Entering the Managed Services Profession in 2009 - Some Things to Consider

As we begin the first full week of 2009 I am full aware that many of you out there are a) just now entering the managed services profession, or b) considering doing so. If you are reading this and one of these two scenarios applies to you I have some friendly words of advice.

You may be met with some potentially negative or pessimistic commentary this year. Some people might say, you're too late to the game, or there aren't enough jobs to go around to make a living in managed services. Don't listen to this kind of talk. Much of this you will hear from other MSPs (unfortunately) who don't want you coming into their profession. Some of this talk will come from people/organizations who want to sell you something to help you become a MSP. In the end, your own reasons must suffice for why you want to provide managed services; hopefully it is a good one.

Whatever your reason for being a MSP, here are a few things worth your consideration:
• End-user demand for managed services has not yet peaked. In fact, it has barely begun (when you consider how many end-user companies there are). 2009 will see a stark increase in the number of businesses wanting to outsource managed IT.
• There are a lot of companies claiming to be providers of managed services who are no where ready to be called MSPs. Don't be fooled into thinking the market is saturated when much of the market is controlled by commoditized and low grade services that are of very low importance to most clients. 
• When you consider the hundreds of thousands of IT solution providers that currently exist, all they are really doing is changing from reactive to proactive companies. If there was enough room before there will be enough room in the future. They are not trying to force themselves into a market with finite amounts of space. In other words, read Blue Ocean strategies.

When the legal community went through their boom years in the 1970s, we did not see a marked decrease in legal fees, or a decrease in the amount of clients needing legal services. What the legal industry did was create opportunities than ensured their long term survival as a profession. MSPs involved in the MSPAlliance are doing just that.

So, take heart and don't be discouraged. This is a new year and a lot of opportunity still exists for MSPs. Just make sure you are a good MSP!