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Small Business Computer Consulting: Appropriately Setting Your Rates

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Summary:
Small business computer consulting requires you to set rates that allow you to make a profit. Once your rates climb higher than $100/hour, you’ll need to move to bigger clients for your small business computer consulting.

Keywords:
small business computer consulting

Article:
In small business computer consulting, $100 an hour can be a reasonable and livable rate. Why can setting your rates at $100 an hour make all the difference in the world?

Take the $100 an hour and multiply it by 1,500 hours a year. This is reflecting a 75% utilization rate; or 75% of a typical forty hour work week as billable time. Now you’re at $150,000 a year gross.

Salary and Affordability

As a small business computer consulting firm, you will want to take a third of the gross and plow it into sales and marketing. Therefore you can afford a $40,000 base salary for your sales account executive. So, of that one third of your gross small business computer consulting income, $40,000 can go to the base salary and $10,000 can go to related marketing expenses.

Additionally, one third will take care of taxes, insurance and overhead items for the most part, and you have a third of it or $50,000 left to pay a technical staff salary.

Surpassing $100 an Hour

You may be considering exceeding a rate of $100 an hour for your small business computer consulting firm. At that point, you can hit what we call the not-so-imaginary-hourly-billing-rate ceiling.

Needless to say, if your small business computer consulting clients are paying $110 to $125 an hour, it gets even easier to be able to afford really bright, motivated, highly qualified sales and technical staff.

Higher Rates Equal Bigger Businesses

However, if you want to charge above $100 an hour in your small business computer consulting firm, you’ll almost always need to move above and beyond sweet spot small business clients into really large small businesses, medium size businesses and enterprise-sized accounts that require a different business model and technical skill set.

Once you do that, you’re going to be operating under a completely different type of business model. And you will need even more polished and seasoned salespeople to be able to handle those accounts.

Copyright MMI-MMVI, Computer Consultants Secrets. All Worldwide Rights Reserved. {Attention Publishers: Live hyperlink in author resource box required for copyright compliance}

Tips To Shopping For A Computer Chair

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Summary:
If you spend any significant amount of time sitting at the computer, you are going to need a good computer chair. With so many to choose from, the selection process can be quite daunting. In an effort to help ease the process, this article offers the following valuable tips to selecting a quality computer chair that will fit your every need.

A quality computer chair will offer some type of cushioning for your comfort. If you spend hours sitting in a char with little or no …

Keywords:
computer chair

Article:
If you spend any significant amount of time sitting at the computer, you are going to need a good computer chair. With so many to choose from, the selection process can be quite daunting. In an effort to help ease the process, this article offers the following valuable tips to selecting a quality computer chair that will fit your every need.

A quality computer chair will offer some type of cushioning for your comfort. If you spend hours sitting in a char with little or no padding, you will know why it is important when you stand up. Always look for a computer chair that is comfortable when you sit and easy to get in and out of.

Individuals vary in their personal taste for features, but many prefer that their computer chair also have cushioned arm rests. This will make time spent at the desk even more comfortable when you need to rest your arms as opposed to having them dangle from the side of your chair.

Another popular feature found in a quality computer chair is that of adjustable height. This just makes good sense for the obvious reasons, but especially if you are not the only one using the computer chair in your home or office.

When it comes to selecting a computer chair, the cost may play a large factor. While we all appreciate the value of a hard earned dollar, you truly will get what you pay for when it comes to finding a quality computer chair. When shopping, take into consideration the amount of time you will spend using the product and how it’s comfort will benefit you. This will help you to decide whether or not the price is right.

If you are going to start a home based business, you will need to have a home office. This should be a special room in your home that is separate from any other so that you will not be distracted. The essential parts of any office are a desk, comfortable chair, a computer, printer, scanner, fax machine, telephone and some paper and a pen. As you progress in your business, you may need to add a filing cabinet or other organizational unit but, for now, the basics will help to show you how to start a home based business. Of all these items, the only one that will have a real impact on your comfort level is that of the computer chair. It may only be a small piece of furniture in your home, but it’s impact can be large if you choose wrongly.

