Computer Consulting Business: Steps to Open Confidently

What to Expect From This Guide to Starting a Computer Consulting Business

This guide walks you through the key decisions and practical steps involved in starting a computer consulting business, from checking whether it fits you to preparing for your first paid job. The bullets highlight selected areas, not everything inside.

Inside the guide, you will find:

Startup steps: Follow numbered steps from choosing a niche through pricing, legal setup, funding, tools, contracts, and your first client workflow.
Industry interviews: Read and hear first-hand stories from three IT consultants about finding clients, getting help with sales, and starting while employed.
Common questions: Find answers about starting while employed, certifications, ransomware incidents, and serving clients in other states.
Daily reality: See what a typical day involves, including the parts owners often enjoy and the parts they find hard.
Financial planning: Plan startup costs, operating capital, break-even numbers, and funding options, then pull them into a business plan.
Local requirements: Learn which registrations, taxes, licenses, and insurance questions to verify with your city, county, and state.
Risks and warnings: Spot warning signs before you start and weak spots to fix before opening day.

The sections below begin with whether computer consulting fits your skills, schedule, and tolerance for client pressure.

Key Setup Decisions That Shape Your First Client Work

Your niche, business model, pricing, tools, and paperwork shape the first jobs you take.

The guide adapts the general startup steps to a computer consulting business.

Overview of the Computer Consulting Business

As a computer consultant, you help people and organizations plan, set up, secure, and fix computers and related systems.

You may work on-site, remotely, or in a mix of both, depending on the job and the customer.

Most first jobs fall into a few areas: assessments, setup and configuration, troubleshooting, and security basics like multi-factor authentication and patching.

If you skip setting boundaries, you may take jobs you can’t deliver cleanly.

Your service list can include assessments and planning, cloud productivity setup, Wi-Fi and network support, device setup, backup configuration, and documentation handoff.

You may also coordinate with vendors, such as internet service providers or hardware distributors, when a customer needs new equipment.

Is a Computer Consulting Business a Good Fit for You?

The work fits if you enjoy solving problems, explaining tech in plain language, and staying calm when something breaks.

The work is a rough fit if you hate troubleshooting under time pressure or dislike being responsible for outcomes.

Technical work is only part of the job.

You also run discovery calls, write proposals, collect signatures, track changes, invoice clients, and chase unpaid bills.

Before you go further, read points to consider before starting your business.

Use that article to stress-test your time, support system, and expectations.

Ask yourself one question and answer it honestly: Are you moving toward something or running away from something?

Wanting a better life is fine.

But if your only reason is to escape a job, you may quit when a client blames you for an outage you didn’t cause.

Passion helps you persist when troubleshooting gets frustrating.

For a clearer way to think about that, read how passion affects your business.

Talk to owners you won’t compete against, such as owners in a different city, region, or service area.

Prepare practical fit questions before you talk to them, like these:

Which types of jobs paid the most, and which ones drained your time?
How do you protect yourself when clients want “just one more thing”?
What tools or documents did you wish you had before your first paid job?
How do you handle access to admin credentials and remote access?

For more perspective before you spend money, read inside advice from real business owners.

Red Flags Before You Start

Pause or rethink your plan if any of these warning signs apply to you.

Handling client data without written security rules. Federal laws may require reasonable security for sensitive information, so settle your rules before you touch client systems.
Personal liability you haven’t weighed. A sole proprietorship doesn’t separate your personal and business assets, so compare structures before you sign client agreements.
No cash runway. Plan to cover business costs and personal living expenses until invoices are paid.

Each warning sign has a fix, and the steps below walk you through them in order.

A Day in the Life of Running a Computer Consulting Business

A typical day mixes technical jobs for clients with sales conversations, client messages, and task tracking.

Some days you work remotely, and other days you visit client sites.

Your core jobs include assessments, remote troubleshooting, multi-factor authentication rollouts, password manager setup, and backup checks.

