Uncle Marv's IT Business Podcast

Sean and Dave share the backstory behind writing "The Pumpkin Plan for MSPs." They explain how their personal experiences and mistakes in the industry inspired them to create a book that provides practical, battle-tested advice for managed service providers. The authors emphasize that their goal was not to reinvent the wheel, but to distill the essential lessons from Mike Michalowicz's original "Pumpkin Plan" and adapt them specifi...

Introducing Stack Tracker for MSPs

Colin Knox explains that StackTracker goes beyond just mapping an MSP's technology stack. It focuses on the reseller aspect of an MSP's business, providing insights into the usage, costs, and profitability of the solutions they are reselling to clients. By pulling in data directly from vendors, StackTracker can show MSPs their vendor spend, revenue, and profitability across their entire product por...

Lori Hardtke is a solo MSP owner who has been in the IT industry for many years, working in various roles such as IT manager at large companies like Mayo Clinic. Over time, Lori realized that she didn't want the responsibility of managing employees and decided to run her business as a solo operation, leveraging subcontractors when needed.  

In 2018, Lori came across the Profit First book by Michael Michalowicz and was initially hesi...

Uncle Marv's recap of the Channel Pro Live event

Uncle Marv starts by discussing his recent trip to Channel Pro Live in Orlando, Florida. He shares his overall positive impression of the event, noting that the location, accommodations, and Wi-Fi were all satisfactory. The content and speakers were also well-received, with the keynote by Manuel Palachuk and panels featuring industry experts like Rayanne Buchianico, Eric Long, and Car...

Uncle Marv and Tim Fitzpatrick dive into the challenges many MSPs face when it comes to marketing their businesses. Tim explains that the first step in developing a successful marketing strategy is to understand where the business is currently and where it wants to go. This involves identifying the target market, crafting the right messaging, and ensuring the offerings are aligned with the needs of the ideal clients. 

Tim cautions a...

Strap in for a strategic deep dive into the world of help desk management, where I reveal how transitioning to a specialized team structure can turn your service from satisfactory to exceptional. We navigate the shift from generalist to niche expert pods, ensuring that your team is not just dealing with the day-to-day but excelling in their specialized fields, from healthcare to banking. It's more than just technical know-how; it's...

Join the revolution of IT as we chat with Jeff Bishop from ConnectWise, who lifts the veil on the future of automation and AI. Our conversation takes off from a tale of a complex client relocation, seguing into Jeff’s exciting reveal of ConnectWise's latest innovations in robotic process automation. 

Jeff describes how their RPA solution goes beyond just bots, also including more comprehensive workflow automation capabilities that c...

The episode begins with Uncle Marv introducing the "star-studded crew" of guests, including Jerry Koutavas, the president of ASCII, Jessie Devine, the VP of Channel Development at ASCII, and Sue Trahant, an MSP owner who has been involved with ASCII for over 20 years. 

This episode isn't just a walk down memory lane; it's a master class in community building and strategic foresight.  Jerry reflects on ASCII's 40-year journey, highli...

When Paco LeBron and Rick Smith from MSP Unplugged drop by, you know you're in for some real talk about the tech industry's heartbeat—community and collaboration. 

Ever wondered what sets apart the most successful MSPs? It's the power of a strong, supportive community. Discover the power of unity in the MSP space, as we reminisce about the formation of MSP Unplugged and its evolution from Podnutz. We highlight the pivotal role small...

Planning for Business Exit and Profit

Unlock the secrets to a profitable business exit with Rayanne Buchianico in a conversation that will leave you with a blueprint for success. We dissect the crucial yet often neglected aspect of starting your IT or MSP business with the ultimate exit in mind. Grasp the impact of sudden events like health issues that can expedite the need to sell and discover how to build a company that flourishes...

MSP Money Management Tips

In this insightful episode, Rayanne Buchianico emphasizes the significance of implementing an accounting system from the start to track income and expenses effectively. She highlights the need to differentiate revenue streams like products, services, and professional services to understand margins and costs better. By setting clear financial goals and regularly reviewing benchmarks, businesses can ensure fi...

MSP Financial Tips for Success

This week, I'm joined by Raffi Jamgotchian, a masterful MSP who's carved out a niche in safeguarding financial firms. Raffi shares insights on operational efficiency, long-term value building, budgeting strategies, debt management, and the importance of flexibility in adapting to market changes.

The heartbeat of any business is its cash flow, and we're not shy about diving into the deep end. I lay bare ...

Uncle Marv talks about the concept of billing for every aspect of service provision, highlighting the need to include travel expenses, phone consultations, consulting time, and detailed service billing in invoices. He shares insights on how to structure billing practices to optimize revenue generation and enhance client satisfaction by maintaining transparency throughout the invoicing process.

The episode underscores the significanc...

In this episode of the IT Business podcast, Uncle Marv discusses cash flow management with Heather Zeitzwolfe, a CPA and profit strategist. They delve into the importance of understanding the difference between profit and cash flow, emphasizing the significance of tracking business finances effectively.

Heather highlights the distinction between profit and cash flow, stressing that profit is what remains after expenses are deducted,...

Join me as I share insights gained from my attorney clients to help you enhance your billing practices and cash flow. Listen in as I recount a pivotal moment during a technology business review with a law firm client that sparked a realization about the power of detailed invoicing. This episode is packed with valuable advice on how to present your services in a way that not only satisfies clients but also prompts swift payment, pla...

Our latest episode welcomes a panel brimming with influential voices, including Juan Fernandez from SuperOps, Uncle Marv of the IT Business Podcast, Paco Lebron from MSP Unplugged, Eric Anthony of All Things MSP, and Eric Simpson from MSP Mastered. These leaders share their insights on transitioning from isolation to collaboration and the critical role of knowledge sharing and mutual support to elevate the sector.

The episode kicks ...

Navigating Cyber Coverage: Cork's Warranty vs. Traditional Insurance

Nick Wolf introduces Cork Inc., a cyber warranty solution for MSPs to resell to their clients, offering financial coverage and quick access to funds in case of incidents. Unlike cyber insurance, Cork's warranty can cover expenses like ransomware payments, wire transfer losses, and phishing attacks, while also paying off cyber insurance deductibles. The episode emph...

In this episode, Uncle Marv introduces the topic of the NSITSP, highlighting the necessity for IT service providers to have a voice in shaping industry standards and regulations. Amy Babinchak joins the discussion, shedding light on the origins of NSITSP and its mission to professionalize the IT industry by establishing codes of conduct and ethics.

NSITSP stands for the National Society of IT Service Providers, a professional associ...

Join me as I unpack the latest in IT business strategies and the sheer hilarity of the Florida Man Games. Listen in as I share the surprising turn of events that led to the Games becoming a major spectacle in St. Augustine and provide a rundown of the quirky competitions that ensued. But that's not all; I also discuss the exciting announcement of our Amazon gift card winner. The conversation then shifts to important business matter...