Jose Roberto Causing

G N I S U A C B S O E R L P M A S K R WO G N I S U A C B S O E R L P M A S K R O W G N I S U A C B S E RO L P M A S K R WO G N I S U A C S E ROB L P M A S K R WO The Accountants Guide To IT Support Services And Fees G N I S U A C B S O E R L P M A S K R O W G N I S U A C B S O E R L P M A S K R O W G N I S U A C B S E RO L P M A S K R WO G N I S U A C S E ROB L P M A S K R WO What you should expect to pay for IT support for your firm (and how to get exactly what you need without unnecessary extras, hidden fees and bloated contracts). Read this guide and you’ll discover:  The 3 most common ways IT services companies charge for their services, and the pros and cons of each approach.  A common billing model that puts ALL THE RISK on you, the customer, when buying IT services; you’ll learn what it is and why you need to avoid agreeing to it.  Exclusions, hidden fees and other “gotcha” clauses IT companies put in their contracts that you DON’T want to agree to. See what they are and how to avoid them.  How to make sure you know exactly what you’re getting to avoid disappointment, frustration and added costs later on that you didn’t anticipate.  18 revealing questions to ask your IT support firm BEFORE giving them access to your computer network, e-mail and data… and before handing over your hard-earned money. Provided as an educational service by: Iain Enticott Director & Technology Strategist for the modern Accounting firm Technology For Accountants Pty Ltd Suite 7 205a Middleborough Road Box Hill South, Victoria 3130 Phone:- W: TechnologyForAccountants.com.au G N I S U A C B S O E R L P M A S K R O W G N I S U A C B S O E R L P M A S K R O W G N I S U A C B S E RO L P M A S K R WO G N I S U A C S E ROB L P M A S K R WO Table Of Contents The predominant IT service models explained.............................................. 3 Managed IT services vs. Break-Fix............................................................... 4 Should you just hire a full-time IT manager?................................................ 5 What to look for in a managed IT services agreement.................................. 6 18 Service clarification questions you should ask......................................... 8 Free technology discussion with Iain.......................................................... 12 G N I S U A C B S O E R L P M A S K R O W G N I S U A C B S O E R L P M A S K R O W G N I S U A C B S E RO L P M A S K R WO G N I S U A C S E ROB L P M A S K R WO Who is Iain Enticott? Iain Enticott is the founder and director of Technology For Accountants – Australia’s only IT provider focusing solely on the technology needs of the accounting profession. Iain’s background within the IT and accounting industry spans more than 20 years, including roles with Ceedata/Xlon and Solution 6 as a Systems Engineer before identifying a need for specialized IT support to the accounting profession. He has worked with firms of all sizes over this time to remove the headaches and “geek” speak around planning, implementing and maintaining their technology needs. He firmly believes that accounting firms should not have to waste valuable time and resources on technical and operational issues regarding their IT; rather they should be able to focus on their core business. Iain is also a regular presenter at the annual ATSA (Accountants’ Technology Showcase Australia) conference and has also presented at the CPA Public Practice Conferences in Melbourne, Sydney and Perth. Never ask an IT services company, “What do you charge for your services?” Instead you should ask, “What will I get for my money?” G N I S U A C B S O E R L P M A S K R O W G N I S U A C B S O E R L P M A S K R O W G N I S U A C B S E RO L P M A S K R WO Iain Enticott ING S U A C S E ROB L P M A S K R WO From the desk of: Iain Enticott Director, Technology For Accountants Pty Ltd. “What will I get for my money?” Dear Colleague, If you’re in charge of IT for your firm and you’re currently looking to outsource some or all of the IT support for your firm, this report contains important information that will be extremely valuable to you as you search for a competent firm you can trust. My name is Iain Enticott and I’m the director and technology strategist here at Technology For Accountants. We’ve been providing IT services to Accounting firms around Australia for 20 years now. You may not have heard of us before, but we may be looking after one your colleagues (or competitors) who are clients of ours. A few of their comments are enclosed. One of the most commons questions we get from new prospective clients calling our office is, “What do you guys charge for your services?” Since this is such a common question — and a very important one to address — I decided to write this report for 3 reasons: I wanted an easy way to answer this question and educate all prospective clients who come to us on the most common ways IT services companies’ package and price their services, and the pros and cons of each approach. 