You also keep client documentation current and track tickets.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics says some computer support specialists work nights or weekends because support may be needed around the clock.

Your availability rules, like after-hours limits, help you manage those requests.

What owners often enjoy:

Helping business owners fix technology problems so they can focus on their own business
Building long-term relationships with clients
Receiving referrals once a few good clients are in place

What owners often find hard:

Finding the first clients and learning to sell your own services
Handling urgent requests that fall outside business hours
Working alone, which can feel lonely without a peer group or advisor

Does this daily mix of technical jobs, client conversations, and occasional off-hours requests sound like a life you want?

Step 1: Choose Your Niche and Boundaries

Pick a scope you can deliver consistently, then write down what you will not do.

You can’t offer “anything tech” and expect a smooth start.

Common focus areas include small-business network support, cloud productivity setup, and device setup for staff.

Other focus areas include basic cybersecurity hardening and advisory support as a virtual Chief Information Officer.

Start with a simple boundary list that protects you:

In-scope examples: assessment report, upgrade plan, email or collaboration setup, Wi-Fi troubleshooting, backup configuration, documentation handoff
Out-of-scope examples: data recovery guarantees, low-voltage cabling if you have not verified licensing rules, any job you can’t support reliably

Your niche and boundaries change your risk, your workflow, and what customers expect from you.

Step 2: Pick a Business Model That Matches Your Life

You can start solo and stay solo for a long time in this field.

Staffing can come later, after you learn which services are in demand and which jobs strain your schedule.

The most common models are:

Hourly break/fix
Fixed-fee projects with defined deliverables
Retainers for support blocks
Managed services priced per device or user

Choose based on how you want your weeks to feel.

A project model needs strong scoping and paperwork.

A managed services model needs monitoring, patching, and backup checks that run on a system you trust.

Step 3: Validate Demand Without Guessing

Real demand looks like people asking for help, not likes or compliments.

Start with a tight customer picture, such as small businesses without internal IT staff and professional offices that need stable systems and basic security.

Do simple validation steps before you buy tools:

List the top 10 local customer types you can support effectively (offices, service businesses, home offices)
Write down the top 10 problems you can solve (Wi-Fi drops, email setup, device setup, multi-factor authentication rollout, backup setup)
Check how many similar IT providers serve your area and what they charge
Talk to non-competing owners in another area and ask what problems show up every week
Offer your service to a few friends, family members, or contacts and note their feedback

For a deeper look at your local market, read how local supply and demand affect your business.

If you can’t find a consistent problem you can solve, don’t start yet.

Step 4: Define Your Service List and Deliverables

Your service list should be easy to explain and easy to deliver.

A vague offer makes pricing and contracts harder than they need to be.

Use concrete deliverables so the customer knows what “done” looks like:

Assessment and planning: inventory and baseline documentation, device and network health check, risk review, upgrade plan
Setup and configuration: laptops and desktops, Wi-Fi/router configuration, printer setup, Microsoft 365 or Google Workspace setup
Security basics: multi-factor authentication enablement, patching plan, password manager rollout, endpoint protection setup
Backup tasks: backup configuration and a documented test restore
Vendor coordination: internet service provider coordination, hardware vendor coordination

Write the deliverables into your Statement of Work so your customer doesn’t assume you’re also their full-time helpdesk.

Step 5: Decide How You’ll Work (Remote, On-Site, or Both)

Many tasks can be handled remotely, which keeps your costs down.

Some jobs still happen on-site, especially when devices, printers, or networking gear are involved.

Pick your default approach and put it into your policies:

Remote-first for troubleshooting, cloud setup, and documentation
On-site for network gear setup, printer issues, and hands-on device jobs
Clear travel rules: service area, minimum billable time, after-hours limits

Make this choice before you build a plan that collapses the first time you spend half a day driving.

Step 6: Plan Your Startup Costs and Cash Runway

Your startup costs depend on your business model and your choices, so list what you need and price it locally.

A remote-first solo setup differs from a managed services setup with monitoring and security tools.

