The Utility Company™ Unveils Franchise Opportunity for Microsoft® Small Business Specialists at SMB Nation 2006
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Beyond Managed Services™ franchise provides complete business system including front and back office support for technology service professionals
September 8, 2006, Ottawa, Canada and Redmond, Washington – The Utility Company, the leading supplier of information technology (IT) delivered as a utility service to small and medium businesses (SMB), today introduced their unique franchise opportunity to the Microsoft Small Business Specialists community at SMB Nation 2006.
The Utility Company was founded to address the key issues (barriers) in the SMB managed services industry today for:
- Service providers – the cost of people, process and technology to profitably deliver managed/utility IT services.
- Customers – address today’s technology requirements that are evolving from IT operations to a business productivity focus.
“Many industries reach a point of maturity and complexity where the franchise model becomes prevalent. Technology services for the small and medium business market has reached that stage,” said Mark Scott, President of The Utility Company. “The erosion of the traditional break/fix service model coupled with the commoditization of hardware and software tells us the time is now for a new approach to better service SMB customers in a more scalable, effective and profitable manner.”
In the August 2006 article in SMB Nation magazine entitled “Maturity Matching: Emergence of SMB Franchises”, franchising is identified as an emerging and viable option for Microsoft Small Business Specialists. Key benefits cited in the article include:
- Affiliation and peer interaction
- Lower potential business risk
- Ongoing training and support
- Proven operating system
- Brand name recognition
- Marketing support
- Group buying power
- Standardization and best practices
“We see an increasing appeal to the franchise model for the Small Business Specialist community for all the reasons outlined above,” stated Harry Brelsford, CEO of SMB Nation. “We are pleased that The Utility Company is committed to the Microsoft Small Business Specialist certification both as part of their training regiment and also in their evaluation criteria for prospective franchisees.”
“Our view is that many SMB technology service professionals go into business for themselves and then end up with the job of running a business. Unfortunately for many, that job takes them away from what they are best at – onsite service, consulting and customer relations,” concluded Scott. “Becoming a Utility Service Provider allows our franchisees to focus on their strengths, increase their earning potential, and build an independent business that will be more marketable in the future as part of a large, national service organization.”
The Beyond Managed Services franchise opportunity includes a complete business system along with front and back office support, including:
- 1-866-My-Utility help desk – end user technical support (8x5, 24x5 or 24x7).
- Sales – inside sales support, sales management, customer events.
- Marketing – programs, collateral, campaigns, PR, Utility Service Provider (USP) locator.
- CRM – centralized customer relationship management.
- Administration – documentation, operations guide, HR assistance.
- Finance – billing, collection, tax, leasing; monthly franchise report.
- Service management – policies, procedures, best practices.
- NOC – centralized network operations center, dispatch and management tools.
- Utility Service Center - remote support portal for end user self-help, ticketing and remediation.
- Utility Vehicle – branded Mini leased by franchisee (optional).
- Utility U training – franchisee and end user.
- Vendor relations – centralized procurement and administration.
SMB Nation 2006 includes two sessions on the benefits of franchising in which Utility executives, Scott Jackson and Jason Creally, will be presenting. For more detailed information on our Beyond Managed Services franchise opportunity visit our booth (#137) in the exhibitor pavilion or join us at “Franchise Alley – A reception to learn more about SMB franchises!” on Saturday, September 9th from 5:30-6:30pm at the Redmond Marriott Town Center, Bear River Room, 7401 164th Avenue NE, Redmond, Washington.
About The Utility Company™
The Utility Company™ the leader in Technology-as-a-Service™, delivers information technology as a utility to small and medium-sized businesses, providing the required hardware, software and service for a monthly fee per user. Our Connected Office™ service suite empowers people to properly leverage technology to operate, communicate and manage their business more effectively to increase productivity, performance and ultimately profit. Our customers are supported by the Utility Service Network delivering on-site service across North America – technology sales and service professionals can review the Beyond Managed Services™ franchise opportunity on our website. Learn how to make technology work for your business today at www.theutilitycompany.com
For more information contact:
Aaron Bradley
Marketing Manager
1-866-My-Utility ext.7675
abradley@theutilitycompany.com
