Starting your own IT support business

[bze07]

Hi All

 

I guess this has come up before but has anyone started there own business supporting schools? just wondered how it has worked out and is it worth it?

[elsiegee40]

As with all things business, you need to take care with tax and insurance.

 

Make sure you take out liability insurance.

 

If you’re planning on doing this alongside your day job, make sure your day job contract permits it. You will have to inform your employer and all income from the business will be taxed at standard rate so you will have a tax return to sort out at year end.

 

If you’re planning on just setting up as a sole trader, it’s pretty easy. You just need to register https://www.gov.uk/set-up-sole-trader

[XiJ]

Yep. I left the LA in 2000 after the frustration trying to look after 107 schools by myself. My boss at the time did training. We setup our own partnership and looked after 25-30 schools at peak with an additional tech. Did that for 11 years before ‘merging’ with a local AV company.

 

That went well for 5 years or so before things went a bit south. Worked with a mates business a bit (he did telecoms, I ran school side IT) and ended up where I am now. An IT specialist with education side, web development and Business IT support.

 

Self employment was stressful and hardwork - but I was my own boss. Not sure I want to go there again but have no regrets about doing it. Wish I knew then what I know now!

 

Schools are funny beasts though and in these tough times, loyalty and quality stand for nothing !

[Patrick]

I'm self employed, subcontracted IT support worker, I work directly for someone else who in turn has the contracts under his business. Great set up for me personally, I(we) support 15 small schools and i really enjoy the change of scenery each day! One tip i'll give you is don't fall into the trap of trying to do too much remotely, as tempting as it is. A smiling face on premises is very important for the business side of things, and you'd be surprised how often you collared with jobs that haven't been reported when your in a school you might not a visited for a week or two. It's the nature of the beast.

[Hacker72]

I started in IT in schools over 10 years ago and it has been good. Things have grown and now I run an IT support company - Grove Technology.

Its like anything in life - Ups and Downs and a lot of hard work. If you want to chat about it then drop me a PM, I am only down the road from you

[spacebar]

Is it possible to make a profit? or take home a decent wage?

[yac2016]

I would say it's worth it. Lots of hard work and long hours to come, highs and lows and a steep learning curve. We started with 1 school in 2015 and now manage over 50 in Staffordshire. Depends on the circumstances, do you know if schools are unhappy with current support, do they still use LEA provision as it can be had for them to move,

[elsiegee40]

Is it possible to make a profit? or take home a decent wage?

 

You would need to do the research in your area. I have a good friend who started as a one man band 20 years ago and is now supporting 32 schools with people working for him.

 

Yes, you can make a good income, but it might take time to build up to it.

 

If you have dependents and/or a mortgage then you would need to think very carefully at how much risk you are prepared to accept.

Edited February 27, 2018 by elsiegee40

[mikeprice]

I'm self employed, subcontracted IT support worker, I work directly for someone else who in turn has the contracts under his business. Great set up for me personally, I(we) support 15 small schools and i really enjoy the change of scenery each day! One tip i'll give you is don't fall into the trap of trying to do too much remotely, as tempting as it is. A smiling face on premises is very important for the business side of things, and you'd be surprised how often you collared with jobs that haven't been reported when your in a school you might not a visited for a week or two. It's the nature of the beast.

 

Agree with you - getting out and talking to people has always resulted in more jobs in my experience - but jobs that you wouldn't have otherwise know about that affect the users of the system

 

so keeping the IT systems running to the satisfaction of the people who use them is dependent on getting to know the people

which big companies sometimes seem to forget

[mukz]

I did it last year! Was hard, but i had my current school on board as we had IT staff leaving left right and centre.

 

They accepted the fact that i would leave so instead said you can do 5 days here but if there is anything over 2 days spent elsewhere i would reimburse the school by either working evenings or weekends, which i didnt mind honestly as i wanted to get my business up and running.

 

The school has helped me get another 3 schools in past 6 months. I give me current school 1/5 of a price now

[RTi78]

How has academies and MATs affected your business? as I usually hear external IT support is the first to go?

[SHimmer45]

tentatively looked at something similar for home users and small businesses, and alot of people dont want to pay for expertise it seems.

which was a little frustrating at the time.

"you can look it up on the internet" and phrases like that were what i heard quite alot

but then in the area i live in there are quite a few firms already established

 

id love to involved in a jobs with a specific focus rather than the current bumbling along...

[yac2016]

How has academies and MATs affected your business? as I usually hear external IT support is the first to go?

 

Mixed bag as a lot of Trusts want to outsource their ICT and some want to bring it in house.

 

Overall the academy system gives us more work as it frees schools from LEA control.