Start with cost categories and the main drivers, and don’t guess exact numbers you can’t verify.

Legal and filing: entity filing fees, registered agent if used, DBA filing if needed
Insurance: whether you have employees, client contract requirements, coverage limits
Software subscriptions: remote support, ticketing, documentation, invoicing, security tools
Professional services: attorney review of agreements, accountant setup for bookkeeping
Marketing and web presence: domain, business email, basic website, local listings
Training and certifications: exam fees and prep materials tied to your niche
Working capital: the money that covers your costs while you wait for invoices to be paid, based on your payment terms

Operating capital keeps your business running until clients pay you.

The U.S. Small Business Administration suggests separating one-time expenses from monthly expenses and counting at least one year of monthly costs.

Add those totals to see how much capital you need and when you need it.

Also plan how you’ll cover personal living expenses while your client base builds.

Before you commit to subscriptions you can’t cancel easily, reread the points to consider before starting your business.

Step 7: Set Up Pricing Rules You Can Actually Follow

Pricing gets easier when your scope is clear.

If you offer vague “support,” you’ll deliver unlimited hours for a limited fee.

Common pricing methods are hourly rates, fixed-fee projects, retainers, block hours, and managed services priced per device or user.

Build your pricing around factors you can explain:

Scope clarity: defined deliverables versus open-ended troubleshooting
On-site travel and minimum billable time
Urgent or after-hours rules
Customer environment risk: outdated systems, poor documentation, unknown security posture

Before you finalize pricing, verify whether your state taxes your services and whether resale rules apply if you sell hardware or software.

For a broader look at pricing, read how to price your products and services.

Step 8: Check Profit Potential and Break-Even Reality

Your break-even point is the revenue that covers all your costs, so calculate it before you commit to major purchases.

At that point, you neither lose money nor earn a profit.

The SBA’s formula divides fixed costs by your price minus your variable cost per unit.

In this business, a unit can be a billable hour, a project, or a managed device or user.

Separate your costs into two groups:

Fixed costs stay the same however many jobs you take, such as software subscriptions and insurance.
Variable costs rise with each job, such as travel and subcontractor help.

Some costs, like a phone plan, mix both types, so split them into fixed and variable parts.

Ask whether you need many small jobs, a few large projects, or recurring retainers to cover your fixed costs.

Then test your numbers against slow months and late-paying clients.

Add a cushion for costs you can’t predict.

Use your own local prices and costs, since figures from other businesses won’t match yours.

Your break-even point is an estimate, not exact accounting, but lenders and investors may ask to see it.

For more on estimating income, read estimating the profitability and revenue of a new business.

Step 9: Choose Your Business Structure

Your business structure affects taxes, liability exposure, and how you set up banking.

The Internal Revenue Service outlines common business structures in its Business structures guide.

The U.S. Small Business Administration also explains how to think through structure choices in its Choose a business structure guide.

A sole proprietorship doesn’t separate your personal and business assets, so weigh that against the access you’ll have to client systems.

Settle your structure before you sign client agreements, because those agreements name your business.

If you’re unsure, talk with a local accountant or small business attorney before you file.

A wrong choice can be expensive to unwind later.

To compare options, read how to choose a business structure.

Step 10: Choose a Business Name and DBA Plan

Your business name affects trust, email, and vendor accounts, and whether you need a Doing Business As filing.

Start with naming basics from the U.S. Small Business Administration’s Choose your business name guide.

Then run through a quick checklist:

State name availability search for your entity type
Domain availability for your exact name
Business email availability on that domain
Social handle availability, starting with LinkedIn

Keep your business name easy to say and spell, since customers will type it into emails and invoices.

Step 11: Register With Your State

Many entity types require you to register with your state to form the business.

The process depends on where you live and the structure you choose.

The U.S. Small Business Administration has an overview called Register your business.

Use that overview to find your state’s filing office, usually the Secretary of State or an equivalent agency.

