notebook and desktop systems in 500 stores based in the UK, Ireland, Poland, the Czech Republic and Slovakia.  

Dell has joined forces with many IT consulting firms and also retail stores in recent months as it breaks away from its direct-to-business and direct-to-consumers via phone and the Internet.  Dell’s agreements currently include selling computers in more than 10,000 stores throughout the world.

Added By:  Computer Consulting Kit

Software company Mulesource announced a new partnership with IT consulting firm Estafet Open.  This consulting firm offers services to the European market and recently joined the MuleSource Partner Alliance program.

Spokespeople for the IT consulting firm Estafet Open stated they had seen a lot of companies turning to MuleSource to fulfill software needs because of their increased offerings.  More consultants in the firm are gaining experience with the software and realizing that the platform works well.

MuleSource software has been used increasingly in project from proof of concepts to different applications.  The demand is increasing for developers, solution architects and others to service the IT consulting firms and businesses in need of support for their products.

A spokesperson from IT consulting firm Estafet Open further added that proof of concept projects are getting larger in scope, and there will be a greater demand for consultants that have experience with the Mule platform.  The IT consulting firm is excited about its partnership with MuleSource and the opportunities it will provide in the future.  

Added By:  Computer Consulting 101 Professional Kit

Formal programs for partnering can range in quality from good to bad.  Most people these days don’t choose formal partnering programs to get the same benefits that would have enticed them a decade ago.

The Benefits of Formal Partnering Programs:

1.    High Margins;

2.    Dedicated partner representatives;

3.    Toll free support, unlimited;

4.    Four percent MDFs;

5.    Market development funds;

6.    30-day money-back guarantees;

7.    No quotas;

8.    No stocking of inventory.

But if your plan is to offer a traditional service model, partnering formally isn’t that great a deal.  

The Best Formal Partnering Programs

VARBusiness, an important industry magazine conducts surveys and studies on the most valuable partner programs and rates them by vendor satisfaction with tech support, sales support, margins, business opportunities, small business clients, etc.  VARBusiness is a great resource for those looking to learn about partnering programs.  

You will read about big partnering programs such as the Microsoft Certified Partner program and IBM Business Partner.  But you will also learn about lesser-known programs ad what you can count on when you sign up.  Trends are moving towards advertising your own company and not the partnering programs to which you belong or the brands you represent.  

Will You Benefit from Formal Partnering Programs?

Before you make the decision to invest time and funds in partnering programs, think about your own solutions and services and how you plan to work with customers and clients.  Partnering programs will be a financial and time investment, and you need to make sure the programs you choose will help both you and your clients.

Blogged By:  Computer Consulting Kit

Top solution providers are always looking for the latest technologies and opportunities to most efficiently solve customer issues.  The 2007 VARBusiness Alternatives Survey showed that solution providers are on the lookout for secondary, alternative vendors.

Solution providers will typically explore alternative relationships when they need extra support, when they find opportunities or when a customer or trend within the market shows them the value of a specific alternative vendor.  Some solution providers are starting to look weekly and monthly at alternative new partnerships with vendors that will help their businesses grow.

Choosing a Vendor

Selecting an alternative vendor is not easy for many solution providers.  The best practices listed below are based on solution providers interviews and can help solution providers find, evaluate and choose the best alternative vendors.  

1.    There is no one way that is best for selecting an alternative vendor.  Many solution providers view the process opportunistically and let people on their staff talk to vendors about emerging products and technologies.  Others choose to have committees designed to evaluate alternatives formally.  

2.    Alternative vendors actively pursue new partners, so many solution providers receive calls from vendors and take meetings several times a week.  Alternatives are becoming incredibly competitive and technology changes regularly, so solution providers need to have a clear policy for evaluation.

3.    Different shops have different needs, so solution providers need to put the appropriate people in charge of new partnerships.  In small shops, the owner or CEO should make the decision about alternative vendors, whereas in midsize or large companies, line-of-business managers or sales executives and technical teams might be qualified to choose.  

4.    Formal vendor evaluation committees are an excellent way to stay competitive with other solution providers.  The committee can be comprised of representatives from the executive staff, IT/engineering staff and sales and marketing staff.  Regardless of who is on the committee, committee members need to review the company’s specific technology needs before selecting appropriate partnerships.  

