Attention IT Service Providers:
Stop doing it alone.
Your next prospect needs to know you’ve got what it takes.
Build your processes, hire your next employee, get real support.
All with the Small Biz Thoughts Technology Community.
Check out the new membership tier!
New membership!
Karl Palachuk
Founder, Small Biz Thoughts
We're trusted by names you trust for leading training and resources for Managed Service Providers
The familiar, reliable source for small MSPs (just like you) serving SMBs (just like your clients)
Subscribing to the annual subscription is like having Karl 365 days vs. a one day seminar. Using his techniques and advice, I put together a few packages and have migrated many customers from a-la-cart to packaged services and shifted my company to a recurring revenue machine.
In my opinion, all MSPs should be members. Karl is a genius and stands out from ALL MSP advisors I've followed or met. I don't say this lightly. Also, about the Community, it's the other major benefit of SBT. It feels personal and I strive to attend meetings as often as I can.
Karl has built a community of awesome professionals and a plethora of trainings, seminars, books, audiobooks, online community, and more to help our IT business grow and flourish.
I'm so grateful for Karl and his amazing team for their support and Aloha!
I love the way Karl and his team are always very responsive. They have been even willing to meet with me on a 1 on 1 basis to help clear up any some of my challenges and concerns I am experiencing within my business.
Just because you're in business for yourself doesn't mean you have to go it alone
Resources for your whole team.
You’ll browse the powerful resource library by department, type, and keyword to get what you need, fast. Not sure where to start? Check out our Roadmaps to get started on popular topics.
- 100s of SOP Templates, checklists, books, and more
- Bookmark and categorize your favorite resources
- Roadmaps for quick-start success
Community & Support.
You’ll get a standing invitation for weekly, member-driven chats where you can ask questions, get feedback, and feel the camaraderie and support that we need as business owners.
- Monthly member-driven Zoom calls with Karl
- Live Roundtables for high-level discussion
- Recorded and transcribed so everyone can partake
Up your Professionalism.
You’ll access training delivered by IT Industry Experts to improve your professionalism and your bottom line for free. Take a class here and there, or go for a Specialist Certification. All delivered through IT Service Provider University.
- Members take classes for free
- Big discounts on Certifcation Exams
- Certification pathways for your whole team
- https://itspu.com
Meet your instructor / mentor / coach
Karl W. Palachuk
Hi, I’m Karl. I built and sold two successful IT Service Companies in Sacramento, California and am one of the founders of the Managed Services Business Model. In 2007-2008, I moved my business and clients 100% to the cloud.
Since then, I’ve written over 20 books, mostly on how you can run a better consulting business. I teach a lot of IT business classes, and take a handful of consulting clients each year.
I’ve trained thousands of consultants across the globe on managed and cloud services, and work-life balance. And now, through this Community, I get to share the same resources, support and knowledge with you!
Our mission is to make YOU as successful as possible.
For the business side of your IT business
Having the technical skills is only half the equation.
You’ll need to know how to properly run a business to make your tech skills work for you.
Hiring Process
Learn how to create a team full of really great people who deliver your brand
Operations
Hundreds of SOP templates and videos to tailor to your business, brand, and clients
Recurring Revenue
Build or increase recurring revenue for a sustainable business model you can truly live on (and take a vacation!)
Get More Clients
Increase prospects, sales, & get the right type of clients for your business goals
Service Delivery
Dial in operations, improve efficiency across the board, and wow your end-users
Professionalism & Education
Certifications to show your prospects and clients your committed to their success
See what's new inside
Members of the Small Biz Thoughts Technology Community get free access to new content all the time!
Here’s the most recent additions and upcoming content you can’t find anywhere else.
Over the years, I’ve learned three important rules about giving discounts. We talked about this at the most recent members-only Breakout. I recorded a video with the slides on this.
Check out this short 20-minute video on offering discounts and freebies to your clients.
Members-only content is here: https://www.smallbizthoughts.org/member-content/discounts-and-freebies-advice-video/
… And consider joining us at the next Members-Only “Marketing and More Breakout” on the Third Thursday of the month.
🙂
I recorded this webinar in December 2024. And now it’s exclusively available inside the SBT Technology Community.
Over the last three decades, I’ve seen thousands of stress-filled businesses. And one of the key components of stress is the constant crush of activities on the “to do” list. This presentation gives you and your team a set of practical tools you can use to manage stress when the workload continues to grow more and more each day.
If you’re paralyzed and frustrated because every task is high priority, we’ll show you how to manage the workload – and get more done!
