Posted by Richard Schissler on Mon, Aug 29, 2011 @ 11:42 AM
Benefits of Managed Services for Small and Medium Businesses
by Stephanie Allen
However we try to deny it, the number of individuals who don’t know a thing about their computers is many. There are only a few who are able to know how they can fix their computers when there is something wrong with it. As such, finding the right company or individual to provide computer support is really an important issue.
But with regards to getting the right help for software applications and IT maintenance, it is important to allocate a certain amount of money for this. This is because there are some professionals who know their way around fixing these issues. If they are hired to do the job, they may have the power to charge a high fee. Because they know how to do such things, it gives them the power to raise their charges. For this reason, it is advised that you look for someone who offers managed services to your small and medium business.
Here are just some of the reasons why this is important for a business:
• They support in-house IT services- The good thing about hiring a company that offers managed services is that they will provide IT services to your business. As such, they can help you whenever you need help with your computers.
• You get an increase in your productivity- When you hire a company to provide you 24 hours computer support, you are letting them take care of your business well. For this, you can avoid downtime and make sure that you are spending your time well. You are guaranteed that you get someone to help you quickly repair your computer problems the moment they occur. As such, you know your company is always earning money.
• Remote services for your business- If you will be hiring a company to provide managed services to you, you don’t need to pay for their use of equipment. Since they work from another remote location, they have their own computer, back-up and even recovery support equipment. In doing so, you do not have to add them to your list of expenses that your business will acquire.
The good thing about hiring a company to provide you computer support is that you can be sure they will always be there for you anytime of the day. However, you have to make sure that you choose the right company because if you don’t, you are only spending your money on a service you won’t be benefiting from.
Look for a company that offers managed services and can actually deliver their promise. Make sure that the company you chose can be contacted anytime and that they can respond well. By doing so, your small and medium business will have so much to gain.
CONTACT WESTEC SERVICES FOR A FREE QUOTE
(713) 682-4000
WesTec Services, A Houston IT provider that offers a wide range of services including: Network Installation/Service, Telephone Systems/Service, Video Surveillance/Access Control and Office Equipment
CALL TODAY at (713) 682-4000
Posted by Richard Schissler on Fri, Aug 26, 2011 @ 01:42 PM
We all know that purchasing new hardware and software for a business can be costly for a small to medium sized business owner. It's also very important to make sure it is current, updated, and backed up. The government has allowed business owners to write off these purchases in past years. But that is all coming to an end. PC World, a trusted business journal, reports the below:
By Yardena Arar, PCWorld: Your computers, your cell phone, Internet services, Web hosting--your business depends on technology to run, so at tax time it's natural to want to deduct all your tech expenditures.
And accountants agree--but only up to a point.
If you do your own taxes, even good tax-prep software (desktop or Web-based) can't make all the decisions for you (although it should save you from serious math errors). We talked to some accountants about key issues to consider when filling out this year's forms, as well as when planning for next year.
Deduct Now or Later?
PCs, printers, and other expensive tech hardware are considered assets that retain value over several years, but the IRS gives you a choice on how to deduct their costs. You can either depreciate them, meaning that you spread the deduction over the number of years the IRS considers to be the useful life of the item (this may not agree with your opinion), or you can write the entire cost off in one fell swoop as a Section 179 deduction.
How you choose to proceed depends a lot on what you expect your income and other expenses to look like going forward. Did you have a big year, and do you want to lower your profits to minimize the tax bite? Go ahead and take those full Section 179 deductions. But remember, if you write everything off immediately, you will have less to deduct next year and the year after.
Section 179 Is Being Downsized
Most self-employed people won't run into it, but there is a limit on dollar totals for Section 179 deductions, and it will be plunging in the next few years--something that Los Angeles-based CPA Jim Sharvin says could definitely impact larger small businesses.
For the 2009 tax year (the one we're doing returns for now), the limit is at its high of $250,000; for 2010 it drops to $134,000, and in 2011 it plummets to $25,000.
Again, that shouldn't be too much of a problem for self-employed individuals, but if you're running an office with a dozen or so employees, you might not want to postpone computer upgrades to next year if you're planning on taking Section 179 deductions.
Be careful, by the way, when doing state returns. Most states aren't as generous with their equivalent of Section 179 limits, so you may not be able to write off everything you deduct on your state return. Of course, you can still depreciate the purchase over several years, but you'll need to calculate these deductions differently.
Personal Versus Business Expenses
It's tempting, especially for self-employed individuals who work at home, to write off all computer and phone expenses, but the IRS won't look kindly on you if you do. Dan Morris, a Silicon Valley-based CPA, says that in general, the smaller the business, the more the IRS is likely to question attempts to write off 100 percent of the costs of computers, cell phones, and other hardware that most people use for personal purposes at least part of the time.
For example, if you own just one phone, the IRS won't believe that you use it only for business--most people do make and/or receive personal calls from time to time.
The solution is to demonstrate that you are spending at least some money on a phone for personal use. For example, If you have a cell phone and a landline, you might be able to write off all of the cell phone and part of the landline. Similarly, if you have four computers in your home and also have a spouse and kids, the IRS is not going to believe that all of those computers are exclusively used for business. Better to designate at least one or two for family use and not try to deduct them as business assets.
Deducting Tech Toys
A variation of this issue arises when you seek to deduct the costs of expensive gadgets that the IRS might view as perks or toys as opposed to necessary business tools (an iPad might be an example of this). Again, Morris says, "recognize that if you're buying cutting-edge technology, superfast tech items, the smaller the business, the closer you are to having a personal benefit--and the more likely the IRS is to challenge the expense."