2 The Accountants Guide To IT Support Services & Fees I wanted to bring to light a few “industry secrets” about IT service contracts and SLAs (service level agreements) that almost no accounting practice thinks about, understands or knows to ask about when evaluating IT service providers. This can end up burning you with hidden fees and locking you into a long-term contract when they are unwilling or unable to deliver the quality of service you need. I wanted to educate firms on how to pick the right IT services company for their specific situation, budget and needs based on the VALUE the company can deliver, not just the price, high OR low. In the end, my purpose is to help you make the most informed decision possible so you end up working with someone who helps you solve your problems and accomplish what you want in a time frame, manner and budget that is right for you. Dedicated to serving you, Iain Enticott Director, Technology for Accountants Pty Ltd. © 2018 Technology For Accountants ALL RIGHTS RESERVED Comparing apples to apples: The predominant IT service models explained and PCs that connect to your server(s), but also offers phone and on-site support, antivirus, security, backup and a host of other services to monitor and maintain the health, speed, performance and security of your computer network. Before you can accurately compare the fees, services and deliverables of one IT services company to another, you need to understand the 3 predominant service models most of these companies fit within. Some companies offer a blend of all 3, while others are strict about offering only one service plan. The 3 predominant service models are: 3. Software Vendor-Supplied IT Services Many software companies will offer IT support for their customers in the form of a help desk or remote support for an additional fee. However, these are typically scaled-back services, limited to troubleshooting their specific application and NOT your entire computer network and all the applications and devices connected to it. If your problem resides outside of their specific software or the server it’s hosted on, they can’t help you and will often refer you to “your IT department.” While it’s often a good idea to buy some basic-level support package with a critical software application you use to run your business, this is not enough to provide the full IT services and support most businesses need to stay up and running. G N I S U A C B S O E R L P M A S K R O W G N I S U A C B S O E R L P M A S K R O W G N I S U A C B S E RO L P M A S K R WO G N I S U A C S E ROB L P M A S K R WO 1. Time and Materials In the industry, we call this “Break-Fix” services. Essentially you pay an agreed-upon hourly rate for a technician to “fix” your problem when something “breaks.” Under this model, you might be able to negotiate a discount based on buying a block of hours. The scope of work may be simply to resolve a specific problem (like removing a virus), or it may encompass a large project like a computer network upgrade or move that has a specific result and end date clarified. Some companies will offer staff augmentation and placement under this model as well. When looking to outsource your IT support, the two service models you are most likely to end up having to choose between are the “managed IT services” and “Break-Fix” models. Therefore, let’s dive into the pros and cons of these two options, and then the typical fee structure for both. 2. Managed IT Services This is a model where the IT services company takes the role of your “IT department” and not only installs and supports all the devices © 2018 Technology For Accountants ALL RIGHTS RESERVED The Accountants Guide To IT Support Services & Fees 3 Managed IT services vs. Break-Fix: Which is the better, more costeffective option? Why regular monitoring and maintenance is critical for today’s computer networks You’ve probably heard the famous Benjamin Franklin quote, “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.” I couldn’t agree more — and that’s why it’s my sincere belief that the managed IT approach is, by far, the most cost-effective, smartest option for all accounting firms. The fact of the matter is computer networks absolutely, positively need ongoing maintenance and monitoring to stay secure. The ever-increasing dependency we have on IT systems and the data they hold — not to mention the type of data we’re now saving digitally — has given rise to very smart and sophisticated cybercrime organizations and who work around the clock to do one thing: compromise your networks for illegal activities. G N I S U A C B S O E R L P M A S K R O W G N I S U A C B S O E R L P M A S K R O W G N I S U A C B S E RO L P M A S K R WO G N I S U A C S E ROB L P M A S K R WO The only time I would recommend a “time and materials” approach is when you already have a competent IT person or team proactively managing your computer network and simply have a specific IT project to complete that your current in-house IT team doesn’t have the time or expertise to implement (such as a network upgrade, installing a backup solution, etc.). Outside of that specific scenario, I do not think the Break-Fix approach is a good idea for general IT support for one very important, fundamental reason: you’ll ultimately end up paying for a pound of “cure” for problems that could have easily been avoided with an “ounce” of prevention. 