This seminar will give you some key habits of success that will literally change your life in the next 30 days!
This a recorded webinar with slides and another handout available in PDF format.
🙂
All members can now download the Newsletter Starter Kit. See https://www.smallbizthoughts.org/member-content/newsletter-starter-kit/.
Perhaps the most powerful marketing tool you will ever have is your monthly client-facing newsletter – But too many small businesses never have one! This handy guide shows you how to create an easy, useful, and low-maintenance newsletter that will serve you for years to come.
This “kit” takes a building-block approach, which makes it very easy to build a quick but effective newsletter month after month. This should be very small task, not an overwhelming challenge. We show you how.
This is part primer and part checklist/workshop. Delivered as an 8-page PDF.
Copyright ® 2024 Karl W. Palachuk
We added this members-only success tip video recently. It’s a commentary on a question posed by Harry Brelsford. There are different kinds of events, and there are different kinds of IT Service Providers.
Karl gives some ideas about the events that are out there and my recommendations about how many you should attend. Most importantly, you should plan this with Intention, so we also point to the book you can download in the community.
View the full video and content at https://www.smallbizthoughts.org/member-content/how-many-conferences-should-you-attend-per-year/.
Karl improves his now-famous “68 Point Checklist” every few years. Now it’s totally revised and updated to 13 pages. Now you can download it inside the Community.
Over the years, the “famous” 68-point checklist has been used by thousands of IT Professionals to begin their network audits, provide monthly maintenance of client computers, and generally keep client computers tuned up and working great. Best of all, this checklist is FREE for the taking.
Best of all – You can use this checklist to create your own. there might be technologies you don’t implement or support. Cross them off. You might specialize in something that only mentioned once in the checklist: Drill down.
As always, I offer up tools like this as a place to start. You need to edit and update to fit your business, your clients, your prospects, and your service offering.
It’s hard to edit a blank page. So here’s a place to start.
🙂
Become our newest member!
Get the most out of your membership
Don’t worry – no upsells here. Just choose the membership that works best for you and your team.
You can upgrade any time if your team grows.
Brand New Membership!
Community
Perfect for one-person ITSPs who don't need all-inclusive training at ITSPU.
$799
per year
- Unlimited access to Resource Library
- Monthly Recorded Member Calls
- Live Roundtables
- Marketing Breakout
- First Year MSP Breakout
- Exclusive discounts to SBT Events & more
- Locked-in rate*
- 1 Login
- 1 Class per year at IT Service Provider University**
- 1 Certification Exam per year at ITSPU***
Only available as annual membership
Community Plus
Perfect for one-person or small-team ITSPs looking to jump-start their business.
$1299
per year
- Unlimited access to Resource Library
- Monthly Recorded Member Calls
- Live Roundtables
- Marketing Breakout
- First Year MSP Breakout
- Exclusive discounts to SBT Events & more
- Locked-in rate*
- 1 Login
- Quarterly Strategy Sessions with Karl
- 5-Class Pass at IT Service Provider University**
- 5-Class Pass at IT Service Provider University**
Or, choose the monthly split-pay option:
$129/month for 12 months
Team Plus
Perfect for teams wanting easy, inclusive access to all resources, events, and training, and more.
$3599
per year
- Unlimited access to Resource Library
- Monthly Recorded Member Calls
- Live Roundtables
- Marketing Breakout
- First Year MSP Breakout
- Exclusive discounts to SBT Events & more
- Locked-in rate*
- 10 Logins -- invite your team!
- Quarterly Strategy Sessions with Karl
- 5-Class Pass for your team at IT Service Provider University**
- 5 Certification Exams per team member per year at ITSPU***
- Private team workshop opportunities
Only available as annual membership
*You’ll lock in your rate for life, as long as you continue to renew. Prices increase every 12-18 months as needed, but your price will stay the same.
**ITSPU: IT Service Provider University provides training and certification courses delivered by IT Industry Experts to improve your professionalism and your bottom line. Non-members can register for classes for $399/class. Members register for classes free according to the membership benefits.
***ITSPU Certifications certify members as Certified Professionals. They are earned by completing one class and the related certification exam. If passed, students receive a digital badge and printable certificate. Non-members can take certifications for $199/cert. Members get 1 or 5 for free according to the membership benefits, and additional certifications half off.
Frequently Asked Questions
Before you join . . .
Look through some of the questions we get from prospective members. Still have questions? We’d love to hear from you. Of course! Please send us a message at [email protected]
Do I have to be an MSP or offer Managed Services?