The Bottom Line about Alternative Partnerships and Solution Providers

No solution provider should ever rush into a relationship with an alternative vendor without first exploring the many options.  

Added By:  Computer Consulting Kit

With helpful tools and resources about IT marketing and sales strategies, administrative techniques, critical service contract templates and other legal documents necessary for starting an IT services business the Computer Consulting Kit has been chosen by many in the IT industry as a map to growth.  

The Computer Consulting Kit stresses the importance of relationships in the IT industry.  An IT consulting firm is first and foremost about selling services, not commodities.  This means the foundation of any successful consulting company is relationships with clients, subcontractors and business people within the community.

The Computer Consulting Kit and William Patterson of Applied Data Systems

William Patterson owns Applied Data Systems, a San Antonio, Texas-based IT consulting firm that offers computer-related services to those in his area.  Like many consultants just starting out, William found reaching out to others in the face of perceived risk a challenge at first.  The Computer Consulting Kit helped him organize his business plan and gave him strategies that allowed him to take on a leadership role within his community.  With the help of the Computer Consulting Kit he was able to proceed with confidence to establish valuable relationships and communicate the strength of the solutions he provides.

 
William said, “I learned to work with other contractors and to act as a lead contractor as well as a subcontractor.”

He also added that he was able to better manage his relationships and move forward.

“I am learning to partner and coordinate relationships.    The Computer Consulting Kit gave me confidence to move in the right direction and advice on how to approach and cooperate with other contractors in my field without being intimidated.  I feel I understand the benefits of partnering even when it seems that it is a risk.  The Computer Consulting Kit helped me earn $10,000 in additional revenue.”

The Bottom Line About the Computer Consulting Kit and Building Relationships

The Computer Consulting Kit provides a framework for business owners like William Patterson that want to build stronger relationships with clients, community partners and subcontractors.  Join the many IT professionals that are using the Computer Consulting Kit as a resource to build a better, more lucrative business.

Added By:  Computer Consulting 101 Professional Kit

IT consulting firm Level 3 Communications recently acquired content-delivery firm Savvis putting it in the position to benefit from Microsoft’s steadily expanding Internet search and video business.  Savvis’ content-delivery network helps 100 customers, with Microsoft being the largest customers and the one with the most resources.

IT consulting experts state that this will be a great move for Level 3 because it will tap them directly into the resources Microsoft offers.  Currently major providers for Microsoft’s Internet business include Savvis, Akamai and Hewlett-Packard.

According to Microsoft spokesperson Arne Josefberg, as Microsoft grows its online services business, strengthening the network infrastructure will become more and more important in order to better serve customers, partners and advertisers.  Because IT consulting firm Level 3 already runs a huge Internet services segment through its fiber-optic network, its addition to the family will be welcome.

This $135 million acquisition was announced Tuesday and will be finished within the first quarter of 2007.  The acquisition of IT consulting firm Savvis will include network components, customer contracts and all intellectual property.  CDN, the Savvis content-delivery network had sales of $15 million for the nine months ending September 30.  The CDN components will allow Level 3 to better take advantage of rich media applications including video, Web 2.0 applications, multiplayer online gaming, software and others via the Internet.

IT consulting firm Level 3 will bring great experience in online video distribution to the table and make its relationship with Microsoft stronger than it was previously because it will get closer to the heart of the company.

IT consulting firm Savvis will spend $200 million creating four new data centers for the managed hosting and collocation services in Atlanta, New York, Washington, D.C. and Santa Clara, CA.  

Added By:  Computer Consulting 101

Business partnerships provide an opportunity to do test marketing.  This is an interesting side benefit that many new computer resellers don’t think about when they start exploring business partnerships.  

When you enter into a business partnership, you have a prime opportunity to test the water on a certain product or service before deciding to branch into it yourself. When a new product, operating system, platform, or niche opens up, if you create a business partnership with a company who is an early adopter, you get to witness, first hand, how profitable the venture is.  

Let’s say I want to add Sales Logics to my product and service line.  To become an authorized reseller or get a recognized designation, I have to invest 80 to 100 hours or more in getting training.  These classes will cost several thousands of dollars, probably upwards of $7,500.  

