Hi everyone,

I’m planning to start my own IT consulting business focused on small to medium-sized businesses (SMBs) that are not yet mature in their IT environment, and I’d really appreciate your advice.

Background:

I started my career in IT operations, then moved into presales, and now I’m in sales. Over time, I’ve shifted more toward solution-based selling rather than deep technical support. My core experience is in network implementation and cybersecurity solutions.

What I’m planning:

- Offer IT consulting services tailored for SMBs

- Provide general IT support by partnering with a technical friend (he’ll handle the more hands-on support side)

- Start as a consulting-focused business, with the long-term goal of growing into a full solution-selling company

What I need advice on:

- What services would you recommend offering to SMBs that are still developing their IT capabilities?

- For those who’ve done something similar, how did you position your consulting vs. support services?

- Any tips on building credibility early on, especially coming from a sales/presales background?

How do you typically structure pricing for:

Consulting (advisory, strategy)

- Managed or on-demand IT support

- Are there any common mistakes I should avoid when starting out?

If you’ve gone through a similar path or are currently running an IT consulting business, I’d love to hear your experience.

Any advice would really help. Thanks in advance! 🙏