Small Business IT mistake 5: Not setting up equipment properly

I once went to an office where everyone had to shut down their systems when someone wanted to print. Just before someone would send a job to the printer they'd call out "everyone shut down, I'm going to print".

Everyone would save their work, shut down their computers and march outside for a smoke or coffee. The guy doing the print job would do it, restart his computer and wander out to join the others. They'd all tromp back to the office ten minutes later.

This was costing the owner a $100,000 a year. He thought it was normal.

While the computer industry likes to pretend their equipment can be setup with a few clicks, it isn’t true.

This is why getting a trusted tech in to set equipment up properly is essential. All too often the office guru, kid from the computer superstore or the boss’s niece who knows something about computers sets it up and gets it wrong.

One of the advantages of having a regular tech looking after your system is they know how your system is set up. A good tech will have documented the system and will have a good idea of how the equipment will fit in to your existing network and business.

If you do insist on setting up your own systems then at least have a cup of coffee and the read the manual before you start. It might save you and your computer tech a lot of expense and heartache later.