4 The Accountants Guide To IT Support Services & Fees In most cases their intent is to access financial information and passwords to rob you (or your clients), create fake identities for credit card fraud, etc. In other cases they may want to use your computer network to send illegal spam, host pirated software, spread viruses, etc. And some do it just for the “fun” of being able to make computer systems inoperable. These criminals work around the clock in teams, constantly finding and inventing new ways to get around your antivirus software and firewalls; that’s why you have to remain ever vigilant against their attacks. © 2018 Technology For Accountants ALL RIGHTS RESERVED Of course, this doesn’t even take into consideration other common “disasters” such as rogue employees, lost devices, hardware failures (which are the #1 reason for data loss), fire and natural disasters and a host of other issues that can interrupt or outright destroy your IT infrastructure and the data it holds. Then there’s regulatory compliance for any business hosting or touching credit card or financial information, medical records and even client contact information such as e-mail addresses. Under a “Break-Fix” model, there’s a fundamental conflict of interests between you and your IT firm. The IT services company has no incentive to stabilize your computer network or to resolve problems quickly because they’re getting paid by the hour; therefore, the risk of unforeseen circumstances, scope creep, learning curve inefficiencies and outright incompetence are all shifted to YOU, the customer. Essentially, the more problems you have, the more they profit, which is precisely what you DON’T want. G N I S U A C B S O E R L P M A S K R O W G N I S U A C B S O E R L P M A S K R O W G N I S U A C B S E RO L P M A S K R WO G N I S U A C S E ROB L P M A S K R WO Preventing these problems and keeping your systems up and running (which is what managed IT services is all about) is a LOT less expensive and damaging to your practice than waiting until one of these things happens and then paying for emergency IT services to restore your systems to working order (Break-Fix). Should you just hire a full-time IT manager? In most cases, it is not cost-effective for companies with under 70 employees to hire a full-time IT person, because you can outsource this function of your business far cheaper and with a lot less work; but you DO want to hire a professional to perform basic maintenance just as you would hire an solicitor to handle your legal matters. And if you truly understand the cost of your TIME and factor in employee productivity, the managed IT services model is considerably less expensive over time than the “Break-Fix” model. Why “Break-Fix” works entirely in the consultant’s favour, not yours © 2018 Technology For Accountants ALL RIGHTS RESERVED Under this model, the IT consultant can take the liberty of assigning a junior (lowerpaid) technician to work on your problem who may take two to three times as long to resolve an issue that a more senior (and more expensive) technician may have resolved in a fraction of the time. There is no incentive to properly manage the time of that technician or their efficiency, and there is every reason for them to prolong the project and to find MORE problems than solutions. Of course, if they’re ethical and want to keep you as a client, they should be doing everything possible to resolve your problems quickly and efficiently; however, that’s akin to putting a German shepherd in charge of watching over the ham sandwiches. Not a good idea! Second, it creates a management problem for you, the customer, who now has to keep track of the hours they’ve worked to make sure you aren’t getting overbilled; and since you often have no way of really knowing if they’ve worked the hours they say they have, it creates a situation where you really, truly need to be able to trust they are being 100% ethical and honest AND tracking THEIR hours properly (not all do). And finally, it makes budgeting for IT projects and expenses a nightmare because there may be zero expenses one month and thousands of dollars the next. The Accountants Guide To IT Support Services & Fees 5 What to look for in a managed IT services agreement and what you should expect to pay a long way in avoiding miscommunications and additional fees later on to give you what you REALLY wanted. G N I S U A C B S O E R L P M A S K R O W G N I S U A C B S O E R L P M A S K R O W G N I S U A C B S E RO L P M A S K R WO G N I S U A C S E ROB L P M A S K R WO Important! Please note that the following price quotes are industry averages based on a recent IT industry survey conducted of over 750 different IT services firms. We are providing this information to give you a general idea of what most IT services firms charge and to help you understand the VAST DIFFERENCES in service contracts that you must be aware of before signing on the dotted line. Please understand that this does NOT reflect our pricing model or approach, which is simply to understand exactly what you want to accomplish FIRST and then customize a