How to ‘Download’ Your Old Computer to the Highest Bidder

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Summary:
When you think trash, you surely don’t think about your old, trusty personal computer. But that’s exactly what will become of it when you make the inevitable move toward your next laptop or desktop. And, yes, buying a new computer is inevitable, considering the pace at which computer technology zips along. Just think—about a handful of years ago, a fast microprocessor for a laptop was at 233 MHz. Now you’re looking at about at least 2 GHz! That’s Giga, with a G.

Keywords:
computer, hardward, buying, selling, used computer

Article:
When you think trash, you surely don’t think about your old, trusty personal computer. But that’s exactly what will become of it when you make the inevitable move toward your next laptop or desktop. And, yes, buying a new computer is inevitable, considering the pace at which computer technology zips along. Just think—about a handful of years ago, a fast microprocessor for a laptop was at 233 MHz. Now you’re looking at about at least 2 GHz! That’s Giga, with a G.

So eventually, you will want a computer that can handle the latest software, the latest games, and the latest interactive Web sites, and then you’ll have to throw away your old computer, right? Wrong. Try selling your used computer instead. Throwing out your computer is one of the worst things you can do. For one, your computer may be useful for someone out there, even if just for scraps.

Trashed computers and other digital equipment also make up one of the fastest growing, and most dangerous, new trash “categories” out there in your neighborhood landfall. On one hand, computers are generally bulky and made of plastic and other materials that won’t be breaking down in a landfill for the next few million years. What’s more, other materials in your old computer are highly toxic to the environment, like mercury, lead and cadmium. They’re so toxic that their actually name in the waste-management field is “toxics.”

You don’t have to be a techie or a scientist to understand the danger in that—nor the benefits of selling your computer. On the Internet, there are a vast number of auction and classifieds sites, some better than others, where you can “download” you computer to a worthy buyer.

Before you boot up your replacement laptop or high-performance PC, however, be sure you read and compute the following tips. These tips will help you avoid the crashes and shutdowns that befall the computer seller who doesn’t do his homework first.

Hold onto all of the operating system and software manuals that came with your old computer. This will add value to your sale, not to mention it will make you a trusted seller for offering up these helpful books to the buyer.

Erase all personal information from the hard drive. And we’re not just talking about simply putting stuff in the “trash bin.” It’s extremely important to purge all data from your computer’s memory repository, even from invisible backup files on the hard drive. If you’re not sure how to do this, ask your IT expert at work or a techie friend for advice. You don’t want the next user to have access to your bank accounts, old e-mails, and other private info, do you?

Uninstall any application from the hard drive that you’d like to use on your next computer, keeping the installation disk and the software serial number for yourself. When it comes to software, the manufacturers made sure that you never really own software, you license it. So you don’t get free reign to keep software on multiple computers. You only get one license, so you need to bring your licensed version with you to your new computer.

Do your homework on your computer’s worth. Just like you would for a car, check around at other classifieds and auction sites to see what other people are selling your make and model for.

Be sure you want to truly get rid of old faithful. You may be able to repair your old laptop rather than buy a new $2,000 Centrino model. Or you may be able to add RAM memory and a new hard drive to your four-year-old desktop rather than invest in a new $3,000 multimedia masterpiece. In other words, do a thorough cost-analysis of what it would take to rebuild your old computer, versus what it would cost to sell it and buy a new one. And check your heart too. You might be surprised just how attached you are to your old faithful.

Once you go through these steps, you are prepared to make your move and sell, sell, sell. And then, of course, you’ll be ready to start on a whole new list of steps—for buying a new computer. But that’s a topic for another article!

Small Business Computer Consulting Freeloaders… and How to Avoid Them

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Summary:
Own a small business computer consulting company? Ever run across freeloaders that essentially want to steal your small business computer consulting services? This article helps you avoid small business computer consulting freeloaders.

Keywords:
small business computer consulting, computer consulting businesses, computer consultants, Computer Consulting 101

Article:
If you’ve been in the small business computer consulting industry for more than 10 minutes, you’ve probably already encountered a fair amount of freeloaders.

Regardless of whether you call these folks moochers, tightwads, cheapskates, tire-kickers, cherry-pickers, or time vampires, left unchecked these vultures can wreak financial and emotional havoc on virtually any small business computer consulting firm.

In this article, we’ll look at what your small business computer consulting company can do to protect itself against freeloaders and other time and financial leaches.