Morris says to ask yourself if the item meets the IRS's standards for a legitimate deduction, which are that it should be a usual, necessary, customary, and reasonable expense for your type of business. A computer consultant, for example, might reasonably write off more high-end computer and smartphone purchases than, say, a machinist.
Morris also recommends that small businesses consider creating a technology-purchase policy document. Written guidelines are useful if the IRS is questioning whether, for example, you replace laptops every year for business reasons or as a perk.
What About Software?
Although you might use software for longer than a year, accountants generally prefer that you list it as an office expense (unless it's a huge elaborate system that has been specially developed for your firm). Most off-the-shelf software, such as antivirus programs, actually are based on annual subscriptions anyway.
If you have a lot of hardware expenses anyway, you might run into the Section 179 limit, so you may want to treat more items as office expenses, which are deducted completely in the year that you purchase them.
This goes for small hardware items like low-end cameras--some accountants will treat anything that costs less than $500 as an expense rather than an asset. (TurboTax, by the way, will recommend that you treat any purchase of under $100 as an expense, regardless of how long you intend to use it.)
WesTec Services, A Houston IT provider that offers a wide range of services including: Network Installation/Service, Telephone Systems/Service, Video Surveillance/Access Control and Office Equipment
CALL TODAY at (713) 682-4000
Posted by Richard Schissler on Fri, Aug 19, 2011 @ 03:35 PM
Buying a block of time can actually cost a business owner more money to maintain the office technology. Unfortunately Managed Services and Remote Managed Services are looked at as a binding contract, although it's really like an insurance policy. When you buy a managed services package, customized to business needs, from WesTec Services you will be 100% guaranteed satisfaction in the first 30 days or you have the right to terminate. It is not really a "binding contract" like other IT service and support companies may require. So take a look at our different approach and process to saving you money while at the same time as supporting your network. Our FREE in person, onsite consultation is worth your time and it should be important when comparing dollars and cents.
Check out WesTec's different approach to managed services thru this 2 minute informational video we created!
WesTec Services, A Houston IT provider that offers a wide range of services including: Network Installation/Service, Telephone Systems/Service, Video Surveillance/Access Control and Office Equipment
CALL TODAY at (713) 682-4000
Posted by Richard Schissler on Fri, Aug 12, 2011 @ 03:46 PM
It's called UNTANGLE! And it is becoming very popular among everyone including business owners! It sell for a great price and can do so much and give you reports on what's really going on!
What is Untangle?
WesTec’s multi-functional firewall software simplifies and consolidates the many network and security products that organizations need at the gateway to the Internet, making protection and filtering easy and affordable.
Affordable – Lowest total cost of ownership of any network gateway solution on the market today.
Comprehensive – Untangle handles web filtering, spam, network control, user management, bandwidth management.
Flexible – Add apps at any time to suit the changing needs of your business by simply dragging & dropping them in.
Proven – protects 1.7 million people in over 30,000 organizations worldwide.
What Can Untangle Do?
Improve Productivity:
- Stop Spam
- Manage Users
- Control Social Networks
- Block Online Gambling
- Block Adware
- Control IM, Gaming & P2P
Enable Remote Teams:
Protect Team Privacy:
- Stop Identity Theft
- Stop Spyware
Prevent Downtime:
- Block Viruses
- Block Network Attacks
- Block Hijacking
This really is the answer to business owner's prayers!
Call WesTec Services today to find out more! (713) 682-4000
WesTec Services, A Houston IT provider that offers a wide range of services including: Network Installation/Service, Telephone Systems/Service, Video Surveillance/Access Control and Office Equipment
CALL TODAY at (713) 682-4000
Posted by Richard Schissler on Mon, Aug 08, 2011 @ 03:30 PM
What is VoIP? The nation’s small businesses are always looking for cost-effective ways to manage their operations. Many of these organizations are abandoning traditional office phone systems in favor of small business VoIP networks.
What Is VoIP? Most people have heard of small business VoIP but may not know exactly what it is. They know it’s some kind of digital phone system but don’t understand the mechanics.
A small business VoIP uses an organization’s existing internet connection to transmit voice the same way the network transmits data. The call is routed through VoIP service providers to get to the destination just like traditional telephone calls are routed through the phone company central offices.
VoIP is often less expensive than standard office phone systems, especially for long distance calls, and has a lot more flexibility. The VoIP handset carries the same telephone number regardless of location, so users can plug into the system from any location to make or receive phone calls. This portability is not just limited to the office building. An employee on travel can plug the handset into the hotel’s internet connection and automatically have calls routed to that phone.
How Hard Is It To Convert to VoIP?
To the average small business, VoIP may seem like a confusing technology that will be difficult to adopt. In fact, nothing could be further from the truth.
Company telephone equipment doesn’t become obsolete. Although there are dedicated VoIP telephones, the system can be used with traditional telephones. The operation of the phone system is the same as a traditional system. Customers, vendors and other incoming callers dial the number just like they did before. They won’t even realize the telephone system is changed. Outgoing calls also operate the same way and your staff won’t need to learn new technology just to make a phone call.
The only thing you need to learn is how to take advantage of the new found freedom and flexibility the business VoIP phone system offers. The One Number Follow Me feature that you can specify who and when people could reach you at which phone number; The Voice Mail that sent to your cell phone so you can see it and listen to it at the right time; The Auto Attendant that directs the calls to the right person at different hour of the day; Employees working from home, even at different state, etc.
(713) 682-4000
WesTec can offer you advice and answer any questions you have. We can come to you and give you a free quote on any of our phone systems.
WesTec Services, A Houston IT provider that offers a wide range of services including: Network Installation/Service, Telephone Systems/Service, Video Surveillance/Access Control and Office Equipment
CALL TODAY at (713) 682-4000