The VAR Guy

On June 12, executives representing managed service providers will gather for a Webcast aptly named MSPmentor Live: CEO Exchange. During the fast-moving online event, MSPs will be able to ask peers and experts their most pressing questions about pricing and service level agreement strategies.

If you are thinking of leaving your corporate job to start a business, nothing is more important than having Reserves. I am talking about a great big virtual warehouse filled with tangible and intangible items. If you don’t have them when you start your business, your engine will soon fail.

Think of your business — or your customers’ business — as a potted plant. As the plant grows, you’ll need to move it into a bigger pot if you want to sustain healthy growth. Now, let’s apply that example to a typical office accounting system.

Are you ready — and qualified — to launch your own business? Before you quit your day job, check in with Mitch York, an executive coach who helps corporate employees become successful business owners. York offers some practical tips and some reality checks to would-be entrepreneurs in a MSPmentor Live: Podcast for May 1, posted on our sister site.

The VAR Guy is locked in a hotel room tonight in Atlanta. The business coverage on CNBC is depressing. Inflation. Rising consumer prices. Rising energy prices. Is there any good news out there? Actually, yes. We all owe Intel a big thank you today. Here’s why.

Each day, companies die a little when their employees utter these seven fateful words: “We have always done it like that.” We are, it seems, victims of our own inefficient habits. Consider this real-world example of antiquated workflow, and its potential business impact.

Ouch. The VAR Guy spotted some troubling news about tech spending within the retail vertical. ScanSource, which distributes point of sale and barcode technology, released disappointing quarterly estimates this morning. For VARs serving the retail vertical, this could be a major warning sign.

So, you’re about to launch a business. Or perhaps you’re a solutions provider that’s helping an entrepreneur to get a business off the ground. Here are seven IT tools The VAR Guy would recommend for that fledgling business.

When you’re talking about the US economy, don’t use the word “recession.” Instead, stick with “shrinkage.” That seems to be the safest approach. A case in point: Fed Research Chairman Ben Bernanke said the US economy may shrink during the first half of this year, but he didn’t mention the “R” word.

Just like have the wrong employees on your team, the wrong clients can hurt your business and create a lifestyle you don’t enjoy. So, how can you attract the clients you want, avoid nightmare customers, and have a fulfilling and satisfying business life? Here are seven tips to get you started.