In starting this blog, let’s all agree on one thing- IT is important for any business. Having working technology is essential these days for any company to run- whether it is a multi-million dollar international corporation, or a local dog-walking business- it is a given that some form of IT is going to be needed.
I want to take a step back though, and discuss not only why IT is important for small businesses in particular, but why outsourcing IT is the best option for a small business.
Why IT matters
First, let’s take a look at why IT matters to small businesses. The main reason is really basic and obvious (and mentioned earlier in this post)- everyone needs IT. No matter your type of business you are going to be using some form of technology, even if it is just email.
IT plays a really important role if you want your small business to grow. By using technology in a really efficient and cost-effective manner, a small business can not only appear much bigger than they are, they can also boost productivity and cut costs, which means a better bottom line.
Why Outsourcing is the best option
So now that we have established that IT is important for small businesses, let’s tackle the question of outsourcing.
At first glance, it may seem like hiring an “IT person” would be much more cost-effective than bringing on an entire company, but in fact, that’s not really the case.
You don’t have to hire an employee
The most obvious reason being that when you hire an outsourced IT company, you are a client of theirs. You don’t have to worry about things like benefits and vacation time, which have to be worked into a budget if you have an in-house IT person. That means you have more money to direct towards your technology needs.
Two heads are better than one
The second reason is that with an outsourced IT company, you get a greater number of people working on your issues. The saying “two heads are better than one” is very true, especially with IT. While many IT problems that crop up are going to be quick-fixes, there are going to be those one or two very serious issues, and the more people you have working on it, the better the outcome will be. Also, since IT companies work across a variety of industries, the engineers are exposed to many different types of systems and solutions, which means they will have more experience and knowledge that will help them think outside the box when a serious issue comes up.
Your company’s IT keeps moving forward
Working with an outsourced IT company also means your business is more likely to move forward at a faster rate when it comes to your IT. Stereotypically speaking, when you only have one or two people in-house working on your IT, they are likely to get comfortable. They want to stick with the programs and solutions they are familiar with- even if it might not be the best choice for your business anymore. An outsourced IT company is more likely to keep up with the latest technology and that will help your business keep moving forward.
Better for your bottom line
At the end of the day, it is all going to come down to cost. For small and medium-sized businesses, paying attention to your budget is extremely important. So, let’s break down the costs.
On average, a level 2 IT engineer earns between 70-90K per year. That’s what it will cost you to hire one IT person (and we have to point out that they are only a level 2). The average price a small to medium-sized business will pay to outsource their IT support is approximately $1000 per month.
That means, for 1/8th of the cost, your company gets more people paying attention to your IT, access to more experience and knowledge, the efficiency that comes with having the right solutions that will keep your company moving forward, and technology planning and consulting from seasoned experts that will keep your IT (and therefore, your company) on the right track.
The truth is, you can’t think of IT as a temporary part of your business. You can’t view your technology needs as something you only need to pay attention to when there is a problem. You have to think long-term. Technology is always going to be important for any business, and there is not one business I can think of that doesn’t need technology in some form. Your IT is an investment- and by investing in the best choice for your company, you are investing in the company itself.