Small business IT consultant (on-site support)

Small offices, medical and dental practices, law and accounting firms, shops and nonprofits that have no in-house IT person.

Hourly rate for support calls, fixed prices for projects like a new office setup, and optional monthly retainers for ongoing help.

• Solid knowledge of Windows, Mac and common networks
• Clear explanations for non-technical people
• Troubleshooting under time pressure

• Professional liability (errors and omissions) and general liability insurance, check what clients may require
• Clients in healthcare or finance may have data privacy rules (such as HIPAA), check what applies before taking them on
• Check your city or county for a local business license, and your state for sales tax rules on services
• Be clear in writing about backups and who is responsible if data is lost

Startup costs are typically around $500 to $4,000, depending on your tools, laptop, software and insurance. These are estimates, so check your own costs before you begin taking clients.

Monthly revenue is typically around $1,500 to $8,000, depending on how many clients you take on, whether you offer monthly plans and your rates. Treat these as estimates, not guarantees of income.

Check professional liability and general liability insurance, and what clients may require. Also check data privacy rules such as HIPAA for healthcare or finance clients, your city or county business license, and state sales tax rules on services.