I could do all this on my own or I could figure out if Sales Logics is a good opportunity by securing a business partnership with someone who already does this work.  If I monitor this business partnership closely, I will learn the following information:

• The return on investment the company is realizing
• The specific IT issues presented
• The associated business issues
• The length and nature of the sales cycle
• The amount of demand for the product
• The type of clients demanding the product

Bottom Line on Business Partnerships
Business partnerships are a low risk, low cost method for doing market research. With a strategic business partnership like this, you can easily figure out if you want to invest the time and money in a new venture, based on the demand among your client base and the type of prospects that you work with.  

In this article, you’ve been introduced to Business Partnerships. To learn more about how you can improve your knowledge about Business Partnerships, just click here now to get access to a free one-hour audio training program on 5 Easy Ways to Grow Your Computer Consulting Business. 

Business partnerships can be located in a variety of ways.  The following is a discussion of our preferred methods for locating a business partnership.  The list starts with our most preferred method and works down from there.

• The absolute best way to locate a business partnership is through a common account.  This means you start working with a new small business and they are already working with someone who’s a deeply niched technology consultant.  By working together you form a camaraderie similar to working together in an internal IT department.  The business partnership idea flourishes naturally from this type of introduction.  You’re both working together, you have ample opportunity to talk, and you become friendly.   

• Next down the list is tapping into your word of mouth referrals for business partnership ideas. If you have a business partner that does Access database development but you need someone who’s an expert on SQL server, letting your current partner know what you need will usually net you a few solid business partnership leads.

• Networking directly through organizations like the Chamber of Commerce or business networking events is the next best way to meet people for potential business partnerships.  

• Another great idea for identifying business partnership prospects is going to reseller channel events for the platform or products that you support, as well as reseller channel events for products that you don’t support.  

• Technical training classes are another source of potential business partnerships.

• User groups and related consultant reseller groups are always great places to meet niche technology providers.

• Look to niche and industry trade groups, trade associations and industry-specific conferences.  Some of the best people for business partnerships may be speaking.  

• Niche and industry trade publications are great sources for picking up potential business partnerships. 

• Vendor Web sites, industry ISVs, independent software vendors, and independent hardware vendor Web sites are other business partnership referral sources.  You can go a step beyond that and contact the local field reps in your area and get personal referrals from people that work with the software vendor or the hardware vendor.  

Bottom Line on Business Partnerships
There are many different ways to investigate potential business partnerships.  The best methods are the most personal ones.  The more direct contact you have with a potential business partner, the more likely it will turn into a full fledged business partnership.

In this article, you’ve been introduced to Business Partnerships. To learn more about how you can improve your knowledge about Business Partnerships, just click here now to get access to a free one-hour audio training program on 5 Easy Ways to Grow Your Computer Consulting Business.

IT services outsourcing is what you need to do when, not if, your prospects ask for products and services that you are not able to deliver.  Many new business owners think they need to know everything.  They fear not being able to offer every service under the sun.  

The great thing about the computer industry is that there are plenty of people you can use for IT services outsourcing. When you first start up, your concentration needs to be on getting business.  You need to spend time networking and relationship marketing.  

In order to have the time to do this you need to rely on IT services outsourcing - there just simply is not enough time for you to learn everything you will be asked to deliver.

Rather than lose the relationship, you want to be able to offer your prospects the services they need.  To do this you essentially have two alternatives for IT services outsourcing:

Work out referral relationships with other niche technology providers in your area  
Set up partnerships and subcontractor relationships

The quickest and easiest way to set up your IT services outsourcing is to set up partnerships or subcontractor relationships.  This is a fast and efficient way to deal with the issue.  

Of course, if you continue to get lots of requests for the same type of IT services, then you should probably consider getting the skills to offer it in-house.  When there is a large enough need then the time and money invested make good sense. Until that time though, IT services outsourcing is your best option.

Bottom Line on IT Services Outsourcing
Like it or not you can’t know everything.  When prospects ask for services you don’t offer, rather than lose the relationship, look to IT services outsourcing instead.  Build referral relationships with other niche IT service providers or set up subcontractor or partnership arrangements.  By doing this you maintain your client and leave yourself open to the possibility of offering the service yourself down the road.