Keep your formation documents organized, since banks and vendors often require them during setup.

Step 12: Get an Employer Identification Number

You get an Employer Identification Number directly from the Internal Revenue Service.

The IRS explains the application on its Get an employer identification number page.

The IRS also warns that you never have to pay a fee for one.

You may need an Employer Identification Number for banking, tax accounts, and hiring.

Get it before you reach setup steps that depend on it.

For more on tax IDs, read how to get a business tax ID.

Step 13: Handle Taxes and Seller Rules Before You Bill

Your taxes change depending on whether you sell services only or also resell equipment.

Selling hardware can trigger sales and use tax rules in some states.

Use the U.S. Small Business Administration overview, Get federal and state tax ID numbers, to find the registrations that commonly apply.

If you expect to owe estimated taxes, review the Internal Revenue Service guidance at Estimated taxes.

The IRS guidance helps you plan cash flow before quarterly payments surprise you.

Step 14: Check Licenses, Permits, and Location Rules

Licensing rules vary by where you work and what you do.

Your requirements can depend on where you work, such as a home office, commercial office, or mobile setup.

Requirements also depend on what you do, such as support versus regulated installation jobs.

Start with the U.S. Small Business Administration overview at Apply for licenses and permits, then confirm details with your city, county, and state portals.

You may need to verify these locally:

General business license or local business tax registration
Zoning and home occupation rules if you work from home
Certificate of occupancy if you lease a commercial office
Signage permits if you install exterior signs
Sales tax permit and taxable service rules if you resell equipment or bill taxable services
Contractor or low-voltage licensing if you plan to run structured cabling or similar installs

Call your city or county licensing office and ask what applies to a home-based consulting service versus a mobile service.

To learn more, read about business licenses and permits.

Step 15: Set Up Insurance and Risk Controls

Some clients will ask for proof of insurance before they sign, so arrange coverage before your first agreement.

Your needs change based on whether you have employees, handle sensitive data, or provide managed services.

Start with the U.S. Small Business Administration overview at Get business insurance, then speak with an insurance agent who understands technology services.

Separate required coverage from common coverage based on your situation:

Often required when you have employees: workers’ compensation and related employer coverage rules set by your state
Commonly carried for consulting: general liability and professional liability
Common for data risk: cyber liability, especially if you access customer personal information
Common for gear: tools and equipment coverage for your laptop and kit

In your agreements, define access rules, credential handling, and the limits of your responsibility.

A clear scope reduces conflict later.

Step 16: Open a Business Bank Account and Set Up Bookkeeping

Separate business and personal finances from the start.

Separate accounts make tax time cleaner and your reporting easier.

The U.S. Small Business Administration explains the typical setup in Open a business bank account.

Banks commonly require formation documents and identification, and their checklists vary.

Set up simple bookkeeping categories tied to your cost drivers:

Software subscriptions (remote support, ticketing, documentation, invoicing)
Insurance
Professional services (legal and accounting)
Marketing and web presence (domain, email, website, local listings)
Tools and equipment

Once these categories are in place, you can see whether your pricing supports the real costs of your setup.

Step 17: Plan Your Funding

Decide how you’ll fund your startup before you make major purchases, using the cost and break-even numbers you’ve built.

The U.S. Small Business Administration’s Fund your business guide describes three main routes: self-funding, loans, and investors.

Self-funding: You keep full control but carry all the risk, so check with your plan administrator and a financial advisor before tapping retirement accounts.
Bank or credit union loan: Compare offers from several lenders to find the best terms.
SBA-guaranteed loan: This option may help if you have trouble getting a traditional loan.
Investors: Investors often expect an ownership share and focus on high-growth companies, which may not fit a solo practice.

Loan eligibility for a new business typically depends on your personal credit.

Ask each lender’s loan officer and each investor what documents they require before you apply.

Then pull your numbers together in the Business Plan section below.

For more on borrowing, read how to get a business loan.

Step 18: Build Your Tool Stack

Your tools are part of your promise to clients.

