As we consult with business owners to help them leverage their technology, we come across some situations that make us shake our heads. Despite the plethora of good service companies and competitive pricing out there, many owners still make mistakes when working with their vendors.
Here are some examples that are (sadly) true and quite common.
- Don’t outsource anything. Perform all your IT, bookkeeping, paralegal, and other professional services in-house, even if there is only one of you. Hire high school or college students at minimum wage for anything you don’t have time to do.
- Treat vendors as the enemy. Distrust any advice they offer and dispute all work they perform.
- Don’t build a relationship. Partnering with another company would only encourage them to help you.
- Focus on short-term costs. When another vendor lowers their prices, switch to them. Later, when you realize their customer service stinks, switch back. (Unless you are now in a 3-year contract.)
- Don’t mention any problems. Instead, wait 6 months for multiple problems to pile up and then blow up at the consultant. Convenient in emergencies too.
- Don’t budget any money for outsourced services, even if you know you’re going to need it. If you double the number of computers at your company, keep your IT budget the same.
- Keep everything hidden. Your fax number is a trade secret.
Kidding aside, ArrowQuick has seen the best growth, both for us and for our customers, when we build a healthy relationship with them. The biggest returns on investment are made by continual work, even if it is small improvements. Every few months or so (depending on the service) you should speak with your vendors to review your goals, ask for suggestions, and prioritize the tasks.
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