In this article, you’ve been introduced to IT Services Outsourcing. To learn more about how you can improve your knowledge about IT Services Outsourcing, just click here now to get access to a free one-hour audio training program on 5 Easy Ways to Grow Your Computer Consulting Business.

Partnering and subcontracting can help grow your business by:

• Expanding your areas of expertise
• Taking on bigger projects
• Keeping your overhead low

When you and another business have similar clients, but complementary businesses, join up with them to maximize your prospects and minimize your marketing expenses. 

Read on to see how one of our computer consultants benefited from partnering.  

"I took the time to write a letter to a company that provided outsourced billing for medical offices around town. I stated that we don’t provide the services they do and they don’t provide the services we do and that we could help each other out.  To my surprise, his response was ‘Your timing couldn’t be better.’ We met over breakfast one morning and discussed that fact that we knew they did good work since our client really likes them and that he knew we did good work because the same client liked us. It just made sense for us to make recommendations on each other’s behalf. It got me thinking about partnering with the right kind of service providers that serve the same market but don’t do general technical consulting, yet get asked for that type of support all the time."

Nick LaRosa, Subnet Support Services LLC
St. Louis, Missouri

The Bottom Line about Partnering

To learn more about partnering, click here now to get access to a free one-hour audio training program on 5 Easy Ways to Grow Your Computer Consulting Business.

To grow your business, you need to have trusted help that can give good service to your customers. Don’t just consider subcontractors for the big projects, they can free up your time and raise your profits.

Read on to see what one of our computer consultants did to help his business.

"I hired a solid part-time contractor. Before, I used to do all the work myself, everything from break-fix, computer won’t boot, ‘how-do-I’ type questions, to network installations. I would hire subcontractors for bigger projects that had a defined scope, but not smaller projects because I thought it was too expensive. I discovered how having a reliable person to do all the small work could free me up to look at the bigger picture and even have time to recruit new business. I also found the tools to negotiate a solid agreement and made sure that for every dollar I spend with him, I am making that plus a dollar back. We also negotiated a solid NDA (non disclosure agreement), so I have comfort that my clients aren’t going to walk out the door. This has made me $15,000."

Daniel Ramos, Genesislogic
Brooklyn, New York

The Bottom Line about Partnering

To learn more about partnering, click here now to get access to a free one-hour audio training program on 5 Easy Ways to Grow Your Computer Consulting Business.

Small business networking is the building of relationships with other small business individuals.  Small business networking should be beneficial to everyone involved.  After all, small business networking proves the old adage, “It’s not what you know, it’s who you know.”

The Importance of Small Business Networking

Small business networking first arose in the 1980’s when entrepreneurs needed a sounding board.  Today, small business networking is popular in all kinds of professions.  In fact, membership in professional organizations has increased significantly.  The Rotary, Chamber of Commerce, and trade associations are common organizations available to new business owners.   

Small Business Networking is a Font of free Advice

Free advice is one of the great advantages of small business networking.  The new business owner is able to meet with experts in his field on a routine basis.  These members often host informal programs where they offer free consultations to other members.  What a perfect way to learn the ins and outs of a new business.

Professional Organizations Often Offer Many Member Benefits

Small business networking has benefits outside of free advice.  Joining professional organizations gives the member access to health insurance, life insurance, and savings plans.  Discounts are also available.  Membership costs can often be expensive.  However, these benefits may outweigh the cost of membership.

Professional Organizations Publish Newsletters and Host Seminars

Seminars, regular meetings, and monthly newsletter publications are all excellent sources of information.  These often contain relevant information on how to successfully operate your new business.  Every time a business owner attends one of these functions, he has the chance to meet new business people and network further. 

Small Business Networking Gives You the Opportunity to Share your Knowledge

Small business networking isn’t only about getting something.  It allows the new business owner to share his experience, expertise, and knowledge with others.  This strengthens and builds relationships.  One never knows when he might make a contact that translates to a profitable business deal.

The Bottom Line about Small Business Networking

In this article, you’ve learned about small business networking. To learn more about small business networking, click here now to get access to a free one-hour audio training program on 5 Easy Ways to Grow Your Computer Consulting Business.