If your workflow isn’t secure and repeatable, you’ll feel it on your first job.

Start with essentials that support remote work, documentation, and safe access.

Here’s a baseline to have in place before you open:

Primary laptop/desktop for remote support and documentation
Secondary test laptop for updates and tool testing
Remote support tool with attended and unattended options (based on client policy)
Password manager for your business accounts and client credential handling
Multi-factor authentication application for critical accounts
Ticketing or helpdesk system (even lightweight)
Documentation tool or knowledge base system
Invoicing/accounting software

If you plan to offer managed services, you’ll also need a remote monitoring and management tool plus patch management capability, often included in that platform.

Step 19: Build a Practical On-Site Diagnostic Kit

A compact diagnostic kit prevents avoidable delays on site visits, even if you prefer remote jobs.

Keep a compact setup that covers basic networking and labeling:

Ethernet cables (various lengths)
USB-to-Ethernet adapters
Basic cable tester
Wi-Fi analyzer tool or device-based app
Label maker and label tape for equipment and cables
Portable power strip or extension cord
Flashlight or headlamp for wiring closets

A packed kit reduces last-minute chaos during your first on-site visits.

Step 20: Set Your Data Handling and Security Rules

Decide how you handle access before a client hands it to you.

You may touch sensitive files, passwords, and systems that people rely on.

Build a simple security baseline using practical guidance from the Federal Trade Commission’s guide, Protecting Personal Information: A Guide for Business.

Federal laws may require reasonable security for sensitive information, so ask an attorney which rules apply to your clients.

Start with rules you can follow every time:

How you store credentials (password manager required)
How you enable and record multi-factor authentication
How you document changes (change log and handoff notes)
How you transfer files (encrypted external drive only when needed)
How you handle backups (configuration, a test restore, and a copy not connected to the systems it protects)

For a small-business security baseline, review the NIST quick-start guide titled NIST Cybersecurity Framework 2.0: Small Business Quick-Start Guide.

Step 21: Create Your Contracts, Forms, and Templates

Clear documents prevent confusion and protect your time when a customer asks whether something is included.

Build a starter set of forms before you accept your first job:

Proposal template
Master Services Agreement with basic terms and boundaries
Statement of Work template with deliverables and exclusions
Service Level Agreement template if you offer managed services
Data handling addendum covering access and credential rules
Client onboarding checklist and device/network checklist

Keep the language plain, since your goal is clarity, not complexity.

Step 22: Set Up Payments and Client Billing

Getting paid is part of your opening plan, not an afterthought.

You’ll often start with invoices, and many clients will want card or ACH options.

Get these items ready before the first job:

Invoice template with your legal business name and address
Payment terms (due dates, late fees if used, and what happens if payment is late)
Accepted payment methods (ACH, card processing if you choose)
A prepared Form W-9 for clients that require it

If a client asks for your taxpayer identification number, the Internal Revenue Service explains Form W-9 at About Form W-9.

Step 23: Set Up Vendors and Accounts

Traditional suppliers aren’t central here because you provide a service, but you’ll rely on vendors for software tools, cloud platforms, backups, and security.

Create vendor accounts using your business email on your domain.

Many providers will also want your legal business name and billing address.

If you plan to resell hardware or software, you may need state-specific resale documentation and seller registration.

Confirm requirements through your state tax agency and keep copies for vendor onboarding.

Step 24: Decide Whether You Will Hire or Use Subcontractors

Most owners start solo, but decide in advance how you’ll handle overflow jobs.

Subcontractors can help, but they add paperwork and tracking.

If you will have employees, review Internal Revenue Service basics at Employment taxes before your first payroll.

If you will pay subcontractors, collect Form W-9 before you pay them.

The Internal Revenue Service overview is at About Form W-9, Request for Taxpayer Identification Number and Certification.

You may also need to issue Form 1099-NEC for nonemployee compensation in qualifying situations.

