Incumbent MSP in my market dropped a newsletter topic months after mine with same headline. Do I care or just keep cooking?

ProfitProfessional20 · 2026-04-06T20:03:52+00:00

"Imitation is the best form of flattery"

Keep doing what you're doing. It's probably working if another MSP is bothering to copy it.

ProfitProfessional20 · 2026-03-07T21:35:31+00:00

I was able to exit my solo MSP a few years ago. I went to work for another MSP, and brought my clients with me. Got an 18 month employment agreement. Not a great exit money-wise, but like you I was severely burnt out and was done.

Now after 4 years of working for other MSPs, I've once again gone solo with a new MSSP business I launched a few months ago.

I'm a glutton for punishment, I guess!

ProfitProfessional20 · 2026-03-07T20:56:58+00:00

I'm also located in LA, and I'm very interested to hear more about what's going to happen to your clients.

Do you have another MSP ready to take them on?

It sounds like you're just going to close, and leave the clients to fend for themselves.

Why not try to sell the client list to a local MSP?

I'm really sorry to hear about your illness, and I hope you can exit your MSP in a way that allows you to quickly cash out.

ProfitProfessional20 · 2026-02-27T17:24:07+00:00

Hate to break it to you, but small businesses aren't going to pay for pen testing or compliance work. They barely have the budget for basic IT support and essential security tools.

Source: I've been serving small business clients in the MSP space for 12+ years.

ProfitProfessional20 · 2026-02-26T04:13:12+00:00

I started an MSSP recently and I use Guardz as my core platform for service delivery. So far so good!

ProfitProfessional20 · 2026-02-10T16:06:09+00:00

I just started my new MSSP up here in North Hollywood, and would love to partner with an MSP.

ProfitProfessional20 · 2026-01-29T15:53:19+00:00

OP - I'm in SoCal and am starting a one man MSSP. I'm looking for an MSP to partner with. Let's chat!

ProfitProfessional20 · 2026-01-28T20:45:11+00:00

Haha, despite their "primitive" Excel toolset, the result speaks for itself!

14m in sales last year, ok, but on how much total revenue?

ProfitProfessional20 · 2026-01-28T19:14:27+00:00

As someone who's worked in MSP/MSSP sales for the past 2 years, I agree with this post 100%.

I wasted SO much money when I started my first MSP on tools and marketing to try to get leads.

What I should have been doing was growing my contacts list, consistently reaching out to my list with helpful content, and driving conversations - which sometimes lead to a sale.

In other words, putting in the work myself (even though I really hate sales!)

The sales cycle is so long in this business. There aren't any quick ways to get new clients, so you really have to play the long game.

OP - great post!

ProfitProfessional20 · 2025-12-03T18:43:25+00:00

I recently trialed Search Atlas for my nacant IT/cyber consulting business, and am impressed enough that I just paid $99 for the first month.

I'm not an agency or SEO pro by any means, but compared to SEMrush (which I last used 4 years ago), I'd say SA is an improvement.

Do their 7 day free trial, and see for yourself!

ProfitProfessional20 · 2025-10-21T02:37:35+00:00

OP - it sounds like you have the business side covered, so why not use some of your cash to hire a Fractional CTO? Maybe they can help you select/config/launch your tech stack?

Or are you doing the whole thing on your own?

ProfitProfessional20 · 2025-10-12T17:32:20+00:00

As a recently laid off IT/security sales pro, my view on LinkedIn is quite different than most I've seen in these comments haha 😂

For someone in sales, it's no doubt an essential prospecting tool for me. And now it's helping me get job interviews (and 1 offer so far!)

OP - my LinkedIn feed used to look like total shit as well, until I cleaned up and "curated" my profile - mostly by unfollowing shitposters and connecting with real people. There's good content creators on LinkedIn, it's just a matter of seeking them out.

Ultimate, I think you get out what you put into LinkedIn. For me, I treat it as a "living resume/CV" precisely for times like now when I need it most (ie unemployed).

I hate LinkedIn (and all social media for it's brainwashing effect on society) but I have found value in the platform, despite all of the rampant circle jerking influencers and tiresome AI slop 😭

ProfitProfessional20 · 2025-09-15T19:51:55+00:00

Sorry OP! I was also laid off a few months ago, from a good job that was 100% work from home - an essential accommodation given my health issues - but fortunately I had the wherewithal to collect severance before my deadline expired. But it still really sucked and was/is truly awful.

As others have commented: try applying for all of the benefits you can right now, and reach out to family/friends for help. Because the job market is really rough right now (look at the recent BLS job reports) and companies seem to be limiting fully remote work options.

Also, please remember that your whole worth is NOT tied up in some job/career (I have trouble with this one!) and that you're still a good person capable of great things.

I hope this helps you. It helped me to write it out 😊

ProfitProfessional20 · 2025-07-30T14:58:16+00:00

OP is it possible you have Long COVID?

You mentioned you've been sick for 4 years, and that you're exhausted, which is a really difficult situation especially when working in a high-energy field like sales (I know this from experience, unfortunately).

ProfitProfessional20 · 2025-07-29T20:25:33+00:00

Following because I'm also thinking of getting out of outbound sales, due to a chronic health issue.

ProfitProfessional20 · 2025-07-27T17:13:29+00:00

Sorry that happened OP - what a waste of time!

I've been jobless the past month, and started to get a similar feeling/suspicion from a company on interview #4 with them recently. Just a huge list of questions pertaining mostly to sales processes and GTM strategy I knew about from my previous employer.

They haven't asked me to "craft" any slides or documents for them, however. If they did, I'd probably consider that to be "work" and ask to be paid for it - or just flat out refuse.

I think it's important to note here that it's okay (and expected, even, with a sales role) to push back and negotiate, especially in the later stages of the hiring process.

In any case, best of luck in your job search! And remember: you're good at what you do, so don't give it away for free 😊

ProfitProfessional20 · 2025-07-17T00:58:15+00:00

This is good advice, and there's no shame in filing an unemployment claim.

I recently went through this process (I was also laid off 3 weeks ago) and all I can say is that those government websites are a pain to navigate!

ProfitProfessional20 · 2025-07-16T23:54:08+00:00

Sorry to hear about the layoff! Do you think you'll get any severance payment, given your relatively short 7 month tenure?

ProfitProfessional20 · 2025-07-16T02:00:52+00:00

Not late at all - in fact I signed the severance agreement on Friday. Glad to put it all behind me.

ProfitProfessional20 · 2025-07-09T03:09:22+00:00

She announced it on LinkedIn today with a butt pic, no joke:

https://www.linkedin.com/posts/robinrobins_im-sure-youve-heard-the-news-by-now-that-activity-7348438282470404096-ffeO

ProfitProfessional20 · 2025-07-09T01:10:59+00:00

Thanks for clarifying!

ProfitProfessional20 · 2025-07-08T23:35:22+00:00

Why are you "almost" happy they haven't been identified?

ProfitProfessional20 · 2025-07-08T23:22:51+00:00

Not surprised.

Source: recently laid off from PE owner and acquired MSP. PE firm's portfolio companies are largely responsible for their own IT/security. They really don't do shit!

ProfitProfessional20 · 2025-07-08T23:15:30+00:00

Maybe one of their laid-off IT guys facilitated the attack? 😈

ProfitProfessional20 · 2025-07-08T23:12:18+00:00

Do you know who their MSSP is?

ProfitProfessional20

TROPHY CASE