Small business network members understand the importance of professional relationships.  The growth of a business can be heavily dependent on a small business network.  A small business network is a necessity for every new entrepreneur.

The Necessity of a Small Business Network

A small business network is available to every kind of entrepreneur in every kind of industry.  National and local professional organizations exist to create the small business network.  A few more common organizations are the Rotary Club or the Chamber of Commerce.  A small business network gives a new owner the chance to give information and receive knowledge.

A Small Business Network Offers the Opportunity to Receive Free Knowledge and Advice

This is a very popular reason for joining a professional network.  Business advice is free!  Seminars and monthly newsletters are great sources of information.  Often, a member is asked to speak on an important topic related to his field of business.

All of these opportunities can be invaluable sources of knowledge.  A small business network member is also exposed to other members at these events.  Meeting new people to share ideas or refer business is an important feature of a small business network.

A Small Business Network Offers the Opportunity To Give Information or Advice

Being part of a small business network is more than just taking what benefits you.  It also involves giving of your expertise.  This is just as beneficial as receiving the information.

A new business owner may want to give a speech on his field of expertise, letting other members know what kind of special products or services his new business is offering.  Other network members will be exposed to your business.  Hopefully, this will translate to future referrals.

Joining a small business network is a necessary part of doing business.  It will allow your business to grow and profit.  Every new contact may lead to new business.  Become actively involved in small business network and reap the rewards.
  
The Bottom Line about a Small Business Network

In this article, you’ve learned about a small business network. To learn more about a small business network, click here now to get access to a free one-hour audio training program on 5 Easy Ways to Grow Your Computer Consulting Business.

At some point you’re going to need to develop partnering relationships with other non-competing complementary tech providers in your area for partnering and subcontracting type of work. That way you can meet the needs of your clients for many different types of projects.

Partnering- How To Be The Virtual Solution for Your Clients

Sometimes you may be asked to do some work that you don’t have experience or skills in. For example, let’s say you’re a really good generalist and you’re good at setting up simple LANs, but all of a sudden your client merged with a company who’s got a sophisticated WAN infrastructure.

Help Your Client by Partnering

In order to be able to deliver the complete virtual IT solution, you need to have a Rolodex of people that can come in and fill in for things that are outside your expertise and beyond your comfort level.

How Can You Handle Customers Who Have Needs You Can’t Meet?

If you don’t yet have specialized partners or subcontractors that can assist in these areas, do you tell your future clients upfront you can’t help them, or do you search for the partners first? This is the chicken or egg dilemma. Do you get the clients first or do you line up subcontracting and partnering relationships first?  

Identify The Needs You Can Meet

You should be able to map out most of the typical types of services that you’re going to provide to small businesses. Then, consider what your clients might need that you can’t provide.

Start meeting with potential partners and interviewing subcontractors to try to fill in your gaps. Ideally, you should have a rolodex of anywhere from three to five people that you have ready to go as the client’s needs arise.

The Bottom Line about Partnering

Always be upfront about this with your clients.  If you have partners or subcontractors that can help deliver the full solution to your clients, tell them. 

In this article, you’ve learned about partnering. To learn more about partnering, click here now to get access to a free one-hour audio training program on 5 Easy Ways to Grow Your Computer Consulting Business.

Formal partnering programs. They can be good, bad, and indifferent. They just aren’t that huge. In this day and age, most people aren’t choosing to join partner programs just based on the benefits that they looked for 10 years ago.

Formal Partnering Programs Benefits

These benefits include: high margins, dedicated partner representatives, unlimited toll free support, four percent MDFs, market development funds, 30-day end user money back guarantee, no quotas, no inventory stocking. If, however, you are moving towards the service model, formal partnering doesn’t do as much for you.

Which Formal Partnering Programs are Best?

VAR BUSINESS, a trade magazine, does all kinds of studies and surveys on the best partner programs.  It rates them constantly on vendor satisfaction on all different issues: technical support, sales support, margins, business opportunities, perceptions of small business clients. They’re an incredible resource for looking into different partner programs.

