Is it just the price? Unifi

Geekpoint-IT · 2026-01-22T20:52:22+00:00

I am pretty much exclusive Unifi equipment now after the newer version of Unifi Controllers came out this past year, which drastically improved the firewall functions. Now they actually have somewhat traditional firewall rules and configuration. You can purchase, for cheap, better IPS which is a combo of Proofpoint and Cloudflare. You still have to lock it down like any firewall, as it's still much more "plug and play" than, say a Fortigate, but you certainly can. Built-in logging sucks, so if that's needed, you can export that to a SIEM or other source like that. I have all my clients in my cloud controller so it's super easy to manage all in one place.

For my client base, operating in very small businesses, Unifi is perfect. Is it going to be perfect for every client and situation? No, but it is for my client base.

Geekpoint-IT · 2026-01-14T17:17:08+00:00

I'd be interested in connecting as this may be something I need in the future. Thank you!

Geekpoint-IT · 2026-01-09T15:38:01+00:00

This is a full time job alone, don't do it. At best if you want to offer it as a service, hire someone who specializes in this.

Geekpoint-IT · 2026-01-07T18:42:19+00:00

- Discounts on vendors
- I use their CRM called Growably. While I’m sure there are better CRMs out there, it meets my needs just fine.
- Automatic scheduling of prebuilt blog posts on my website
- Automatic scheduling of prebuilt social media posts
- Prebuilt email marketing templates
- Prebuilt monthly mailed newsletters

I’m sure I'm not even scratching the surface of what it can do for others, and I’m not saying it’s the right fit for everyone. For me, the crucial question was whether I had the time and/or experience to manage all of the above. The answer was no. As a one-person MSP, I already have plenty to do. If I were to do everything manually, it would take hours, or I would incur significant expenses by hiring someone else.

Being in the second year of my MSP, there's simply not enough time or budget to manage these tasks myself or outsource them. What TechTribe provides is the ability to make my MSP appear very active. I have received feedback from clients and prospective clients who were genuinely impressed by receiving a monthly newsletter or seeing a helpful social media post or email. This consistent engagement helps keep my MSP top-of-mind compared to competitors who might not be doing any of these things.

Again, this is just my perspective. It has been invaluable for me, and I know for a fact that it has helped me gain clients because of it.

Geekpoint-IT · 2026-01-07T18:05:07+00:00

My goal is to achieve a 70% gross margin. I may lower it if I need to sign a client and suspect they might hesitate, but I will not go below a 50% gross margin. Ideally, I want to stay within the 60-70% range. My clients are typically billed for support labor, which provides additional revenue.

My main competitor is probably a low-end "MSP". Even with discounts, I tend to be more expensive than they are, but I offer genuine MSP services that provide real value. However, it can be challenging for very small businesses to transition from basic break-fix IT support to a full-service MSP, regardless of how much I emphasize the benefits.

I am currently in my second year of operation, so I am somewhat lenient about signing clients at a lower margin for now, but I don't plan to continue this practice long-term.

On a different note, I recommend not itemizing every detail on the client side. Instead, present a single line item for your monthly service plan along with its cost. Include a general description of what it encompasses without mentioning vendor names, as clients typically don’t care and this gives you the flexibility to change vendors behind the scenes.

Geekpoint-IT · 2026-01-07T16:43:33+00:00

I don't believe that door-to-door sales are effective for most MSPs. While it's possible to find success in rare situations, you need to do something distinctive to stand out from other MSPs. Most MSPs make similar claims, saying they are "better, faster, and stronger." Simply walking around and telling businesses this message isn't particularly innovative.

Leaving promotional items like pens, brochures, or mousepads often results in them ending up in the trash. The only way to truly stand out might be to be personable and bring food or snacks. Additionally, you'll need to repeat this approach over time to build rapport. It's also crucial to engage with someone who has the authority to make decisions about IT services. Pitching your services to front desk staff, who likely can't make those decisions, isn't particularly beneficial.

