managed IT services
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Starting a new business 101

Let’s for a moment assume you have the business idea (the kind of idea that comes along once in a lifetime). You’ve done your market research and chosen a business model. You’re ready for the going-solo responsibility and you’ve transcended the existential fear. Essentially, you’ve just about got all your ducks in a row to become an SMB owner. But what now? What tasks need to be ticked off to ensure not only that your business is a success, but also that it will be ready to run smoothly from the get-go?

 

Note: It’s important to clarify that there is no one-size-fits-all model for starting a new business, but the following steps will help to organise your ideas and iron out important details.

1. Write your business plan

There are 1000s of books and websites that will help you construct a business plan, but know that this is not a step you want to miss. A strong business plan sets out what you want to achieve and how you’re going to achieve it. Your business plan should address the problem(s) your business solves, your target audience(s), SWOT analysis and a financial plan. In writing your business plan, you should also choose your business structure – whether you’re planning on being a sole trader, a company, a partnership etc.

2. Choose a business name and register your business

Your business name is important! If you choose well, your business name will quickly identify who you are, what you do, and the image that you’re communicating, as well as help your customers find you online. The very best names are descriptive, different, short and snappy – not necessarily an easy recipe – but worth taking the time over.

 

Once you’ve chosen your name, you’ll need to register it (unless your business name is the same as your own name). You’ll also need to apply for an ABN. Depending on the nature of your business, you may also need to attend to tax registration, look into any licences or permits (such as a restaurant or café licence, for instance, or a licence to discharge trade waste) and possibly protect your business name with a trade mark.

3. Prepare your business finances

This will include setting up a business bank account, applying for financing or grants, and securing investors (if necessary). It will also involve learning how to organise your finances – managing your cash flow, your budget, your payments and invoices. It may help to secure the services of a bookkeeper or to invest in an accounting software package.

4. Purchase your business hardware and software

This is (what we consider!) the fun part. Whether you’re starting small, or hitting the ground huge, you’re going to need some tech. Purchasing the right equipment for your needs now – and with an eye toward future growth – is imperative. From desktops, printers and landline phones for the office, to laptops, tablets and mobiles for out-and-about business, you’ll want your tech investments to work smart for your company.

 

Other IT options to consider when starting a business include how you’ll access the internet, networking capabilities, cloud storage and cybersecurity solutions. Geelong Technology Group can help you with these – we even offer managed IT services!

5. Sort out your business admin

Starting a business is no small feat, and just as it takes a village to raise a child, so too it can take some outsourcing to raise and support a successful SMB. Beyond items that you’ll need to organise – such as business insurance – some business administration items that you can consider sending out-of-house (but still tethered firmly as part of your ‘team’) include managed IT services, accounting, and digital marketing and promotion.

Contact Geelong Technology Group for all your new business IT needs

As Geelong’s best business IT support company, we’re here to help seed and grow your business! We can advise you on the best tech to suit your requirements. We can build the best IT network solution for your situation. And we can provide ongoing support in the form of managed IT services and cybersecurity monitoring. 

 

Servicing Geelong, the Bellarine Peninsula, the Surf Coast and surrounding regions, GTG are your business IT specialists: contact our experienced team on ☎ 1300 GET GTG (1300 438 484) or email support@geelongtechnology.com.au and let’s get working together!

Business IT Support
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The Lowdown on Budgeting for Your Business IT Support

Budgeting: there’s a word few people love the sound of! But for small and medium businesses, budgeting for your IT support is a crucial step to getting the right support at the right price to meet your unique business requirements. Customisation is key!

Why should I budget for IT support?

It’s easy to fall into the mindset that business technology is a necessary evil – a set of items and services that you need to ‘shell out for’. At Geelong Technology Group we urge you to turn that thinking on its head. Technology is an investment in the operation of your business; supporting your company’s goals, helping to exceed your customers’ expectations and enhancing your ability to respond to changing business environments. Spending wisely on tech and IT support is prudent finance.

What should my IT support budget include?

IT is an integral part of nearly all businesses, and beyond the hardware required for your business (computers, laptops, tablets and mobile phones, for example), IT support may extend to VoiP communication systems (link here to Oct Blog #2), network servers, cloud storage, cyber security, data back-up, software and more. It’s a long list, and not all of it may be relevant to your situation, so first steps in the budgeting process involve assessing what you do and do not need.

What level of support do I need?

If your business doesn’t already have an IT strategy, using the budgeting period to craft one is an easy way to conquer two tasks with one planning session. Look closely at all aspects of your business and nut out what support you need and how that will allow your business to grow and thrive (and survive any knock-backs). Many businesses think they can take a less-is-more approach to IT support and still operate effectively. Unfortunately, this is often not the case, and may set up SMBs for problems down the track when their IT infrastructure falters or fails at a crucial juncture.

It’s a good idea to approach your IT support in the form of a health appraisal; think about keeping your business in tip-top shape with a proactive day-to-day plan, while also anticipating possible expenses for unexpected issues or changes that may arise. Evaluating your needs will allow you to firm up your IT requirements for both your current situation and for future scalability – giving your chosen managed services provider (MSP) the clearest information to recommend and price an IT support strategy.

How much should my IT support cost?

Unfortunately (and fortunately!) there is no ‘one size fits all’ model when it comes to IT support expenses. Pricing will be dependent on your business activities, size, set-up and the amount of support required, with recent research indicating that IT budgets as a percentage of revenue range from around 2% up to 8%, with the average, depending on business type, around 3% to 4%.

The good news for smaller businesses is that outsourced IT support is often a lot cheaper than employing staff onsite – and it can deliver a wide range of technical expertise. Managed IT services through an MSP can also be tailored to your needs at any given time, allowing for scalability up or down should circumstances require.

Speak to Geelong’s remote support specialists

Truly the only hard and fast rule about tech support budgeting is that there is no hard and fast rule – it comes down to what your business needs. So just to reiterate – customisation is key.

At Geelong Technology Group we work with numerous businesses of different sizes and across different sectors, tailoring their IT support to meet their unique requirements. If you’re seeking transformational results that consistently make better use of your IT budget, take a moment to get in contact with Geelong’s IT professionals today. 1300 GET GTG (1300 438 484)

Managed Services Provider
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Managed IT Support: Switching Your Business IT to an MSP (Managed Services Provider)

Business downtime due to IT issues has got to be one of the most frustrating issues a company can face. And there are enough frustrating issues to face in this 2021 world without adding to them! Outsourcing to a managed IT services provider is a delegation that will not only offer a PROACTIVE approach to the management of your technology infrastructure but will also free up you and your team to get back to day-to-day business.

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