See About Form 1099-NEC, Nonemployee Compensation for details.

For more on bringing on help, read how and when to hire.

Step 25: Build Your Brand and Digital Footprint

People hire you because they trust you with systems they rely on, so your brand basics should look real, reachable, and organized.

Customers want to know what you do, who you serve, and how fast you respond.

Secure the essentials before you open:

Domain name and business email addresses
LinkedIn handle and at least one other channel you will actually maintain
A basic website with your services, service area, and a contact form
A clear service list showing who it’s for (small businesses, professional offices, home offices)
Local listings with a consistent name, phone, and email
Core brand assets: a simple logo mark and consistent invoice/proposal styling

IT owners in the interviews at the end of this guide say referrals and peer groups bring in clients.

Don’t overbuild your website before you’ve proven demand.

Step 26: Prepare Your First Client Workflow

You’ll work more smoothly when your workflow is written down.

You don’t need perfection, but you do need a repeatable process.

Build a flow from first contact to payment:

Inquiry comes in through email or your website contact form
Short discovery call to confirm the problem and whether it fits your scope
On-site or remote assessment if needed
Proposal with deliverables, timeline, and assumptions
Signed Master Services Agreement and Statement of Work
Client onboarding checklist completed (accounts, access, devices, contact list)
Delivery with change log and documentation handoff
Invoice sent and payment received

Run this flow as a test job on your own devices first.

A test run exposes weak spots while the stakes are low.

Business Plan

Draft your business plan as you complete the earlier steps, then finish it once costs, funding, pricing, and break-even numbers are in place.

Your plan pulls together your niche, service list, startup costs, operating capital, pricing, break-even numbers, and funding needs.

The U.S. Small Business Administration describes traditional and lean startup plan formats.

Traditional plans are more detailed, and lenders and investors commonly request them.

Lean plans summarize only the key points, and some lenders and investors may ask for more.

Useful sections for a computer consulting plan include:

Company description: the problems you solve and the clients you serve
Market analysis: the local demand and competition you found in Step 3
Services and deliverables: your service list and boundaries
Organization and structure: how you’re structured and who does what
First-client approach: why clients would choose you and how you’ll reach them
Funding request and financial projections: your costs, break-even numbers, and funding choice

For a walkthrough, read how to write a business plan.

Keep each section short, and use only numbers you can support with local prices and costs.

Pre-Opening Checklist

Treat this checklist as a gate: if key items aren’t true yet, keep preparing.

The goal is to make opening day feel controlled instead of chaotic.

Legal and admin items:

Business structure chosen and filed as needed
DBA filed if you use a name different from your legal entity name
Employer Identification Number obtained if needed
State tax registrations completed as applicable (including seller rules if you resell hardware)
Local business license confirmed and completed if required
Zoning and home occupation rules confirmed if you work from home
Insurance coverage in place for your situation

Tooling and security items:

Password manager set up for business and client credential handling
Multi-factor authentication enabled on critical accounts
Remote support tool tested on a test device
Backup process documented and a test restore completed
Ticketing and documentation system ready to use
Test job completed on your own devices

Money and paperwork items:

Break-even numbers calculated and operating capital plan in place
Business bank account active
Invoice template and payment terms finalized
Payment acceptance tested (ACH and any card processing you choose)
Master Services Agreement and Statement of Work templates ready
Form W-9 ready for client requests

To compare your setup against a small-business security baseline, review the NIST guide at NIST Cybersecurity Framework 2.0 Quick-Start Guide.

Opening-Day Red Flags

Look for weak spots that create conflict, especially around scope, access, and security.

Most problems show up because the plan is too loose.

Common red flags to fix before opening:

Your offer is vague and has no written inclusions or exclusions
You don’t have rules for admin credentials, remote access, and password handling
You have no change log or documentation handoff process
You plan to do structured cabling or similar installs without verifying licensing requirements
You configure backups but you don’t run a test restore

For data protection basics, use the Federal Trade Commission guide at Protecting Personal Information as a reference point.

