If you don’t have the budget for professional help, try
designing a site yourself with online tools like Squarespace, Wix, or
WordPress. Starting a blog can also be an effective way to attract clients and
improve your search rankings.
Social media is another powerful tool for reaching
prospective clients. Create LinkedIn, Twitter, and Facebook accounts for your
IT services business and post content relevant to the industry and your
potential clients. You can also run paid ads that target users by geography,
demographics, income, and other criteria.
But don’t forget the human touch. There’s still no
substitute for networking.
Reach out to both current and former colleagues. Meet new
potential clients and business partners by attending virtual and in-person
conferences and networking events. Make a small investment in business cards
and pass them out to your new contacts.
Draft and use client contracts for every engagement
Before you start working for a client, have contracts that
outline your terms and conditions. Contracts can protect you from lawsuits and
let your clients know exactly what they can expect from you – and what you
expect from them.
A basic IT services contract should include the following
information:
scope of the work
price and frequency of invoicing
timelines for the project
termination clauses
dispute resolution details
Client contracts will frequently require your business to
purchase technology errors and omissions (E&O) insurance. This policy
protects your company from lawsuits caused by work mistakes or missed
deadlines. It will pay for attorney's fees, court costs, and settlements if a
client sues you.
For some projects, you might also need cyber liability
insurance to help pay for recovery from a data breach or your response to a lawsuit
caused by one. Many insurance providers now bundle cyber liability insurance
with E&O coverage. Even if this isn’t a contract requirement, it’s still a
sound investment.
Hire strategically
When your business begins to grow, it could be time to consider
hiring employees or freelancers. Beyond lightening your workload, it can allow
you to take on new projects.
But don’t necessarily hire the first person who applies.
Every new hire should undergo a thorough background check. You may be trusting
these employees to handle confidential and potentially sensitive information.
Call their references, and make sure that all terms of employment and wages are
clear in the offer letter.
You can purchase fidelity bonds to guard against employee
theft and fraud. In fact, your clients may request it in their contracts.
Most states require businesses with employees to carry
workers' compensation insurance. If an employee suffers a job-related injury or
illness, workers’ comp coverage pays for the injured employee’s medical
expenses and partial lost wages.
These policies will also cover attorney's fees, court costs,
and settlements if an injured employee sues your business.
You may also consider employment practices liability
insurance to protect against lawsuits over wrongful termination, harassment,
and similar issues.
Starting an IT services business provides a significant
opportunity to pick your own projects, boost your income, and work for clients
in a range of industries. Investing the time and effort into covering all your
bases increases the chances that your business will enjoy long-term success.
At Insureon, we’ve helped countless new IT businesses
protect themselves and limit their risk. Complete our easy online application
today to compare quotes for business insurance from top-rated U.S. insurers.
Once you find the right policy for your small business, you can begin coverage
in less than 24 hours.
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