IT Consultancy Start-Up

[xSunshinne]

Hi everyone!

I've been looking at starting an IT Consultancy for the 8 month now, and would your opinions/ideas on a few things. The council is offering anyone up to the age of 24 a £2000 grant to start up a business, majority of people I've mentioned this to say it would be daft to miss out.

So my idea is to offer a range of IT services to both households and business clients for a competitive fee. (by this i mean both business customers and any old individual would be able to access and make use of some of our services) Now this is where my first question lies, is it better to offer a wide range of services, or specialise in one certain area? In my opinion, offering the wider range seems like a better options so i can target clients with multiple services or attract clients based on the wider range of services. I was advised by a businessman that specialising is the way to go, what are your opinions on this?

Secondly, what's the best way to generate clients for such business? is the web and social media my best friend here or are more traditional ways likely to generate leads also?

And possibly the most important question, am I too late for this market? Theres not a competitor in my local area offering the same amount of services to both households and businesses, most of the consultancy in my local area are very "large business" focused. Other than these IT consultancies, customers have to source different people/businesses for different services e.g. website design, CCTV installation etc. It seemed like approaching the market from the angle of offering multiple services to anyone who needs them was a good idea, but i keep thinking of the negatives rather than the positives which is de-motivating me from getting started!

I've also looked into new things such as BYOD (bring your own device) but there does not seem to be a strong enough market for this type of service yet!

Thanks guys, any suggestions are much
appreciated

 

[mixtureofmarket]

Hello there! I am glad you want to startup an IT business. As for your questions, here are my opinions:
1. Both choices are good. But first of all you must evaluate yourself. What field in IT do you excel? What field in IT you do worst? Take for ex: Web development and SEO. If you are good in both, you can certainly offer both services in your business, and the better. If not, you can start offering in the field which you are specialized. Or you can also offer both if you managed to have some partner who also specialized in the field which you didn't excel.
2. There are many ways to generate clients. You must build your own website where you can display your works, show your expertise and where customers can reach you. Social media is also good since it is much easier to gain exposure. You can also do website SEO and PPC to rank your website. If you are knowledgeable in SEO, the better. You can hit two birds in one stone; developing your own website and ranking it.
3. Lastly, you are NEVER LATE in this business. Studies shows that IT consulting business has a 15% expected growth by 2017 and a $379 billion projected industry revenue by 2017. IT consulting is also one of the best industries in startup business. Especially now that you said you don't have a direct competitor in this business in your area.

I still have much ideas I want to share but for now, I hope these answers will help you.

 

[Paul_Rosser]

Hi everyone!

Hello!!!

I've been looking at starting an IT Consultancy for the 8 month now, and would your opinions/ideas on a few things. The council is offering anyone up to the age of 24 a £2000 grant to start up a business, majority of people I've mentioned this to say it would be daft to miss out.

So my idea is to offer a range of IT services to both households and business clients for a competitive fee. (by this i mean both business customers and any old individual would be able to access and make use of some of our services) Now this is where my first question lies, is it better to offer a wide range of services, or specialise in one certain area? In my opinion, offering the wider range seems like a better options so i can target clients with multiple services or attract clients based on the wider range of services. I was advised by a businessman that specialising is the way to go, what are your opinions on this?

It really depends on who you are looking to target your service at, if it's home users and small businesses then the offering should cover what most of them use which is generally Windows based machines, Windows Server and cloud services like Office 365.

As some companies like to use Macs then understanding how these work is a bonus, along with Android, Ipads and Blackberries as you will come across a few.

Specialising can work, but can also limit your market to those clients with the technology you specialise in. So it's important to work out what kind of clients you want and then decide which route to take.

What is your technical background? Do you have any qualifications in IT?

Secondly, what's the best way to generate clients for such business? is the web and social media my best friend here or are more traditional ways likely to generate leads also?

The best way to generate leads is from recommendations of existing customers, but to start with every IT consultancy out there tried to use web and social media to gain customers. So do things a bit differently by going to networking events as you will pickup some customers from them. Check out the existing member list of such events first and try to find one which doesn't already have any IT folk attending.

And possibly the most important question, am I too late for this market? Theres not a competitor in my local area offering the same amount of services to both households and businesses, most of the consultancy in my local area are very "large business" focused. Other than these IT consultancies, customers have to source different people/businesses for different services e.g. website design, CCTV installation etc. It seemed like approaching the market from the angle of offering multiple services to anyone who needs them was a good idea, but i keep thinking of the negatives rather than the positives which is de-motivating me from getting started!

Whilst the market is pretty saturated in some areas, it's not impossible provided you offer a consistent service to your customers then they will use you.

Ignore the negatives, most people have them but if you never try you will never know what might have been.

Multiple services can be a bad idea as you dilute your core offering, you need to focus on what you enjoy doing and what your customers need.

If what you enjoy doing no one will pay you for, then you have a hobby. If you can find something you enjoy doing and which people will pay you for then you have a brilliant business.

If you want to be successful the most important thing is to work out what you can offer your potential customers that no one else is and then make it very clear in your marketing.