The Root of the Problem

So where does the problem with freeloaders really originate? And how can you handle prospects that have unrealistic expectations of what professional computer consulting services should cost?

What it boils down to is this: You need to be able to convince prospects that hiring your small business computer consulting firm is an investment (not an expense) in their business.

In other words, the tangible, concrete, measurable and irrefutable benefits of what your computer consulting firm delivers must far outweigh their out-of-pocket costs.

Think about it… Would you make an investment in your computer consulting company if you didn’t see how the benefits were greater than the costs?

Back-of-the-Napkin Prediction Tool for Small Business Computer Consulting

Now because you’re selling a highly specialized computer consulting service, your sales message and value proposition will be different than your competitor down the street.

However, you can dramatically tip the scales in your firm’s favor by paying attention to one really universal way to avoid the computer consulting moochers.

Simply, look for small business decision makers that are used to paying for other professional B2B (business-to-business) services, such as accounting services, legal services, public relations (PR) services, or marketing consulting.

That means this kind of small business is already used to investing in highly skilled $100+/hour professional services. The notion of having a professional services provider on a retainer arrangement, say $1,000/month or more, is not a foreign concept.

Work Hard or Work Smart?

Remember, it’s much, much easier and much more time-effective for you or your sales staff to go after qualified leads and prospects than it is to try to talk an unqualified lead or prospect into needing something that the lead or prospect doesn’t perceive to need.

And don’t forget, that right in your local area, there are probably already be tons (at least hundreds, if not thousands) of leads and prospects for you that have real computer consulting needs, are used to paying for professional computer consulting-related services, and have at least semi-realistic expectations about the price-tag on professional computer consulting services.

So don’t waste your time on those suffering from small business computer consulting sticker shock. Don’t waste your time on professional computer consulting moochers and tightwads.

Focus on those small businesses that are accustomed to paying for other professional B2B services and your sales cycle and sales process will go much, much smoother.

Copyright MMI-MMVI, SmallBusinessComputerConsulting.com. All Worldwide Rights Reserved. {Attention Publishers: Live hyperlink in author resource box required for copyright compliance}

Read This Page, And I’ll Show You How To Make $25 In Just 7 Minutes (Or Less), Sitting At Home In Front Of The Computer… And The Best Part Is… You Can Do It Over And Over Again!”

445

Summary:
Read This Page, And I’ll Show You How To Make $25 In Just 7 Minutes (Or Less), Sitting At Home In Front Of The Computer… And The Best Part Is… You Can Do It Over And Over Again!”
No boss. No alarm clock. No stupid co-workers that drive me nuts.

Make $500 to $3,500 Per Month From Home
Without Owning a Website
Without Selling Anything
Without Paying for Advertising
Without Needing Prior Experience
Discover an unbelievably quick and easy way to give yourself a
big fat pay raise, without leaving your home or risking one penny of your hard-earned money ..

http://www.earnfastmoney123.net/

Keywords:
earn money,make money,online business,home business,work from home

Article:
Read This Page, And I’ll Show You How To Make $25 In Just 7 Minutes (Or Less), Sitting At Home In Front Of The Computer… And The Best Part Is… You Can Do It Over And Over Again!”
No boss. No alarm clock. No stupid co-workers that drive me nuts.

Make $500 to $3,500 Per Month From Home
Without Owning a Website
Without Selling Anything
Without Paying for Advertising
Without Needing Prior Experience

Discover an unbelievably quick and easy way to give yourself a
big fat pay raise, without leaving your home or risking one penny of your hard-earned money …

Dear Internet Friend,

It’s embarrassing for me to admit this now, but I have been making a very nice income working from home for quite a while now – and keeping it secret from most of the people who know me. Until…

I was taking the trash out not long ago, and my neighbor Jessica stopped me at the curb.

“I have to ask you,” Jessica said, looking at her feet, “what the heck do you do for a living?”

I shrugged. It’s a question I avoid – not because what I do is wrong or anything, but most people either don’t understand it or they just flat-out don’t believe it.

“No, really,” Jessica said. She looked up. “What do you do? Did you win the lottery? Or did you author a famous book or something?”