Naturally you can read about the big ones. You can read about the Microsoft Certified Partner Program, and IBM Business Partner, but you’ll also find out about some lesser known programs and what’s going on in general.  What you will find is that not a lot of consulting firms are putting a ton of stock and energy in advertising their vendor relationships anymore.  The tide is definitely turning more towards advertising yourself, your company, your brand, the expertise and service you bring to the table as opposed to advertising the brands that you represent.

Are Formal Partnering Programs a Fit for You?

Before you decide whether you want to invest any time or money with any particular programs, I would first think through what services and solutions you want to provide for your customers. These partner programs involve both a financial and time commitment. Be certain that the partner program offers your clients what you want to offer before investing! 

The Bottom Line about Formal Partnering Programs

In this article, you learned more about partnering. For more information about partnering, click here now to get access to a free one-hour audio training program on 5 Easy Ways to Grow Your Computer Consulting Business.

In partnering, don’t just look for people you can bring in on accounts.  A lot of times other non-IT business providers like management consultants are in a position where they’re constantly being forced to be able to refer other professionals to their clients. This may be done as a favor to their client, or set up as a revenue sharing arrangement.

Partnering with Accountants

Accountants are in a really good position to refer you to other small business owners because they’re already perceived by most small businesses as a trusted advisor; the same way attorneys and management consultants and advertising consultants are also put into that same category. You ultimately want to be put in this category, too!

Take accountants, for example. If they do a lot of QuickBooks installs, chances are, they’re getting questions from their customers, on what should they do for backup?  What should they do for virus protection? Most of the time they don’t want to get involved with that. This is where you come in.

Your Partnering Relationships Will Make You More Valuable

It’s really easy for you to use your relationships that you have and the relationships you’re going to build to knock the socks off of Dell and others like them. Don’t get scared into thinking that Dell is going to own your whole market share in six months or a year.

It’s not going to happen as long as you move up the value chain, as long as you move into providing these services that are tougher for people to compete with on a commodity level.  That’s where your personality, your communication skills, and the relationships really mean everything. 

Consider Several Partnering Options

A couple of years ago, back when DSL was first rolling out, a lot of people were getting set up as DSL agents for ILECs and CLECs and ISPs.  That’s another interesting revenue stream. Some people act as web-hosting resellers, so they’ll buy a big chunk of storage space and bandwidth and parcel that up and sell shared hosting to their clients. There’s a lot of different ways you can do these things to add on incremental revenue. You can increase your business through many different forms of partnering.

The Bottom Line about Partnering

In this article, you’ve learned about partnering. To learn more about partnering, click here now to get access to a free one-hour audio training program on 5 Easy Ways to Grow Your Computer Consulting Business.

In partnering, the first thing you need to do is figure out your strengths. What it is that you do best? What does your store enjoy? What’s financially viable? What you’re planning on doing for the next six months to a year? You really want to make sure that you’re not partnering with someone that’s going to be a direct competitor of yours and vice versa.

What’s Your Specialty?

It might be network consulting for small dental offices.  It might be document imaging solutions for small law offices.  Maybe it’s point of sale networks, BOS systems, for small restaurant chains.  Whatever it is, once you’ve figured out where your real strength is, the best, most productive kind of partnering that you can possibly do is with other non-competing technology providers in your area. 

Make Sure You’re Not Partnering With Competitors

Double underline and highlight the “non” part. Otherwise you’re going to be terrified that you’re going after each other’s prospects and clients.  One of the scariest things for a lot of people when they get first get started with partnering is that this company is going to go aggressively after your business. 

In order to be sure that you are non-competing, you need to move past "business card BS." Know exactly what it is that they do. Most of the companies that you’re going to want to partner with and most of the companies that are going to want to partner with you need to know more about what your real strength is beyond hardware, software, LANs and service.

Move Past the Business Card Terms

Everyone says the same thing on their business card, their yellow pages ad and their direct mail piece. Most people list PC hardware, software, and networking and services. But it’s really important when you’re partnering with a company to figure out what their core competency is. What’s the best thing that they do? What are they known for? What is the one thing their customer prospects come to them for?

Make Sure Your Partners Have Completely Different Niches

You need to look for highly technical people; deeply niched IT consultants who are already out there. Look for consultants who don’t want to touch the stuff that you do every day.

