Setting up one new laptop for a five-person business is a straightforward job to book. If every new starter means repeating account, licence and access setup, it helps to agree who owns that work each time.
When a one-off job makes sense
Book a one-off task when the work has a clear finish, such as setting up a laptop, sorting out mailboxes or investigating a particular fault. Explain what needs to work at the end and how much downtime the business can accept.
What to agree for ongoing support
List the tools that would stop work if they failed, then look at recurring jobs. Who creates and closes accounts? Who checks backups, keeps the device list current and helps people get back into their accounts?
Agree which devices and services are covered, how to ask for help, when to expect a response and which jobs will be quoted separately. The right arrangement depends on the way your team works.
Three questions to ask first
- Which work stops if email, a laptop or shared files are unavailable tomorrow?
- Who currently owns access, updates and backups?
- Which IT problems have come up more than once in the last three months?
Those answers give you a sensible starting point for a single task or an ongoing support arrangement.
Tell us how many people use computers at your business and which IT problems keep coming up. We can discuss a one-off job or ongoing support. Tell us what your business needs · Explore small business IT support