Something's wrong with your computers, or you have a nagging feeling that your setup is held together with tape. You're not sure whether you need an IT company, a consultant, or just a friend who's good with computers.
Here's what a small business IT consultant actually does, and how a job usually goes.
The three things a consultant does
The work splits into three kinds, and in my experience it's roughly even.
| Kind of work | What it looks like |
|---|---|
| Fixing | Something's broken or slow, and I find the cause and fix it |
| Planning | Working out how your tools, accounts, and devices should fit together |
| Automating | Turning a repetitive task into a script so it stops eating your week |
A consultant works across all three. That's the difference from a helpdesk, which mostly fixes, or a developer, which mostly builds.
How a job usually goes
Most jobs start with one specific problem. You reach out about the wifi, or an account that won't sync, or a report that takes half a day.
I fix what you asked about. If that's all you want, that's all I do. You don't have to take on anything extra.
I'll also point out other weak points. While I'm looking at your setup, I may notice other things, for example a backup that's never been tested. If I do, I tell you about them and offer to fix them. It's your call.
If I'm already there, I can finish the job. Once I'm in your systems, it's often easiest to work through any remaining issues in the same visit instead of coming back later.
Because I work quickly, a clearly defined fix can be fast. But how fast depends on the scope, so I'd rather look first than promise a timeline.
How that differs from an IT company
An IT company usually sells a monthly contract, priced per machine or per person. A consultant works on what you need, when you need it. I wrote about the difference in do you need an IT company or someone to call.
What a consultant can't do
I do nearly all of the consulting, but it has limits, and I'd rather say so up front.
- Problems on someone else's side. If your internet provider has an outage or a software company has a bug, I can work out what's wrong and who needs to fix it. I can't fix their systems.
- Being in two places at once. I'm very flexible, but I'm one person. I can't cover every hour or be everywhere at the same time, so I'll tell you honestly what's realistic and when.
- 24/7 monitoring. A consultant isn't a round-the-clock helpdesk. If you need a managed contract with constant monitoring, I'll tell you plainly that I'm not the right fit.
If something is within my capacity, I'll fix it. If it isn't, I'll tell you who can.
Signs you could use one
- The same problem keeps coming back.
- Nobody knows what accounts or devices the business has.
- You do the same task by hand every week.
- You'd like a plan before spending money on new tools.
What a script can automate covers the third one, where AI helps and where a script wins covers whether it needs AI, and what IT work costs explains how pricing works. Every job gets one fixed price, agreed before work starts.
If any of this sounds familiar, take a look at IT support and consulting or get in touch for a free consultation. Tell me what's going on, and I'll tell you honestly whether I can help.