I laughed and asked her why she would say such a thing. And then she told me something that made me decide to put up this web page…

She said, “I don’t want to be nosey, but here’s the deal… I get up every day and shower and put on a dress and leave my family to go to work for a living. I come home after dark, I’m dead tired, and I just fall onto the couch and go to sleep in front of the TV.”

I nodded. Jessica was getting worked up.

“You, on the other hand,” she said as she pointed at me, “are home when I leave in the morning. You’re home when I get back from work. You have a nice house, a nice car… and as far as I can tell you don’t even have a job. So I want to know how you do it!”

Immediately I felt sorry for Jessica. Here I had been thinking that she was just nosey – and the truth was, she’s just desperate to find a way out of the 9-to5 trap. She wanted to be free from work-slavery.

So I told her exactly what I’m about to tell you – all about the best-kept “secret job” I know of.

http://www.earnfastmoney123.net

Junk In Your Trunk (computer)

801

Summary:
Home Computer Repair Repair – Got Junk In Your Trunk?

Unfortunately I’m not talking about someone who has nice “ass-ets,” but rather I’m talking about your home computer repair and the unnecessary junk that wastes

Keywords:
home computer repair, home computer fixing, home computer virus

Article:
Home Computer Repair Repair – Got Junk In Your Trunk?

Unfortunately I’m not talking about someone who has nice “ass-ets,” but rather I’m talking about your home computer repair and the unnecessary junk that wastes space therein. I’m talking about spyware, junk that affects your home computer repair by installing programs that slow down your operating system, usually without your knowledge or permission. So what exactly is spyware? Spyware is software components hidden in other software.

It’s used primarily by companies who aim to advertise their products on your home computer repair. By using spyware, they are able to install their own programs or they attach themselves, like parasites, to Internet Explorer (IE), in hopes that you will click on one of their pop up ads, directing you to their homepage. Sometimes it is even used to report information about you, like what Web sites you are viewing, and then transmitting this information back to their server on the Internet. After this information is transmitted, your home computer repair is targeted with specific pop up ads, linking you to specific products promoted by these larger companies.

But I Didn’t Download This

Right. No one would knowingly download a program that monitors his/her actions like Big Brother. Spyware components are hidden in software that you would download, like free game programs from mainstream companies. Thus, when you install the program, you’re also unknowingly installing spyware. Another way people are fooled into downloading spyware are by clicking what they think to be a Window’s error message. The message is actually a pop up window containing spyware waiting to be clicked on so it can begin installing itself into your home computer repair. And, in addition to downloading and clicking disguised messages, there’s yet two more common ways it can be installed: by visiting maliciously encoded Web pages and in email programs like Microsoft Outlook who use HTML script that can also be maliciously encoded.

Prevention Tactics

So now that we’ve discussed what spyware is and how you can get it, let’s talk about how to prevent it. The easiest and most simplistic thing you should do is disconnect your modem when it’s not in use. This will prevent certain spyware components from enabling your modem to dial long distance numbers. If you have Windows XP, Service Pack 2 should be installed because it patches many of IE’s security holes. This program contains a welcome pop up blocker and a new add-on manager that allows you to disable unnecessary programs opened while using IE. IE also has a special security feature that enables you to categorize sites as either Internet, local Intranet, restricted, or trusted. If you categorize the sites you visit, especially sites in the restricted section, IE will prevent the sites from harming your home computer repair. Additionally, Windows also offers firewall protection against malicious sites. Furthermore, whether you have Windows XP or another operating system, there are free programs like Spyware Blaster and Spyware Blocker that can be downloaded to list potentially harmful sites that can be added to your restricted area, while preventing personal information from being transmitted over the Internet.

Removal Strategies

The first thing you need to do is locate spyware. One way you can do this is by turning your home computer repair on in Safe Mode, then pressing CTRL+ALT+Delete to view the Task Manager. Once you see the Task Manager, click on the “Processes” tab and jot down the programs you see. Then, reboot your home computer repair and press CTRL+ALT+Delete again and write down the programs from the same section. Compare the programs and whatever programs are leftover on the list you made from when you rebooted your home computer repair, aside from anti-viral software, are probably ad-on applications created by spyware. To double check that these programs are caused by spyware, you can visit the Library, to research them.

