I’m going to try to keep this blog updated with my progress in building VITO. As the lead technician, most tasks related to the startup fall to me. Anyone reading the VITO category of this blog will learn just what it takes to get a fully functioning, ultra-leveraged MSP off the ground in no time flat. That is, assuming we pull it off.
VITO is built partially as a response to Igility, my former employers. Part of their business model was supposedly offering MSP - managed service provider - services, which are the new wave of IT consulting business. I’ve seen what they’ve done wrong, and what they’ve done right. VITO will be almost a completely different animal, and of course, focuses on a different geographic area entirely (Canada vs Bermuda). Follow me as we build this business from the ground up!
Inspiration from Igility - Hated by every tech, loved by every admin, we’ve chosen to follow my old company’s lead and purchase Connectwise. It’s time and billing software, designed especially for IT support businesses - like VITO! As of today, the deal is signed and sealed. Hopefully it will be delivered soon, so we can start making some money. We’re running the hosted version, so hopefully we’ll have less of an integration nightmare than Igility did.
Website - I really have to finish off the VITO Website. Customers should be starting to visit the site, so it should reflect the modified Flat Fee IT business model. Les Nessman is not a part of our team, I think I can take him off the site now that everything is public.
Helpdesk and NOC - outsourced. Integrating now.
Data and Phone - Beanfield. A small comapny, but they have fiber in the ground, and more importantly sell colo space in 151 Front. Our servers are now there. They also sell SIP-based phone service. We are integrating now
PBX - As mentioned above, SIP service from Beanfield is our primary trunk. Everything is built on a new distribution of the open-source Asterisk PBX, called PBX In a Flash. Working great so far, we have 3 extensions. More features as soon as the Beanfield SIP trunks are integrated.
Marketing - We’ve found a marketing company to give us a professional image, I’ve worked with them before so I have high hopes. Samples here, of course, when they arrive.
Sales - Still looking for a few great sales people. Wanna make some great money? Call me!
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