solution based on your specific needs, budget and situation. Hourly Break-Fix fees Most IT services companies selling Break-Fix services charge between $100 and $250 per hour with a one-hour minimum. In most cases, they will give you a discount of 5% to as much as 20% on their hourly rates if you purchase and pay for a block of hours in advance. If they are quoting a project, the fees range widely based on the scope of work outlined. If you are hiring an IT consulting firm for a project, I would suggest you demand the following: • A very detailed scope of work that specifies what “success” is. Make sure you detail what your expectations are in performance, work flow, costs, security, access, etc. The more detailed you can be, the better. Detailing your expectations up front will go 6 The Accountants Guide To IT Support Services & Fees • A fixed budget and time frame for completion. Agreeing to this up front aligns both your agenda and the consultant’s. Be very wary of loose estimates that allow the consulting firm to bill you for “unforeseen” circumstances. The bottom line is this: it is your IT consulting firm’s responsibility to be able to accurately assess your situation and quote a project based on their experience. You should not have to pick up the tab for a consultant underestimating a job or for their inefficiencies. A true professional knows how to take into consideration those contingencies and bill accordingly. • Make sure they’re experienced with your accounting applications (e.g. MYOB, Handisoft, BGL, APS, Reckon, etc.). This doesn’t mean they are relying on the software vendor to migrate your accounting software (e.g. TAX or practice management software) to your new server(s) as most software vendors charge for as it is not covered by support. Managed IT services Most managed IT services firms will quote you a MONTHLY fee based on the number of devices they need to maintain, back up and support. That fee is somewhere in the range of $100 to $500 per server, $15 to $100 per desktop and approximately $5 to $10 per smartphone or mobile device. If you hire an IT consultant and sign up for a managed IT services contract, here are some things that SHOULD be included (make sure you read your contract to validate this): • All software updates for your accounting software programs • Year-end Tax updates and rollovers if required • Regular reviews and IT strategy planning that is tailored to your firm © 2018 Technology For Accountants ALL RIGHTS RESERVED • Security patches applied weekly, if not daily, for urgent and emerging threats • Antivirus updates and monitoring • Firewall updates and monitoring • Backup monitoring and test restores • Spam-filter installation and updates • Spyware detection and removal • Monitoring disk space on workstations and servers • Monitoring hardware for signs of failure • Optimizing systems for maximum speed • Onsite support as required • FREE installation of new laptops and PC’s • Disaster recovery planning and testing • Recovery from virus infections • Recover from server failure (disaster recovery work) • Network upgrades G N I S U A C B S O E R L P M A S K R O W G N I S U A C B S O E R L P M A S K R O W G N I S U A C B S E RO L P M A S K R WO G N I S U A C S E ROB L P M A S K R WO Now as an accounting firm I strongly recommend you don’t sign up for any managed service agreement where you pay per device. An accounting firm consists of people and some members of your team use many devices, plus you have laptops or PC’s in meeting and interview rooms as well (that don’t get used all the time). Make sure any managed services agreement covers you based on the number of employees you have (this can be Full Time Equivalent or actual users) and it includes all devices that everybody uses; such as laptops, PC’s and smart phones, the server(s) and your PC’s at home (for key team members as well). Warning! Grey areas of “all-inclusive” service contracts. In order to truly compare the “cost” of one managed IT services contract to another, you need to make sure you fully understand what IS and ISN’T included AND the “SLA” or “service level agreement” you are signing up for. It’s VERY easy for one IT services provider to appear far less expensive than another UNTIL you look closely at what you are getting. The following are 18 questions to ask your IT services provider that The following services may NOT be included and will often be billed separately. This is not necessarily a “scam” or unethical UNLESS the managed IT services company tries to hide these fees when selling you a service agreement. Make sure you review your contract carefully to know what is and is NOT included! will clarify what you’re getting for • New hardware, such as new servers, PCs, laptops, etc. • Software licenses and renewals • Office relocations • On-site support • After Hours support • Travel to your office(s) • Training/How to questions understand each of these items before © 2018 Technology For Accountants ALL RIGHTS RESERVED your money. Some of these items may not be that important to you, while others (like response time, adequate insurance and uptime guarantees) may be critical. Make sure you fully making