Unfortunately, there’s no one program available that will detect and destroy all spyware. Fortunately, there are several free programs that you can download, that when used simultaneously, can be very efficient; programs like Lavasoft’s Ad-Aware, Hi Jack This, and Spybot Search & Destroy. And, in case the spyware is difficult to remove, as in the case of a particular program called “Cool Web Search,” that takes control of your homepage and then implants Trojans within it, you will have to manually remove it by using CWS Shredder, a specific program designed to shred this particularly difficult spyware. So, if you just remember to disconnect your modem when it’s not in use, keep your anti-virus programs current, utilize the Internet’s safety features along with your home computer repair system’s firewalls, and download or purchase spyware removal programs, your home computer repair should run a lot smoother.

Computer Assisted Language Learning

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Summary:
The connection between computers and language is nothing new. We started seeing it in popular culture back in the 60′s with Star Trek’s communicators. The idea of a universal instant translator of any language into any other language is an extremely appealing problem to techno-linguists. We’re still nowhere near to achieving that dream despite great strides that have been made with automatic translation services online.

There is no fear of losing the language classroom …

Keywords:
CALL, Computer, language learning, esl, efl, learn english, language software, pronunciation

Article:
The connection between computers and language is nothing new. We started seeing it in popular culture back in the 60′s with Star Trek’s communicators. The idea of a universal instant translator of any language into any other language is an extremely appealing problem to techno-linguists. We’re still nowhere near to achieving that dream despite great strides that have been made with automatic translation services online.

There is no fear of losing the language classroom any time soon. More than any time in the last 100 years, students are flocking to ESL and EFL classrooms around the world. And more than ever, technology is becoming a core part of these classrooms. We are now entering a time when both students and teachers are ‘tech savvy’ and computers and related technologies have been part of their daily life from the start.

They have a familiarity and comfort level with technology that people born say before 1980 or so just don’t have. As language students’ lives become increasingly computer based, the importance of integrating computers with language learning is growing. Not only do students expect it, but it is also how many are most comfortable learning (for better or worse).

Sadly, and maybe this is only for those of us who are slightly older, the growing dependence on technology has resulted in a disturbing lack of familiarity and comfort with traditional information sources – like books, libraries, and frighteningly person-to-person communication.

So what should language teachers do? Should you integrate computers into your language classes and lessons? Well that will always depend on what you are trying to accomplish and why. By no means do you need to go 100% digital – however to completely ignore the importance of technology in language learning would be a major mistake in my estimation.

I know what I do in the classes I teach. I make use of computers in my classes when I see an overall benefit, and I don’t when I can’t see the benefit. What will you do? Well, that depends on you and your personal inclinations.

For now, keep in mind that while CALL, or computer assisted language learning, has come a long way in the last 15 years or so, the word ‘assisted’ is, and I think should always remain, central in the relationship between computers and language learning.

How To Get Spyware Removal Software And Keep Your Computer Safe

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Summary:
For numerous people logging onto the Internet is as routine as putting on a pair of clean underwear everyday. People take it for granted without realizing what is actually going on. Every time you log on to the world wide web, you are risking your computer to numerous viruses, spyware, and adware programs. Many people donґt realize that over ninety percent of computers today are infected with some form of virus or spyware. It is usually to late for people to do anything by th…

Keywords:
spyware software

Article:
For numerous people logging onto the Internet is as routine as putting on a pair of clean underwear everyday. People take it for granted without realizing what is actually going on. Every time you log on to the world wide web, you are risking your computer to numerous viruses, spyware, and adware programs. Many people donґt realize that over ninety percent of computers today are infected with some form of virus or spyware. It is usually to late for people to do anything by the time they realize they have been infected by some malicious computer disease. By then they have to go a computer repair place and shell out big bucks to fix whatever problem may have occurred. There is a solution to this problem however, and it is called spyware removal software.

There are several insecurities on your computer when you first buy it, and if you donґt do anything about it, you are allowing yourself to be exposed to countless infections. By keeping yourself exposed, you give access to multiple hackers who can turn your life into a complete nightmare. Once a hacker is into your computer, they are able to steal passwords, reconfigure your browser settings, record sensitive information like your credit card numbers and bank information, and they can even use your computer to do illegal things to other computers. So why allow this to happen when all you really have to do is get spyware removal software.

