Business clients

[Adept PC Repair]

I have "regular" business clients I can count on 2 hands. Even though I have these clients they are still on a "break fix" term, I charge hourly rates of £30 an hour for the clients I had a long time ago, but I charge £40 per hour normally.

My main business model has been based on break fix for 6 years, it is now slowing down and I feel I need to make a change.

I would still like residential clients, I am happy for them to drop off to me, as it fits in well with 2 kids and an unwell wife.

My main concern with business clients are:
Servers
Office 365 and exchange
Large wan networks and vpn
I don't have the ability to drop and run.

The above are things I don't know anything about, as I come from a tech/repair background and have never provided it support in a business environment. I can't drop and run, currently I book things in if I'm called out and people drop off to me.

Any ideas on how I could change my business model to focus on business clients alot more? Anything I can read or practice with? I have no idea on exchange servers, how can I learn without purchasing one?

I don't want to market for business at the moment as I don't feel completely competent in dealing with everyone's problems as I know exchange would be a big part of it.

I also don't feel my business name would stand put to a business, I think perhaps I should have a sister site called "Adept IT Solutions".

 

[YeOldeStonecat]

Any ideas on how I could change my business model to focus on business clients alot more? Anything I can read or practice with? I have no idea on exchange servers, how can I learn without purchasing one?".

Microsoft Action Pack...I cut my teeth on it. Every year I'd get sent a big binder full of NFR licenses of every Microsoft product made. 10x desktops licenses of everything, and a few server licenses of everything. it was under 300 bucks. Money well worth spent. I'm not sure what licenses you get these days..I know they trimmed it down a bit, and there's no more binders and cool carry cases 'n stuff...it's all downloads now.

Also get into Microsoft CSP...and learn and resell Microsoft Office for a good profit.
Basically just learn Exchange on O365 now...since the local install is still web admin, there's really no difference in how you admin it or O365 Exchange.