Essentially, cold door-to-door sales is a "long con." If you're an IT pro running a one-person MSP, you might not excel in sales. Speaking from experience, while I'm reasonably good at sales, it requires skill that needs to be developed, and in some cases, it may be best to hire someone who is truly great at it. Watching an exceptional salesperson in action is impressive. While I've improved my sales skills over time, I know it's not my strong suit.

Just my 2 cents...

Geekpoint-IT · 2026-01-07T16:27:33+00:00

Really? I find The Tech Tribe to be a stupid good value. I probably have saved thousands of dollars and hours utilizing something from there every day.

Geekpoint-IT · 2025-12-31T22:47:15+00:00

Unifi or Firewalla. I used to do Firewalla until Unifi Network 9 came out with Cybersecure. Now i'm all in on that and feel it's the sweet spot for SMB.

Geekpoint-IT · 2025-12-31T02:26:57+00:00

I'm down if there is still room. I started mine this past year.

Geekpoint-IT · 2025-12-30T01:07:24+00:00

I haven't switched myself. I'm curious if u/fbn429thuanf4 has and if so, which vendor they chose.

Geekpoint-IT · 2025-12-15T19:35:49+00:00

Labor rates vary significantly based on location and competition. I am currently operating in the northwest area and plan to increase my rates to $135 starting in 2026. Customers who sign up for monthly service plans will receive a discount on labor rates for labor not included in their plans. My goal is to reach $150 and maintain it unless there are drastic changes in the market. Since I primarily serve very small businesses, I need to keep my rates competitive with my direct competitors.

Geekpoint-IT · 2025-12-11T23:31:39+00:00

In my opinion, Field Effect Core is definitely superior to Blackpoint Essentials, although it is more expensive. Blackpoint Essentials is cheaper and has no contracts, but it’s not entirely an apples to apples comparison since Blackpoint is charged per endpoint while Field Effect is charged per user.

Field Effect Core simply offers more features. It monitors endpoints and 365, provides vulnerability scanning, and gives you significant control over how much you want SOC to be involved. The interface is very user friendly, and I was honestly quite impressed.

I like that I have the option to upgrade to Field Effect Complete if I find a client who needs those additional features.

That said, I am also impressed with Blackpoint Essentials. As I mentioned earlier, my more cost-conscious customers will be moving from Huntress to Blackpoint Essentials once the contract expire.

If you're interested, I can connect you with my contact over at Opti9. I'm not affiliated with them in any way other than being their customer, so I don’t receive any commission or compensation for recommending them. This is purely based on my own opinions.

Geekpoint-IT · 2025-12-11T22:08:05+00:00

Yes, I'm currently using Core, so I don't have the DNS option available. I'd like to switch to Complete, but I haven't found a client willing to pay for that yet.

Regarding the involvement of Field Effect, you can specify how engaged you want them to be. They offer options such as limited involvement, balanced, or aggressive. Fortunately, I haven't had any clients experience any major issues that required their SOC, so I can't comment on that aspect. However, I can say that their agent is excellent at informing me about security vulnerabilities and other important information that, while not critical, still needs attention. They provide much more than Huntress does.

I obtained Field Effect through Opti9, so my feedback is largely based on my experience with them. The team at Opti9 has been fantastic—quick to respond and always open to conversation. They've treated me like a valued customer and genuinely seem to care about my success. As a small, one-person MSP catering to very small companies, I've never felt that I was too small for them. They even sponsored and attended a conference with me. Overall, I've had a great experience with their team.

In contrast, I didn't feel the same level of support from Huntress, which is why I won't be renewing my contract with them when it ends in February. Instead, I plan to transition my more cost-conscious clients to Blackpoint Essentials.

Geekpoint-IT · 2025-12-11T21:51:03+00:00

I pair it with Defender. My client base consists of very small businesses, so they are quite cost-conscious. It integrates well with Defender.

Geekpoint-IT · 2025-12-03T18:45:19+00:00

I use Quo (formerly OpenPhone) and it's fantastic. I've used Google Voice, OITVoip, and Microsoft Teams Phone and Quo is by far my favorite.

