Over the 17 years that Port-to-Port Consulting has been providing small business computer support in Indianapolis, we've found that there are five approaches to IT support:

  1. Do without. You can call Dell or go online to CDW and purchase the pieces they recommend then spend your evenings setting it up and live with the result. You’ll get most of the way there if you spend enough time tweaking it.
  2. Take Advantage of Friends and Family. Every one of us knows someone who seems to be a tech wiz. You can get the cell phone numbers of the ones you know and rotate through calling them when you have problems. They feel close enough that they will take some time to talk you through your troubles, as long as you don’t hit up the same one too often.
  3. Use the “Three Quotes” Approach. Get the names of several IT support companies and call three or four of them each time you have an issue and ask them to provide quotes for helping out. It works for roofing and janitorial service.
  4. Hire your own Guy. Why depend on the kindness of your geek friends and family. You can have your very own technology genius for the cost of a decent salary and a nice computer. He’ll fit right in with the rest of your staff, and I’m sure he’ll strive diligently to understand how your business works.
  5. Commit to a Relationship. You wouldn’t do any of these other choices if we were talking about accounting, or legal work, or your next doctor – well you might ask a few doctor friends to look at the funny growth on your neck. Information Technology is one of the ten most important issues to the success of your business. Quit treating it like it doesn’t matter as much as who takes out your trash at night.
There are variations on these five approaches, but we've not found any other distinctly different approach. Of course, Port-to-Port advocates for option 5. Having a relationship with an IT support company will prove most beneficial in the long run.