I've also looked into new things such as BYOD (bring your own device) but there does not seem to be a strong enough market for this type of service yet!

Thanks guys, any suggestions are much
appreciated

BYOD is getting there and has only really been adopted by the bigger firms who have all their services available via thin client technology. The idea being that it can cut down on staff costs if there is no hardware for the company to maintain.

Although if implemented badly the issues with security can be really bad, so if you intend to recommend it then you need to really understand what the issues can be.

 

[Philip Hoyle]

It's a nice idea to specialise from day 1, but you need to be sure that the market exists for it and that you really are a specialist in that area. I'd say that most "specialists" (based on my personal experience) start their own business on the back of their previous job, i.e. where they've worked for a larger firm in that specialism, and so have the experience and often bring clients with them. It's very difficult and risky to start as a "specialist" if you have no clients to start with and aren't sure of the market.

Easier to start as a "generalist" as you're more likely to pick up random new work, but you have to accept lower profit and and more hassle. The key is then to start specialising as you come to know your market and your customers, i.e. you learn what "specialisms" people need as you work with them and can then redirect your business, its marketing etc., away from the hassle/low profit work towards the specialist high profit work - but that takes time.

As to what to specialise in, or services to offer, why not spend a bit of time looking through the IT problem forums on this and lots of other websites - find out what "how to's" people are asking - if a lot of people are asking the same questions, then that may be a market for you. For example, I see a lot of people asking how to set up a small/home server to share photos etc, not just in the house, but between friends and family - could you offer a "family server" set up service?

 

[xSunshinne]

Thank you for taking the time out to respond to me with all your ideas and suggestions!

You've all given me a boost to get my business started and have made me think about some areas i'd not previously!

mixtureofmarket - I do have a couple of friends/contacts who I could potentially off load work onto who know certain areas better than myself. I've started building my website and i know what i'm doing when building them, but i could brush up on some SEO, you know of any good sources? & I didn't realise the figures for growth were that big, thanks for letting me know!

Paul_Rosser - you've made some really good points, thank you!
I don't have any official qualifications, but have been looking into courses such as the Cisco certifications, do you have any recommendations on which course/s to take?
But everything i know is self taught using youtube and trial and error.
I do know some areas of mac and have a good knowledge of Android & iOS so should i face such devices my knowledge would be adequate.
I'll have a good look around for some networking events, I went to one a couple of months ago but it wasn't what i was expecting, but i always hear good things about them!

Would you suggest offering a couple of service as my core offerings and then tell clients that i can also do A, B and C for them once i've got to know them?

Phillip Hoyle - again thanks for your time! I never knew there was an IT problems section to this site, i'll have a snoop around. I understand what your saying, i agree starting as a generalist is probably the way to go for me and then i can always re-evaluate down the line. I'm not in it to make millions, although it would be nice...I'm just wanting to earn some extra money while i complete my A Levels and hopefully continuing to develop and work on the idea will turn the business into something i can work in full time or even potentially sell.

I'd never thought of the "family server" option, and that is something i could easily do and have done in my own house! I think the key thing for me is to think outside the box a little more!

Once again thank you for your support guys, hopefully we can keep in touch and you'll be a part of my progress. If i can help you with anything, just let me know!

 

[mixtureofmarket]

Thank you for taking the time out to respond to me with all your ideas and suggestions! You've all given me a boost to get my business started and have made me think about some areas i'd not previously!

mixtureofmarket - I do have a couple of friends/contacts who I could potentially off load work onto who know certain areas better than myself. I've started building my website and i know what i'm doing when building them, but i could brush up on some SEO, you know of any good sources? & I didn't realise the figures for growth were that big, thanks for letting me know!

I'm glad that we've boost your confidence to get in your business. By you mean brush up on SEO, did you mean tips and sources on SEO? or you mean to outsource SEO? By the way I am glad that you've got a couple of friends/contacts who can help you in your business venture, it will really be a great help, you could offer more services to your clients. As for CISCO certifications, I think you could take them online at CISCO website.

 

[Lucie@MightyOak]

Social media is great for advertising your services fairly cheaply to both B2B and B2C clients.

Leaflet drop to local companies (personally) could also help.

Networking to introduce yourself to potential clients is another route to go down.

Advertising in the local magazine (you know the "What's On" mags that drop through your door)

Putting leaflets up in local shops is an old, cost effective and trusted method of advertising and asking your local take is away if you can leave some leaflets or business cards on the front counter.

Remember with the services that you are offering though there may not be immediate requirements - they will only call upon you when something goes wrong so don't be put off by the initial lack of telephone calls and have a back up plan for a solid income.

Good luck!

 

[yottacom]

Hi everyone!

Thanks guys, any suggestions are much
appreciated

A couple months ago, when i was looking for UK communities to attend in order to improve my "brand awareness" i stumble on this....
leadgeneration/community called http://www.spiceworks.com/

it's seems a service very interesting for ITs, but i'm a SEO so it's not useful to me
let me know if it helps!