When You Should NOT Hire Us

We've turned away business. Not often, but enough that we think you should know.

Some businesses shouldn't hire us. If you're one of them, we want you to find the right fit faster. This article explains why.

When we probably aren't the right fit

You need someone to do everything for you

We're not a full-service IT department. We're not an MSP that handles all your day-to-day operations.

We help with specific problems: strategic planning, vendor selection, contract review, technology decisions, complex projects. We're not替 your IT department.

If you need someone to manage everything—answer support tickets, handle user onboarding, manage printers—that's an MSP relationship, not what we do.

You want the cheapest option

We charge for our time. We're not the most expensive option, but we're not the cheapest.

If your budget is extremely constrained and cost is the primary factor, we probably aren't right. The $200/month MSP might be. We hope they treat you well.

You need immediate hands-on support

We work on projects and engagements. We don't staff 24/7 help desks.

If you have a server down right now, we can't help you. That's not what we do. You need an MSP for that.

Your problem is very simple

Need someone to set up a new laptop? Configure a router? Install QuickBooks? That's not us. Call anyone. Seriously.

We charge by the hour for some things, but we won't take engagements where someone cheaper and faster would serve you better.

You're not willing to be involved

We can't help businesses that won't participate. If you want someone to just "handle it" with no communication, no decisions, no feedback, we can't deliver.

We work best with owners and teams who want to understand what's happening and make decisions about their technology.

Why we're honest about this

A bad fit helps nobody. We've taken engagements that weren't right for either party. The work was mediocre. The relationship was frustrating. Everyone wasted time.

We'd rather be upfront.

Who should look elsewhere

Very small businesses (under 5 employees)

Most of what you need is off-the-shelf software, a local IT shop, or just Google. You probably don't need strategic technology consulting.

The problems we solve—complex vendor decisions, multi-year IT strategy, significant infrastructure projects—don't usually apply to a 3-person business.

Businesses without a technology budget

If you can't invest in solving your technology problems, no consultant can help. Technology costs money. Good technology costs money. Bad technology also costs money, plus frustration.

Businesses with immediate crises

We're not emergency responders. If your systems are down right now, you need an MSP or an emergency IT service, not a planning engagement.

Businesses looking for ongoing management

We're not set up to be your permanent IT department. We don't staff help desks. We don't monitor systems 24/7.

If that's what you need, find an MSP. We can help you evaluate MSPs, but we can't be one.

What about everyone else?

If you're still reading, you might be a good fit.

Good fits for us include:

• Businesses planning significant technology investments ($50,000+)
• Organizations with complex vendor situations (multiple providers, unclear accountability)
• Companies that have had repeated IT problems and want to fix the root cause
• Leaders who want to understand their technology, not just delegate it
• Businesses that need an objective second opinion on technical decisions

How to find the right fit

If we're not right, here's what we suggest:

Need day-to-day management? Look for a local MSP. Get 3-4 quotes. Check references. Start with our guide on choosing an IT partner.

Have a simple, bounded project? Find a local IT shop or freelancer who does that specific work. Don't over-engineer the solution.

Need technology strategy? We might be right. Talk to us about what you're trying to achieve.

Need someone to blame? That's not a service we offer, and honestly, you should probably work on that separately.

Questions to ask us

Before you hire us, ask:

• "Is this the kind of problem you typically solve?"
• "Who have you helped in situations like ours?"
• "What's your approach, and what would working together look like?"
• "What does success look like for this engagement?"
• "What would make you recommend we work with someone else?"

If we recommend someone else, we're serious. We've done it. We'll do it again.

The bottom line

The right vendor relationship is one where both parties benefit. We're honest about what we do, who we help, and when we aren't the right choice.

If you've read this far and think we might fit, let's talk. If not, good luck finding the right partner. The Gulf Coast has good options.

Either way, don't sign anything until you've asked the questions that matter to you.