FAQs
- What should the customer know about your pricing (e.g., discounts, fees)?
Competitive rates in my geographic area is $75/hr, my advertised rates are $125/hr, but a lot of issues today can be handled in less than an hour remotely, and often require follow up. We generally flat rate most of our services beginning at $50 and go up from there. If we have to go "on-site" we have to charge at least $300 to show up, but with that, we generally include follow up and support at no additional charge. We have a pledge of fairness to all of our clients. Having said that - we've saved "businesses" who have been long term clients who in their time of need didn't have the capacity to pay our usual and customary rates. We are not just about the money, we are about quality service and long term relationships and networking and being referal sources.
- What education and/or training do you have that relates to your work?
Yes, always testing and using the technology personally (laugh) - when I first started there was no "education" for what I was doing. My shift-key modification for my Apple II Plus came in mail order and I had to solder it in, along with my 80 Column board. I reprogrammed my College's mainframe's JCL because I readed the 10 foot of manuals for the system I was hired to operate. Today's technology requires the ability to track down the information you need when you need it. I've been doing that since before the Internet was made public. My clients need researched solutions - as well as immediate troubleshooting. I focus on fine tuning to the needs of my clients, their industry and unique needs. I've worked in telcom, corporate, federal goverment, law, dentistry, medical, travel, real estate - and good old fashioned start up businesses who have an idea they are going after. My oldest client is in her mid 70's Josh Nelson - completed his BS with ITT Tech with a focus on networks and security in 2013. He's done remote desktop support as a certified "expert" but he and I both had our hads "tied" in what we could do for our clients. The national support companies we worked with wanted us to send client into their stores for "upsells". I never sent anyone into their stores - because it wasn't necessary in all the clients I took care of (over 180 cases). We got to observe the "future" and we decided our clients simply deserved better.
- How did you get started doing this type of work?
I like solving problems and helping people. My first client was a friend who demanded to pay me after 4 other "professionals" were unable to help him. I enjoy people and sometimes the technology piece opens the door to me simply being a good friend to a fellow business owners, their staff, or just mom's and dad's who need to regain control of their technoloy!