Please take a look at some of these charges from a local IT company working for my friends business

[redhotchlypeppr]

I posted on here about a month ago asking you guys to take a look at a ridiculous PC quote from this local IT company working for my friends business. You can find that thread here:

http://www.computerforum.com/threads/quote-from-local-computer-shop-ripoff.239203/

Anyway, I just received a bill from my friend showing his charges for the year and just wanted to share them with you guys to find out if they are normal or overpriced.

I sold my friend my old PC for around $400 so he wouldnt have to get it from the IT company. This bill included the setup fees for that PC.

Setup to access shared drive and antivirus: 45 min - $67.50
Setup for SAGE - payroll/financial software: 40 min - $60.00
Microsoft Office Home & Business 2013: 1 copy - $180.00
Setup for Microsoft Office: 3 1/2 hrs - $285.00
Windows 7 Pro (PC already had Windows 7 Home): 1 copy - $114.00
Setup for Windows 7 Pro: 2 hrs - $140.00

Total: $845.50

I have never setup a PC at a small business so I cant say for sure that this is a ripoff but im going to go out on a limb and say that this is a massive ripoff. Can anyone confirm this? I do not know why they had to upgrade to Pro (could it be a compatibility issue with the server?) nor do I know why it took them 3.5 hours to install Office. Is this normal for an Office installation at a small business? Why are they selling single copies? Why arent they getting the Office software that has a yearly subscription and comes with 5 copies? Does it take 2 hours to upgrade from Microsoft Home to Pro? 45 minutes to access the shared drive and antivirus?

Here are a few more charges unrelated to the PC setup:

Problem with mouse and keyboard - $40
Setup for a user with LogMeIn to work from home - 1.5hrs - $100
User unable to connect to LogMeIn - 1hr - $70
Update security for internet access - 45min - $50
Remove workstation/server access for user - 1hr - $70
User account setup and email - 2hr - $140
Problem connecting to printer - 15min - $20
Malware cleanup - 1hr - $70

What do you guys think about all of this?

Thanks!

 

[voyagerfan99]

Microsoft Office: 1 copy - $180.00

Depends on what version of Office. Prive varies on whether it's Home & Business, Professional, Etc.

Setup for Microsoft Office: 3 1/2 hrs - $285.00

....It doesn't make 3-1/2 hours to setup Office

Windows 7 Pro (PC already had Windows 7 Home): 1 copy - $114.00

Sounds reasonable

Setup for Windows 7 Pro: 2 hrs - $140.00

Time-wise that's reasonable. Reload of Windows + updates & drivers when I did computer repair was $125

do not know why they had to upgrade to Pro (could it be a compatibility issue with the server?)

Home versions of Windows cannot join a domain, so if the business was running a server as a domain controller, etc. they would need to upgrade. But in all honesty I'd just buy a business machine (Dell Optiplex, etc.) that already had a pro version.

Setup for a user with LogMeIn to work from home - 1.5hrs - $100

It doesn't take 1.5 hours to install and get people using LogMeIn.

User account setup and email - 2hr - $140

Yeah it doesn't take that long either. I can setup a user in Active Directory and provision them a mailbox in less than 15 minutes.

The company that hired your friend should look for another managed IT provider. Because even the MSP I work for isn't this expensive.

 

[johnb35]

The company that hired your friend should look for another managed IT provider.

They didn't hire him, he hired them to setup the system his friend sold him.

So yeah, this company ripped off your friend. I don't think it would take 3.5 hours to install office and setup mail on a server or whatever.

 

[voyagerfan99]

They didn't hire him, he hired them to setup the system his friend sold him.

Ah, okay. I was confused.

 

[redhotchlypeppr]

Home versions of Windows cannot join a domain, so if the business was running a server as a domain controller, etc. they would need to upgrade. But in all honesty I'd just buy a business machine (Dell Optiplex, etc.) that already had a pro version.

Would the free upgrade to Windows 10 work? Was the only option here to upgrade to Windows 7 Pro?

 

[voyagerfan99]

Would the free upgrade to Windows 10 work? Was the only option here to upgrade to Windows 7 Pro?

That would only upgrade you to Windows 10. You'd still need a professional version of Windows to join a domain.

 

[Darren]

The setup times/prices on some of the software seems a bit out there.

 

[mistersprinkles]

That is absolutely ridiculous. The setup costs for windows and microsoft office are especially insane. I mean, unless they had to do an extreme level of customization for the install that is just predatory pricing. I build computers and install software for people from time to time and I charge $100 flat rate to build the computer, install windows and set the system up with drivers and what not. If people want additional software installed I charge them for that but I don't go nuts. windows does not take two hours to install and set up. From the moment when I start a windows install to the point where everything is done and all drivers are installed is forty five to sixty minutes at the very most. Also setting up a user account and email takes ten minutes at the absolute most. This is ridiculous. I'm actually upset about how much you were charged. Try to avoid people who charge hourly rates and price so high. You are better off getting somebody who does flat rates. Don't hire this person again.

 

[beers]

Setup to access shared drive and antivirus: 45 min - $67.50
Setup for SAGE - payroll/financial software: 40 min - $60.00
Microsoft Office Home & Business 2013: 1 copy - $180.00
Setup for Microsoft Office: 3 1/2 hrs - $285.00
Windows 7 Pro (PC already had Windows 7 Home): 1 copy - $114.00
Setup for Windows 7 Pro: 2 hrs - $140.00

45 mins to set up a shared drive and AV?
40 mins to install a single piece of software?
3 1/2 hours to install office on one PC instance?

At around $90/hr they aren't giving you sufficient expertise. A trained monkey could install Office in 15 minutes.

Abandon ship.

 

[redhotchlypeppr]

Who do you all recommend for a small business with 4-5 employees? It seems as if the IT company they use is for larger companies but is there any other option here? Can servers be maintained by a single person?

 

[Darren]

At around $90/hr they aren't giving you sufficient expertise. A trained monkey could install Office in 15 minutes.

Can confirm. Am trained monkey. Installed Office today in about 10 minutes.

At $8/hr that's about a dollar of labor.

 

[voyagerfan99]

Who do you all recommend for a small business with 4-5 employees? It seems as if the IT company they use is for larger companies but is there any other option here? Can servers be maintained by a single person?

Search around for an MSP in your area and see what there is to offer. Where are you located?