a decision about who the right provider is for you; then make sure you get this IN WRITING. The Accountants Guide To IT Support Services & Fees 7 18 Service clarification questions you should ask your IT services firm before signing a contract Q3: Do they consistently (and proactively) offer new ways to improve your network’s performance, or do they wait until you have a problem to make recommendations? G N I S U A C B S O E R L P M A S K R O W G N I S U A C B S O E R L P M A S K R O W G N I S U A C B S E RO L P M A S K R WO G N I S U A C S E ROB L P M A S K R WO Customer Service Q1: Do they answer their phones live or do you always have to leave a voicemail and wait for someone to call you back? Our Answer: We answer our phones live from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. Monday to Friday, excluding Victorian public holidays. We also give all clients an emergency afterhours number they may call if a problem arises, even on weekends. Why? Because many of the firms we support work outside normal hours and find it the most productive time they have. If they cannot access their computer network AND can’t get hold of anyone to help them, it’s incredibly frustrating. Q2: Do they take the time to explain what they are doing and answer your questions in terms that you can understand (not geek-speak), or do they come across as arrogant and make you feel stupid for asking simple questions? Our Answer: Our technicians are trained to have the “heart of a teacher” and will take time to answer your questions and explain everything in simple terms. Just look at what this one client had to say: “Not only did they get the problem solved but they also gave me a better understanding of how our data was being backed up. To be in a position where we lost no staff downtime at this time of year was great for us.” - Darren Smith, DJ Smith Group 8 The Accountants Guide To IT Support Services & Fees Our Answer: We conduct quarterly review meetings with our clients to look for new ways to help improve their operations, lower costs, increase efficiencies and resolve any problems that may be arising. Our goal with these meetings is to help our clients be more profitable, efficient and competitive. Q4: Do they provide detailed invoices that clearly explain what you are paying for? Our Answer: We provide detailed invoices that show what work was done, why and when, so you never have to guess what you are paying for. We also double-check our invoices for accuracy before they are sent to you. Q5: Do they have adequate insurance to protect YOU? Our Answer: Here’s something to consider: if THEY cause a problem with your network that causes you to be down for hours or days or to lose data, who’s responsible? True Story: A few years ago Geek Squad in the USA was slapped with multimillion-dollar lawsuits from customers for bad behaviour by their technicians. In some cases, their techs where accessing, copying and distributing personal information they gained access to on customers’ PCs and laptops brought in for repairs. In other cases, they lost a client’s laptop (and subsequently all the data on it) and tried to cover it up. Bottom line: make sure the company you are hiring has proper insurance to protect YOU. (We do!) Q6: Do they guarantee to complete projects on time and on budget? © 2018 Technology For Accountants ALL RIGHTS RESERVED Our Answer: All of our projects are fixedpriced and guaranteed to be completed on time, in writing. This is important because many unethical or incompetent computer guys will only quote “time and materials,” which gives them free rein to charge more for the project for things they forget to quote you up front. And they can take as much time as they want completing a project. material and make sure certain key people from your organization have this information and know how to use it, giving you complete control over your network. G N I S U A C B S O E R L P M A S K R O W G N I S U A C B S O E R L P M A S K R O W G N I S U A C B S E RO L P M A S K R WO G N I S U A C S E ROB L P M A S K R WO Maintenance Of Your Network Q7: Do they insist on remotely monitoring your network 24/7/365 to keep critical security settings, virus definitions and security patches up-to-date and PREVENT problems from turning into downtime, viruses, lost data and other issues? Our Answer: Yes; our remote network monitoring system watches over your network to constantly look for developing problems, security issues and other problems so we can address them BEFORE they turn into bigger problems. Q8: Do they provide you with a weekly report that shows all the updates, security patches, and status of every machine on your network so you know for SURE your systems have been secured and updated? Our Answer: Every week our clients get a detailed report that shows an overall health score of their network and the updates to their antivirus, security settings, patches and other important network checks (like hard-drive space, backups, speed and performance, etc.). Q9: Is it standard procedure for them to provide you with written network documentation detailing what software licenses you own, critical passwords, user information, hardware