To avoid hiring a computer consulting firm that is not right for your business, ask these important questions provided by Computer Consulting 101 when interviewing prospects.
1. Does your company resell hardware, software and other tech products?
2. Is your company a profit center, or can we shop for products elsewhere and still use your needs analysis and other services?
3. Do you work with specific ISPs or telephone companies and accept commissions or referral fees for bringing business towards those vendors?
4. What are your payment terms, rates and hourly minimums, and what do you consider billable and not billable?
5. Do you charge for extra items such as travel time, telephone support, e-mail/online support or others?
6. Do you have hourly rate billing for after-hours or emergency services? What do you consider to fall into these service categories?
7. Tell me about one of your long-term small business clients.
8. Tell me about a more recently signed-on client.
9. Do you have a small business client that didn’t work out, and why did it not work?
10. How do you keep abreast of technological developments?
11. What do you absorb internally in terms of billing and for what do you bill clients initially?
12. What are your thoughts about hand-holding and user training?
13. What kind of technical training do you offer?
14. Are you willing to train internal computer administrators to help them become more self-sufficient, even if it takes away from normal job security and additional billing opportunities?
Blogged By: Computer Consulting 101 Professional Kit
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