No, you don’t. We get lots of members who are transitioning from break-fix to Managed Services and we can help with that.
We also have some members who are quite successful at Break-Fix!
While Karl is one of the founders of the Managed Service business model, he recognizes other models can be successful too, as long as they’re done right.
How long is my commitment?
Each membership level requires a 1-year minimum commitment. The reason is simple: the sole mission is for to make YOU as successful as possible. Committing to a minimum of one year gives you time to take courses, utilize resources, and apply real, business-enhancing change to your company or team.
Will my membership fee ever increase?
No. You are locked in at whatever price you begin your membership.
Occasionally, prices will increase for *new* signups. These increases will not apply to you as long as you maintain a valid membership.
You can be sure that today’s price is the best price to start your membership.
Do you offer discounts?
For individual memberships, our best discount is to pay annually. This saves you over 22% percent compared to paying monthly.
Team memberships are only offered as an annual payment and include up to 10 logons, here at the Community website and also full class passes at IT Service Provider University for the price of 3 individual memberships (2.75, actually).
Plus, both individual memberships and team memberships get a free all-access pass to all classes at ITSPU, currently worth over $10,000 per student.
We do not run specials, even around the holidays, for discounted memberships.
Dues will increase for new members in the future. The least expensive time to join is now, guaranteed.
Can I meet directly with Karl?
Sure! Upon signing up, we can arrange a 1:1 meeting wherein Karl can help with whatever is on your mind.
Is this business coaching?
The combination of our extensive resource library along with our regular live calls are full of advice and support for whatever business problem you’re trying to solve. From choosing your tech stack, hiring your next (or first!) employee, and solidifying your SOPs and more, we’ve got you!
Plus – we’ve added Breakouts: focused, facilitated monthly sessions that are goal-focused and based on accountability. You *will* get things done in these groups.
But, if you’re looking for in-depth, personalized coaching and accountability, you might consider Karl’s business coaching (not included in Community membership).
Karl takes on 2 coaching clients per year. This intensive program is designed for larger companies ready to take action on improving their business. It also includes a Team Membership to the Community.
Should I get a Team Membership?
If you have 3 or more individuals (including yourself) that you want to give access to the Community and IT Service Provider University, the Team Membership is by far the most affordable option.
If you have 2 individuals (including yourself), you could choose to get two individual memberships. And, when you hire your next employee, you could upgrade to a Team Membership at that time.
If you have questions, please reach out to [email protected] so we can help!
Note: you can upgrade to a Team Membership at any time.
I have more questions, can you help me?
Of course! Please send us a message at [email protected]
This is just the beginning
Your MSP won't know what hit it.
Whether you’ve been in the industry for decades, are transitioning from break-fix, or just looking to shake things up, the Small Biz Thoughts Technology Community has just what you need.
Become an MRR Machine and cut your stress.
Create and fine-tune your offerings and packages with the support of one of the originators of the Managed Services business model. Plus, get feedback and ideas from fellow members.
Get actionable, live support support
You can join us live first Thursdays for member-led chats. Come with a specific question about a product or tool, how to deal with a client situation, or take the "fly-on-the-wall" approach and just listen. You're sure to benefit, regardless.
Trainings and Resources for your whole team.
You'll have access to individual SOP templates, all of Karl's books, checklists, and hundreds of hours of trainings to help you implement them. Over 250 individual resources, and counting.
Improve your Professionalism with expert-led classes.
You'll get a full-access pass to classes at ITSPU.* Yep, $399 classes for free, all taught by industry leaders you know and trust to help improve your bottom line.
Become our newest member
Members of the SBT Technology Community join and stick around for good reason.
Join now and start working on your business today!
If you read Managed Services in a Month and it made a difference in your business, you need to be looking to join the Small Biz Thoughts Technology Community. And, if it’s not the first community to join, it should be the second.
Subscribing to the annual subscription is like having Karl 365 days vs. a one day seminar. Using his techniques and advice, I put together a few packages and have migrated many customers from a-la-cart to packaged services and shifted my company to a recurring revenue machine.
In my opinion, all MSPs should be members. Karl is a genius and stands out from ALL MSP advisors I've followed or met. I don't say this lightly. Also, about the Community, it's the other major benefit of SBT. It feels personal and I strive to attend meetings as often as I can.
Karl has built a community of awesome professionals and a plethora of trainings, seminars, books, audiobooks, online community, and more to help our IT business grow and flourish.