inventory, etc., or are they the only person with the “keys to the kingdom”? Our Answer: All clients receive this in written and electronic form at no additional cost. We also perform a quarterly update on this © 2018 Technology For Accountants ALL RIGHTS RESERVED Side Note: You should NEVER allow an IT person to have that much control over you and your company. If you get the sneaking suspicion that your current IT person is keeping this under their control as a means of job security, get rid of them (and we can help to make sure you don’t suffer ANY ill effects). This is downright unethical and dangerous to your firm, so don’t tolerate it! Q10: Do they have other technicians on staff who are familiar with your network in case your regular technician goes on vacation or gets sick? Our Answer: Yes; and since we keep detailed network documentation (basically a blueprint of your computer network) and updates on every client’s account, any of our technicians can pick up where another one has left off. Q11: When they offer an “all-inclusive” support plan, is it TRULY all-inclusive, or are their “gotchas” hidden in the fine print? Our Answer: Our “all-inclusive” support plan is just that — all-inclusive. One of the more popular service plans offered by consulting firms today is an “all-inclusive” or “all-you-can-eat” managed services plan. These are actually a good thing because they’ll save you a lot of money in the long run. HOWEVER, make sure you REALLY understand what is and isn’t included. Some things to consider are: • Is phone/e-mail help desk included or extra? • What about network upgrades, moves or adding/removing users? • Is hardware and/or software included? What about 3rd-party software support? (We recommend that this IS included.) The Accountants Guide To IT Support Services & Fees 9 • What are the costs/consequences of early cancellation? • What if you aren’t happy with their services? Do they offer a money-back guarantee? • If the hardware and software is included, what happens if you cancel the contract? • Are off-site backups included? To what degree? • If you have a major disaster, is restoring your network included or extra? • What about on-site support calls? Or support to remote offices? • Are home PCs used to access the company’s network after hours included or extra? • Is updating all accounting software included? • How many other accounting firms do they currently support? Our Answer: We do, and that’s simply as a precaution in case a hardware failure or software glitch causes a major problem. G N I S U A C B S O E R L P M A S K R O W G N I S U A C B S O E R L P M A S K R O W G N I S U A C B S E RO L P M A S K R WO G N I S U A C S E ROB L P M A S K R WO Backups And Disaster Recovery Q12: Do they INSIST on monitoring an off-site as well as an on-site backup, or are they letting you rely on outdated tape backups? Our Answer: You would not jump out of a plane with only one parachute, so why rely on a single backup method/solution for your firm. All of our clients have two backups using two different methods to ensure they are full backed up. You can never have too many backups. Q13: Do they INSIST on doing periodic test restores of your backups to make sure the data is not corrupt and could be restored in the event of a disaster? Our Answer: We perform a monthly “fire drill” and perform a test restore from backup for our clients to make sure their data CAN be recovered in the event of an emergency. After all, the WORST time to “test” a backup is when you desperately need it. Q14: Do they insist on backing up your network BEFORE performing any type of project or upgrade? 10 The Accountants Guide To IT Support Services & Fees “We have engaged the services of Technology For Accountants for a number of years. Their service is prompt, reliable and friendly. Nothing is too much trouble. The team are very patient with our people. Our whole computer system is the most reliable it has ever been and we do recommend their services to other accountants.” - Andrew Martin, Martin Taylor Associates Q15: If you were to experience a major disaster, do they have a written plan for how your data could be restored FAST and/or enable you to work from a remote location? Our Answer: All clients receive a simple disaster recovery plan for their data and network. We encourage them to do a full disaster recovery plan for their office, but at a minimum, their network will be covered should something happen. Technical Expertise And Support Q16: Do their technicians arrive on time and dress professionally? Our Answer: Our technicians are true professionals you’d be proud to have in your office. They dress professionally and show up on time, and if they cannot (for some odd, unforeseen reason), we always notify the client immediately. We believe these are minimum requirements for delivering a professional service. Q17: Are they familiar with (and can they support) your unique line of business applications? Our Answer: We own the problems with all lines of business applications for our clients. That doesn’t mean we can fix faulty software © 2018 Technology For Accountants ALL RIGHTS RESERVED — but we WILL be the liaison