In other words, if your staff has good skills that can get you simple dedicated server installations but things like Microsoft Exchange Server or SQL server or VPNs throw you for a loop, that’s where it pays to look around for some consultants in your area that would be good to partner with.

The Bottom Line about Partnering

In this article, you’ve been introduced to partnering. To learn more about partnering, click here now to get access to a free one-hour audio training program on 5 Easy Ways to Grow Your Computer Consulting Business.

Computer franchises are available through franchise expositions. By preparing for the exposition, you can narrow your search among the computer franchises. Computer franchises vary and the choices can seem overwhelming. Attending a franchise exposition is a great way to become familiar with the computer franchises that are available.

In this article, you’ll learn that a little preparation will assist you in finding the computer franchises that match your needs and abilities. Remember, exhibitors are there to sell you their franchise. Focus your attention on those businesses that have what you are seeking.

Know Your Maximum Investment Amount

Know how much you want to invest before attending so that you can narrow your search at the beginning of the day. If a franchise fee is out of your budget, don’t waste your time speaking to a sales person. Move on to affordable computer franchises. An informed customer will spend his time more productively.

Obtain Proof of Earnings

Some computer franchises will tout high earnings and profits. Be wary of these proclamations. Insist that the company provide substantiation for their claims. Move on to another franchise if no proof is available.

Write Down Important Information

It is easy to forget the important details of each franchise. By taking notes, you will be able to review your information after the expo. Collect any brochures or pamphlets from the computer franchises. Get contact names and numbers for follow-up questions, as well.

Review the Offer

Do your homework after you leave the exposition. Do not be pressured into signing any contracts or making any deposits. You may want to hire an attorney to review all contracts as well as the disclosure document. Interview current franchisees to get their feedback and opinions. Purchasing computer franchises is a very big investment. So, take the time to ensure it is the right investment for you.

Should you decide to attend a franchise exposition, remain objective. Become an informed participant. By knowing what to expect, you will be prepared to make the best decision. After all, investing in computer franchises is an exciting business adventure.

The Bottom Line about Computer Franchises

In this article, you learned about computer franchises. To learn more about computer franchises, click here now to get access to a free one-hour audio training program on 5 Easy Ways to Grow Your Computer Consulting Business.

Computer franchises offer many benefits and reduce your start-up risks. If you are ready to start your own business, you may want to consider computer franchises.

Computer franchises appeal to many people who are looking to start up their own business.  Purchasing computer franchises can reduce many of the risks that are encountered in a start-up business.  A new owner who needs assistance with marketing, financing, or training receives all of the necessary resources from his computer franchises.

Benefits of Computer Franchises

There are several benefits to buying computer franchises.  You are obtaining an established product and learning proven operating procedures. Training, advertising, and other important advice is also available. The franchise fee will cover all of these aspects allowing the new owner to focus on making a profit as soon as possible.

After all, this is what owning your business is all about!  In fact, franchises have a significantly lower failure rate than other start-up businesses.  So, if you’re ready to make it on your own, review the benefits and consider computer franchises.

Established Product

One benefit of obtaining computer franchises is the ability to purchase the rights to an established product or service. You will have a legal right to use the trademark, name or advertising symbol.  Customers will already know to expect the excellent quality and service that is associated with your business name, shortening the amount of time it takes for you to get your business underway.

Standard Operating Procedures

A franchise also supplies a new owner with an operating manual.  All procedures are spelled out eliminating the trial and error that faces most new business start-ups.  You’ll know what products and supplies are in demand or how to handle sales or service calls.  Everything you need to know to run your new computer franchises will be available.  Help is only a phone call away!

Training and Marketing

One unique advantage to owning computer franchises is the ongoing support from the company.  You will be advised on finding a location, management, marketing techniques, hiring personnel, and training employees.  Some companies even offer newsletters or workshops to help enhance your business.

Whether you choose to buy computer franchises or not, just remember that a lot of time, energy and financial commitment are expected.  Buying computer franchises will not make the job easy, but it will relieve some of the stress and reduce your risks!

The Bottom Line about Computer Franchises

In this article, you learned about computer franchises. To learn more about computer franchises, click here now to get access to a free one-hour audio training program on 5 Easy Ways to Grow Your Computer Consulting Business.