Soft Opening and First Paid Jobs

A soft opening helps you learn without damaging your reputation.

Start with a small number of clients so you can refine your onboarding checklist, documentation handoff, and billing process.

For each of your first jobs, track what happened:

What the customer asked for versus what they actually needed
Where your scope and Statement of Work language was unclear
Whether your remote support setup worked smoothly
How long invoicing and payment took based on your terms

If a security incident like ransomware comes up, know where official reporting guidance lives.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation overview is at Ransomware.

As you build confidence, keep talking to non-competing owners to find better questions to ask.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I start a computer consulting business while keeping my job?

Often yes, but your employment terms come first.

Check your agreement for non-compete, non-solicitation, confidentiality, and conflict-of-interest provisions.

Keep the two jobs separate by working outside your job hours and avoiding your employer’s equipment and confidential information.

Serving customers who also do business with your employer can create a conflict.

If anything is unclear, ask an employment attorney before you accept your first client.

The points above come from legal guidance on starting a business while working for another employer.

Some owners do build clients part-time first, such as the consultant profiled in the interviews below, who left her IT job after two years.

Do I need a certification before taking clients?

Usually not as a license, because certifications are typically voluntary credentials.

Some clients or employers may ask for specific credentials, so choose any certification based on the services you offer.

Some owners have started without certifications and built their client base through referrals.

Check whether your state or city regulates specific jobs you plan to offer, such as structured cabling.

Training and exam fees belong in your startup cost list if you decide to pursue a certification.

What should I do if a client’s systems are hit by ransomware?

Contact your local FBI field office or file a report at ic3.gov.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation does not support paying a ransom, and payment doesn’t guarantee you’ll get data back.

The FBI advises keeping backups disconnected from the computers and networks they back up.

Many states have laws or guidelines about data breaches, so your client should ask an attorney about notification duties.

Can I serve clients in other states?

Often yes, because many IT tasks can be done remotely, but your tax and registration duties may change.

The SBA lists in-person client meetings, a significant share of revenue, and employees as signs you’re doing business in a state.

Check with each state’s tax and business-registration agencies before you take on clients outside your own state.

Interviews With Computer Consulting Business Owners

Interviews and owner stories show how working IT consultants found clients, built confidence, and handled the pressures of ownership.

Larry Dukhovny, Founder of MyBizGeek (Podcast)

Larry Dukhovny runs an IT support and consulting firm in New York City, which he started after years of freelancing.

In this podcast, he talks about building confidence, earning referrals, and setting availability expectations, plus advice for taking the leap from side work.

Listen to the Interview

Mike Reinert, Owner of Reinert Consulting Group

Mike Reinert left a long IT career to start a firm offering cybersecurity, co-managed IT, and enterprise architecture services.

Reinert’s story shows how a technical owner used a Small Business Development Center to build sales skills and refocus on solving client problems.

Read the Story

Claudia Franke, Founder of Fraulein Tech

Claudia Franke, who works in Western Australia, started her IT consulting business in her spare time and left her IT job after two years.

She shares lessons on sorting out IT sooner, keeping control of your own logins, and coping with unpredictable client demand.

Read the Interview

Sources:

BLS: Computer Support Specialists
FBI: Federal Bureau of Investigation, Ransomware
FTC: Protecting Personal Info
Hiscox: Dukhovny Podcast Story
IRS: About Form 1099-NEC, About Form W-9, Business Structures IRS, Employment Taxes, Estimated Taxes, Get Employer ID Number
NIST: CSF 2.0 Quick-Start
Penn State SBDC: Reinert Consulting Story
Rocket Lawyer: Starting While Employed
SBA: Calculate Startup Costs, Choose Business Name, Choose Business Structure, Federal State Tax IDs, Fund Your Business, Get Business Insurance, Licenses And Permits, Open Bank Account, Register Your Business, Write Business Plan
Small Business Development Corporation (Western Australia): Franke IT Lessons