between you and your vendor to resolve problems you are having and make sure these applications work smoothly for you. A Final Word And Free 30 Minute Power Call To Discuss Your Biggest Technology Challenges and Issues G N I S U A C B S O E R L P M A S K R O W G N I S U A C B S O E R L P M A S K R O W G N I S U A C B S E RO L P M A S K R WO Iain Enticott G N I S U A C S E ROB L P M A S K R WO Q18: When something goes wrong with your Internet service, phone systems, printers or other IT services, do they own the problem or do they say, “That’s not our problem to fix”? Our Answer: We feel WE should own the problem for our clients so they don’t have to try and resolve any of these issues on their own — that’s just plain old good service and something many computer guys won’t do. “Before we used Technology For Accountants, we were given the run around by expensive, low value add outsourced providers. Technology For Accountants are a breath of fresh air, and we couldn’t be happier with our fixed monthly support arrangement. As someone who’s been in the industry for 22 years I can confidently recommend Technology For Accountants” - Justin Mastores, Rees Group Pty Ltd I hope you have found this guide helpful in shedding some light on what to look for when hiring a professional firm to outsource your IT support to. As I stated in the opening of this report, my purpose in providing this information was to help you make an informed decision and avoid getting burned by incompetent or unethical firms luring you in with cheap prices. Below you will find information on how to request a FREE 30 Minute Power Call to discuss your biggest technology issues and headaches. Maybe you are unsure on what to do next, need a second opinion on a quote you have received or just looking for ideas on how best to use technology within your firm. There is no cost or obligation, and I guarantee you will find this consult to be extremely valuable and eye-opening. Looking forward to your call! Director Technology for Accountants Pty Ltd Phone:- W: TechnologyForAccountants.com.au © 2018 Technology For Accountants ALL RIGHTS RESERVED The Accountants Guide To IT Support Services & Fees 11 Limited Free Technology Discussion With Iain my call’ button. You’ll then be taken to my calendar page where you can choose from the times available that suits you and your schedule. G N I S U A C B S O E R L P M A S K R O W G N I S U A C B S O E R L P M A S K R O W G N I S U A C B S E RO L P M A S K R WO G N I S U A C S E ROB L P M A S K R WO FREE 30 Minute Power Call to discuss your biggest technology issues and headaches Get the right advice and benefit from our expertise and years of experience with a free phone consultation. How you could use this call • Get a second opinion on a quote you have received • Moving to the Cloud • Security and how to protect your firm against the likes of Crypto locker • Out sourcing and what is required. What are other firms doing? • Office 365 – Why should we be moving to this and how it can be used within your firm? • Technology Planning Step 1: Go to the website below. Fill out a few simple questions, then hit the ‘book Step 2: Once we’ve received your application and reviewed it, Angela from my office will call you to confirm your time. There Are No Strings Attached…But You Have To Hurry! If you see the value in engaging beyond that, great! We can talk about it at that time. And if you don’t want to become a client — that’s OK too. By the way, we’ve never had anyone feel like their time was wasted. EVER. That’s why we can make this offer. WE DELIVER. So, unless you are 100% happy with the IT support you are getting and absolutely confident that your network is secure, backed up properly and running at optimal levels, why wouldn’t you give this a try? Do it now and you’ll be glad you did. Claim your Power Call here https://technologyforaccountants.com.au/power-call 12 The Accountants Guide To IT Support Services & Fees © 2018 Technology For Accountants ALL RIGHTS RESERVED NOTES G N I S U A C B S O E R L P M A S K R O W G N I S U A C B S O E R L P  M A S K OR W G N I S U A C B S E RO L P M A S K R WO G N I S U A C S E ROB L P M A S K R WO ____________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________ Can you say yes to the following? 100% happy with current IT support? Confident your network is secure and backed up properly? Your IT systems are running at optimal levels? Unsure? Visit our website: https://technologyforaccountants.com.au/power-call and claim your 30 minute power call and get peace of mind. With 20 years working with accountants and technology, we know how important trust is. ACTION ITEMS Take action and implement your ideas! Idea to explore:_______________________________________________________ Action to be taken:____________________________________________________ Deadline:____________________________________________________________ G N I S U A C B S O E R L P M A S K R O W G N I S U A C B S O E R L P M A S K R O W G N I S U A C B S E RO L P M A S K R WO G N I S U A C S E ROB L P M A S K R WO The Accountants Guide To IT Support Services & Fees © 2018 Technology For Accountants ALL RIGHTS RESERVED