I've lurked here for a long time, and I've seen all the posts complaining about content, "too many t-shirt/FBA/shopify posts." Well, here's my attempt to be the change I'd like to see.In November I made good on an idea I've been nursing for 5 years. I founded an MSP. An MSP (Managed Service Provider) is basically an IT Support Shop that focuses more on the proactive than the reactive. We provide more guidance on what you should be doing from an IT standpoint to prevent problems in the first place instead of patching problems as they happen. We charge flat monthly fees that allow for predictable revenue instead of the "call us when you need us" that usually has us guessing when the next check will come in. Most of what I'm posting here has nothing to do with the actual IT business, and IMO is very applicable to many other businesses, especially businesses that are service-based.1) IT. TAKES. TIME. You're no-doubt good at what you do, but you really have to put in the time and grind to get those first few customers. People need to see you a few times in order to really learn your name, and know that you're not fly-by-night. They need to see referrals, reviews, and results. My dad told me (after I got started, of course) that in his first business, he sold his first customer in his first month--but he didn't sell his second until almost 8 months later.I am remarkably lucky to have the support that I have. I'm still not profitable, let alone able to pay my mortgage with my business, but things are going fairly well. I would be far worse off without the friends and my parents willing to invest and refer me--and I'm still only 3 months in.Be ready to weather a long period of "No"s and an even longer period of no paycheck.Which leads me to...2) Bankers only care about the money you are making RIGHT THEN. This one feels stupid to type, but we have over $100k of equity in our house. However, I didn't actually start the refinance process I was planning on until a few weeks after my full-time employer fired me for starting this side project and guess what? We can't refinance now, as I was the primary breadwinner for the family and my wife's income alone would carry too high of a debt/income ratio for them to even consider it. Also fun fact: Most banks will require 2 years (and frequently more) of self-employment income before they'll factor it into any financing you're asking for.If you're considering a mortgage refinance to start your business, do it BEFORE you think you need it.3) Get a library card. I'm 34 and before I started this business I think I'd only read 1 or 2 books since I was in high school. This one also seems stupid to say it now, but there is SO MUCH information available at your local library. Ask the staff about apps to check out ebooks (At my library, there's actually more available via ebooks than there is physical books) or even audio books. Find books that apply to your industry and if your library doesn't have it, put in requests for inter-library-loans, or even request acquisitions. You'll have to buy a book or two yourself that the library can't get, but for each of those there's 10 more that they DO have and cost you nothing. Maybe even consider a Kindle unlimited subscription for a few months, since you can tell if a book will be included in that before you buy it/subscribe.Generalized books that I recommend are The E-Myth Revisited, and The Dip. (I prefer Seth Godin in his even shorter blog form, but The Dip is easy enough to read an an hour or two).If you're in the US, your library likely also has a subscription to ReferenceUSA, which is a fantastic (Free!) source for cold-calling leads (Yeah-cold calling SUCKS but you need it in the early days--most people aren't as mean as you'd expect).4) Get your LEAN priorities straight. As an IT service business, I knew I needed a quality ticketing system. I needed a quality remote management system, and I needed reliable remote access. All of those affect my ability to do my job, and the better they are, the more time I have available to do other things (like cold calling!). In my case, I invested deep in this--TOO DEEP. I found myself putting things like forming an LLC and acquiring professional liability insurance off because "I don't think anything will happen," and I didn't think I had the cash-flow to do all of it at once. Meanwhile, I was paying for 150 seats of remote access when I have a whole 6 computers to control! I absolutely had the cart before the horse. Protect your home and your family first. Most states let you set up an LLC for not that much--and (at least in my state) it's a one-time fee! You should know what kinds of insurance you need in your industry and don't be stupid like I was--have that ready to roll as soon as you start. You look more professional to your clientele, and you sleep better at night.If you're not sure, I would put money on there being a subreddit dedicated to your industry, and at least a few subscribers there would be willing to help you out. If not, there's surely professional groups, networking groups, or similar professions you could ask for guidance.5) Make cheesy business cards (with your picture on them). I spent TOO LONG coming up with a design that I thought looked really impressive. They coordinated with my website and they match my overall 'branding' with my colors, and I think they genuinely look slick, even now. The front has my name, title, company name, and contact information, the back has a really nice version of the logo printed on it with a black background to really stand out.One of the networking groups I joined has a business card book that gets passed around at each event. You're supposed look through the card book and pull out any cards that look like services you or someone you know needs. It wasn't until I'd been attending this event (and looked through this book) for a month that I realized my fancy looking business cards were worthless. Without me there to deliver my elevator speech, you can't tell what my company actually does, and you don't know who I am. Meanwhile, I can tell you the names of 3 insurance agents and 4 realtors that I have never even met, because their cards all clearly tell me who they are, what they do, and I've seen those cards multiple times.When I got started, I was afraid of people finding out I was a single-man shop. What I've learned is that small businesses LOVE to work with other small businesses. They know that you'll work hard for them, because they know that you need their payments.You also have no idea what kinds of adventures your business cards are going to go on--who will see them, and in what context. You need to make sure that they tell your story when you're not there to do it yourself.Also, keep the back of your card blank. At least 60% of the people I've handed mine to have wanted to write on them, and can't because mine has my amazing logo on the back--on black--instead.That's it for now. I'd love to see what other books people recommend, or what other "duh" obvious tips people have--I never would have thought I could overthink my business card, but here I am.
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