I’ve run a Managed Service Provider (MSP) for nearly 21 years. Well, to be honest, eight years of that was a Frankenstein version of an MSP as we tried to figure out how to escape the hours–for–dollars business model. Thankfully, we found TruMethods (Thanks Gary!) and a few years later joined a Winner’s Circle peer group. I’ve also met many more MSP owners at industry events. This journey has taught me a lot and I’ve seen under the hood and behind the curtain of many MSPs and the business can be a tough go.
The MSP business is hard — very hard, and increasingly so. We work in a complicated world of technology that is changing at an increasing rate. We have complex organizations, especially for truly proactive MSPs. The war on talent is real. Sales are complex and seemingly hyper-competitive. We carry a ton of risk as the cybersecurity war escalates in an exponential-like manner. And MSPs that manage to grow are met with a never-ending series of growth pains and plateaus. I feel extremely lucky to have found the success we have had at Smart Dolphins IT Solutions.
So, with that as a backdrop, I believe PoplarMSP has a key role in taking away some of the overwhelm in running this business model. Building an MSP is hard enough at the core. This is why MPSs buy the streams of tools and outsource many elements to better focus on the critical core competencies. We do not build or own PSAs or BDRs. We do not do our own taxes or legal (or at least most should not).
An MSP can build their own training competency in-house — it isn’t rocket science. That said, it is a different beast. You need to invest heavily in the training content, new and different processes and develop talented trainers to represent your company. Forever more.
Or you can join the many MSPs that are partnering with PoplarMSP and benefit from the technology training “wheel” we’ve already got rolling. You already have enough to do. We know. We understand. We are an MSP too.