Spyware removal software is a highly effective way to stop hackers from infiltrating your computer and causing havoc in your life. Even though it is almost impossible to eliminate all spyware on oneґs computer, it is recommended that you still install it. There are a few things to look for when selecting the best spyware removal software. It should have constant updates to keep you as most protected as possible. It should update at least once a month to keep up with the rapidly changing software out there today. The spyware software should also block all pop ups because countless infections are caused by this annoying occurrence. It should scan your computer automatically on a set schedule, and it should have constant background scanning to keep you as well protected as possible. If you find a spyware removal software program that includes all these features it is a good investment to buy it.

Your computer is one of your most valuable assets. You can use it for countless things such as paying your bills, checking your bank statement, or just finding important information. Although many people take it for granted, logging online can be just as dangerous as giving your purse or wallet to an unknown civilian. When connecting to the Internet, you are allowing countless hackers to corrupt your computers system and you are enabling these people to turn your life upside down. Instead of allowing this to happen, simply by purchasing the right type of spyware removal software, you can eliminate this threat from eve occurring. Donґt let hackers and infections ruin your computer and your day, get spyware removal software and safely go online without any worries.

More Computer Consulting 101 Hiring Tips (Part 2 of 2)

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Summary:
Don’t fall into the ultra-common trap of hiring an independent computer consultant or computer consulting firm that isn’t a good fit for your business. Use these Computer Consulting 101 hiring and screening questions as the basis for making a more informed hiring decision for your computer consulting vendor. And if you have any doubts, don’t be afraid to seek out a second opinion with another computer consulting company.

Keywords:
computer consulting 101, computer consultants, computer consulting business

Article:
Does your company need to retain the services of a competent computer consulting firm, but you have no idea how to really evaluate “competence”?

In the first part of this two-part series on Computer Consulting 101 hiring tips, we looked at why small businesses find it so difficult to hire good computer consulting companies, as well as four basic questions that you must be addressed when searching for a new computer consulting vendor.

Now in this second and final installment of this two part series on Computer Consulting 101 hiring tips, we’ll look at how you can evaluate the true, often-confusing expenses of using a computer consulting company, as well as how to more thoroughly review the computer consulting company’s professional credentials and experience.

Reseller, “Pure” Computer Consulting Company, or Hybrid Technology Provider

Does your company resell various technology products, such as hardware and software? Is this a profit center or do you mind if we shop for our products elsewhere? And if we do shop elsewhere, can we still purchase your needs analysis and procurement services?

Are there any other vendors, such as ISPs or telephone companies, that your firm acts as an agent or affiliate for? In other words, do you accept commissions or referral fees for steering business toward certain vendors?

Costs, Hidden Charges, and Billing Procedures

What are your payment terms, rates and hourly billing minimums? What is billable and what is not billable?

Do you charge for your travel time? Telephone support? E-mail/online support? Remote support?

Are there any hourly rate billing premiums for after-hours or emergency service? What constitutes “after hours” or an “emergency”?

Do you offer support contracts? What are the cost and benefits?

Client Reference Accounts, Case Studies, and Testimonials

Can you tell me about one of your more long-term small business client accounts?

Can you tell me about one of your more recently signed-on clients? Can you tell me about a small business client who didn’t work out and why?

Can you provide references?

Research/Developments and Keeping Skills Sharp

How do you keep up with new tech developments?

What do you bill clients for and what do you absorb internally? Are there any gray areas?

Training Approach and Knowledge Transfer

How do you feel about handholding and in-depth training with users?

What kind of user and technical training can you provide?

Will you train our internal computer administrator to become more self-sufficient, even if it takes away from your “job security” and opportunities to bill more hours?

The Bottom Line

Don’t fall into the ultra-common trap of hiring an independent computer consultant or computer consulting firm that isn’t a good fit for your business. Use these Computer Consulting 101 hiring and screening questions as the basis for making a more informed hiring decision for your computer consulting vendor. And if you have any doubts, don’t be afraid to seek out a second opinion with another computer consulting company.

Copyright MMI-MMVI, Computer Consulting 101. All Worldwide Rights Reserved. {Attention Publishers: Live hyperlink in author resource box required for copyright compliance}