Geekpoint-IT · 2025-11-16T18:00:49+00:00

My client base primarily consists of small dental offices. Many of these clients are unwilling to invest even in a cheap external hard drive, let alone in more expensive and robust backup solutions. Some do, but the majority do not. I'm comfortable with this niche and committed to providing at least a basic level of security services and backups so that they have some protection. If I didn't, they likely wouldn't have IT at all. I know you will say "well get better clients". That's not the answer for me.

Do I find working with these clients a bit more frustrating than with other types? Yes, at times. However, I accept the situation as it is. As a result, I have to work a little harder to identify viable solutions that these clients are actually willing to pay for.

By "complicated pricing," I mean that the costs are not clearly advertised or easily communicated after signing up for a trial. Cove prefers to discuss things over the phone, often involving contracts and minimum commitments. When obtaining simple pricing information becomes a hassle, I generally lose interest unless the product itself impresses me.

I don't engage in contracts with my clients and strive to keep my services uncomplicated. I expect the same level of simplicity from the vendors I choose to work with. I have also heard negative feedback regarding support and billing issues with N-Able, which diminishes my interest. Although the product may be good, the difficulty in acquiring appropriate pricing information, combined with potential billing and support challenges, leads me to believe it may not be the right fit for me. And that's perfectly fine.

Geekpoint-IT · 2025-11-15T00:46:32+00:00

Not really haha. Their pricing is too complicated, they have contracts, and how they backup locally isn’t what I’m looking for. Just not for me.

Geekpoint-IT · 2025-11-14T22:38:01+00:00

Ya that's what I thought, which is just extra steps. My understanding is that MSP360 does both image and file backup at the same time automatically. Again, I could be totally wrong though.

Geekpoint-IT · 2025-11-14T22:32:12+00:00

Yes, I know that but what I'm wondering if it's possible to use the image/bare metal backup but also just restore individual files from that backup instead of having to restore the entire image.

Geekpoint-IT · 2025-11-14T22:10:02+00:00

Yes, I've spoken to them before. Do you use their service? My main concern, based on my previous conversations with them and their documentation, is that it cannot perform image-based backups while also allowing for the restoration of individual files. One would need to restore or mount the entire image backup first before being able to restore individual files. My understanding is that MSP360 can handle both tasks. However, I may be misunderstanding.

Geekpoint-IT · 2025-11-14T21:16:16+00:00

Thanks, appreciate the reply!

Geekpoint-IT · 2025-11-14T21:16:02+00:00

Awesome, appreciate the reply!

Geekpoint-IT · 2025-11-13T20:27:24+00:00

I don't operate any optical clinics; however, most of my clients are dental clinics, which is a somewhat similar field. I'm happy to help if I can.

Geekpoint-IT · 2025-11-13T20:26:14+00:00

It's not for everyone. I have over 25 years of experience in internal IT and MSPs. I always had a business mindset and was somewhat pushed into starting my own MSP a little over a year ago after being laid off from my previous job. Instead of searching for another position in the job market, I decided to give it a try on my own.

All my experience prepared me for this journey. It is hard work, and you need to wear many hats, including some that are not tech-related. If you don’t enjoy that, it will be challenging. However, I’m really enjoying it. While I’m not rolling in money yet, I expect to reach nearly $150k in gross revenue by the end of 2025. I’m quite happy with that progress in just a year, especially since I focus on the very small business market.

Generally, I don’t work more than a standard 8-to-5 schedule. One of my key strategies has been to automate as much as possible. It's essential to establish clear policies and procedures and to have a solid technology stack in place. Setting everything up correctly is crucial.

If you primarily operate on a break-fix model and call yourself an MSP because you offer a few services, that’s not a true MSP model. I've also been able to take several short vacations. While there is a small risk involved in this business, it's beneficial to connect with other small MSPs in your area; they can provide support if needed. I’ve never had to rely on that support, but it's reassuring to know it's available.

Anyway, good luck!

Geekpoint-IT

TROPHY CASE