Can you provide references?

Research/Developments and Keeping Skills Sharp

How do you keep up with new tech developments?

What do you bill clients for and what do you absorb internally? Are there any gray areas?

Training Approach and Knowledge Transfer

How do you feel about handholding and in-depth training with users?

What kind of user and technical training can you provide?

Will you train our internal computer administrator to become more self-sufficient, even if it takes away from your "job security" and opportunities to bill more hours?

The Bottom Line

Don't fall into ultra-common trap of hiring an independent computer consultant or computer consulting firm that isn't a good fit for your business. Use these Computer Consulting 101 hiring and screening questions as basis for making a more informed hiring decision for your computer consulting vendor. And if you have any doubts, don't be afraid to seek out a second opinion with another computer consulting company.

About Author

Joshua Feinberg, co-founder of Computer Consulting 101, is a 15-year veteran of small business computer consulting and an internationally recognized expert on small business computer consulting. He has appeared in dozens of business and IT trade publications including CRN, VARBusiness, Microsoft Direct Access, TechRepublic, American Express OPEN Platinum Ventures, Entrepreneur, Inc, SCORE, Small Business Computing, and USA Today. To get immediate online access to Joshua’s proven sales and marketing strategies for growing your computer consulting company’s profits, sign up now for free one-hour computer consulting training recording at http://www.computer-consulting-101.com

Copyright MMI-MMV, Computer-Consulting-101.com, All Worldwide Rights Reserved. {Attention Publishers: Live hyperlink in author resource box required for copyright compliance}

Little known fact: first version of Microsoft Small Business Server, planned in 1996 and released in 1997, was code-named "SAM"... because Microsoft’s goal was for Small Business Server to completely bypass their reseller channel and be sold at "Sam’s Club" warehouse clubs.

So product team had mandate to make Small Business Server product SO simple that a non-technical small business end user could buy Small Business Server at warehouse club and have Small Business Server suite running in their office that same day.

Shortly after first-version shipped, Microsoft realized that most cost-effective way to reach small businesses with Small Business Server was through their reseller channel. And since then, Small Business Server resources have flowed toward channel.

However, even today, you can often find 5-user versions of Microsoft Small Business Server in retail stores.

So point: Microsoft isn’t putting all its Small Business Server "eggs" in one basket, so why should you?!? Which brings us back to points one and two: Small business owners aren’t actively shopping for a Small Business Server. So instead of "selling" Small Business Server per se, you’re much better off selling a small business on YOUR company, BEFORE you sell Microsoft Small Business Server.

The Bottom Line

In this article, we looked at three Small Business Server business tips that every computer consultant, systems integrator and value added reseller needs to be aware when selling Microsoft Small Business Server.

About Author

Joshua Feinberg is a 15-year veteran computer consultant and has appeared in CRN, VARBusiness, Microsoft Direct Access, TechRepublic, American Express OPEN, Entrepreneur, Inc, SCORE, Small Business Computing, and USA Today. To get Joshua’s proven Small Business Server consulting profit strategies, sign-up for free one-hour training seminar at http://www.SmallBusinessServerTips.com

Copyright MMI-MMV, SmallBusinessServerTips.com, All Worldwide Rights Reserved.