Are you a small business in need of hiring a great computer consulting firm?  The following questions can help you evaluate a computer consulting prospect and figure out how to determine experience and credentials … even if you have little or no technical knowledge!

Reseller, Pure Computer Consulting Company or Hybrid Tech Provider

1.    “Does your company resell technology products such as hardware and software?  Is it a profit center, or can we shop for our products elsewhere?  If we shop elsewhere, can we still buy your needs analysis and procurement services?”

2.    “Are there any other vendors – ISPs or telephone companies – that your company works in conjunction with?  Do you accept commissions or referral fees for bringing business to certain agents?”

Costs, Hidden Charges and Billing Processes

3.    “What are your payment terms, rates and hourly billing minimums?  What do you consider billable and non-billable?”

4.    “Do you have hourly rate billing premiums for after-hours or emergency service?  How do you define these terms?”

5.    “Do you charge for travel time, telephone support, e-mail or online and remote support?”

6.    “Do you have support contracts?  How much do they cost and what are the benefits?”

Client Reference Accounts, Case Studies, Testimonials

7.    “Tell me about one of your long-term small business clients.”

8.    “Tell me about a recently signed-on client.  And tell me about one that didn’t work out, and why it didn’t work out.”

9.    “Do you have references?”

Research and Development and Keeping up Skills

10.    “How do you stay abreast of new advances in technology?”

11.    “For which things do you bill clients, and for which do you absorb internally?  Are there ‘gray areas’?”

Training, Etc.

12.    “Do you do hand holding and in-depth user training?”

13.    “What kind of user training do you offer?”

14.    “Are you willing to train our internal computer guru to be more self sufficient, even if this function takes away from some additional billable hours?”

Ask these questions about computer consulting, and you are more likely to find someone that fits in well with what you need to support your small business.

Added By:  Joshua Feinberg