The BMK Vision Podcast

The most expensive problem in your MSP isn't who you hired — it's who you keep hoping they'll become. In this BMK Vision Roundtable, Josh Peterson and Gary Boyle unpack the mirror problem: the way MSP owners project their own work ethic onto staff and call it a standard, then spend years frustrated that no one else operates at their level. Josh and Gary go deep on time entry as the canary in your accountability culture, why micromanagement and management get confused, why every people problem traces back to the job description, and why "leadership debt" — the gap between who you wanted and who you got — is the most expensive line item nobody puts on a P&L. ⸻ 🎙 What We Cover in This Episode The mirror problem — why owners project themselves onto their teams Micromanagement vs. management as a leadership choice Time entry and what it reveals about your culture The reasonable-man fallacy in MSP sales The role table and continuous feedback as core operating tools Leadership debt and the reset conversation every owner needs ⸻ 👤 Host Links Josh Peterson (Host): https://www.linkedin.com/in/joshdpeterson/ Gary Boyle (Co-Host): https://www.linkedin.com/in/garyboyle/ ⸻ 🚀 Subscribe & Follow BMK Vision YouTube (Video Podcast): https://www.youtube.com/@beringmckinleyvision?sub_confirmation=1 Learn More About the Vision Platform: https://beringmckinley.com/vision Apply to Be a Guest: https://beringmckinley.com/blog#speaker-form ⸻ 🔎 SEO Keywords MSP leadership, MSP hiring, MSP accountability, MSP job descriptions, time entry, micromanagement vs management, MSP team management, BMK Vision Podcast, leadership debt, employee expectations ⸻ 📝 Credits Host: Josh Peterson Co-Host: Gary Boyle Producer: Bering McKinley Episode: #99 — Stop Hoping They Become You

Time entry is the most boring topic in the MSP industry — and almost everything that matters financially, operationally, and legally traces back to it. In this BMK Vision Roundtable, Josh Peterson and Gary Boyle argue that the MSP story doesn't start with vision, sales, or strategy. It starts with time entry. And if you don't have honest, daily time entry, every downstream conversation — agreement gross profit, pricing, capacity, exit value, audit defense — is operating on fiction. Guest Introduction This is a roundtable episode featuring Josh Peterson (CEO, Bering McKinley) and Gary Boyle (Partner, Bering McKinley). Together they unpack the operating model that actually fixes time entry — not tools, not threats, not AI agents — and why the answer has been the same since 2003: inspect at the same rate you expect. ⸻ 🎙 What We Cover in This Episode Why time entry is a leadership problem and not a technician problem The BMK standard — 8 hours a day, 40 hours a week, enter as you go Agreement gross profit and the math that makes time entry non-negotiable Decision fatigue — the real reason techs skip time entry The 10/12/2 inspection cadence and how to run it without a dispatcher Why ConnectWise, Halo, MSPbots, and AI agents do not solve the problem How AI changes the surface of time entry without changing the operating model Pricing, capacity, and exit value — the downstream cost of bad time data The audit, litigation, and cyber liability case for clean time records How long it actually takes to turn time entry into a habit (and the trap of stopping early) ⸻ 🚀 Subscribe & Follow BMK Vision YouTube (Video Podcast): https://www.youtube.com/@beringmckinleyvision?sub_confirmation=1 Learn More About the Vision Platform: https://beringmckinley.com/vision Apply to Be a Guest: https://beringmckinley.com/blog#speaker-form ⸻ 📝 Credits Host: Josh Peterson Co-Host: Gary Boyle Producer: Bering McKinley Episode: #98 — Time Entry Is the Whole MSP Story - Inspect at the Rate You Expect

MSP commoditization is accelerating — and the old playbook of per-user pricing and monthly packages isn't going to protect your business forever. In this BMK Vision Roundtable, Josh Peterson and Gary Boyle explore the two biggest opportunities MSPs are overlooking right now: advisory services that make you a strategic partner and software development that creates enterprise value beyond MRR. Guest Introduction This is a roundtable episode featuring Josh Peterson (CEO, Bering McKinley) and Gary Boyle (Partner, Bering McKinley). Together they unpack how AI is compressing development costs, why the highest MSP exits have always been software plays, and how to start having value-driven conversations with your clients. ⸻ 🎙 What We Cover in This Episode Why MSP commoditization is accelerating and what's driving it The AI and software development opportunity for MSPs Advisory services — how to actually get the seat at the executive table Project work vs. MRR — rethinking how MSPs generate revenue Enterprise value through product ownership, not just service delivery The productization path — from bespoke automations to SaaS How to have the right client conversation (business first, technology second) ⸻ 🚀 Subscribe & Follow BMK Vision YouTube (Video Podcast): https://www.youtube.com/@beringmckinleyvision?sub_confirmation=1 Learn More About the Vision Platform: https://beringmckinley.com/vision Apply to Be a Guest: https://beringmckinley.com/blog#speaker-form ⸻ 📝 Credits Host: Josh Peterson Co-Host: Gary Boyle Producer: Bering McKinley Episode: #97 — MSPs Are Being Commoditized — Here's the Way Out

Most MSP owners are asking whether they should sell, scale, or pivot — but they can't answer a more fundamental question: do you actually understand your own business at a financial and operational level? In this BMK Vision Roundtable, Josh Peterson and Gary Boyle break down the four strategic paths every MSP owner faces and expose the uncomfortable truth that none of those paths work without data clarity and a real plan. Guest Introduction This is a roundtable episode featuring BMK co-hosts Josh Peterson and Gary Boyle. Together they bring decades of experience consulting MSP owners on operational maturity, financial structure, and strategic growth. ⸻ 🎙 What We Cover in This Episode Why the sell, scale, or pivot decision isn't actually the first decision How real are AI and private equity threats to MSPs? The technology adoption S-curve and why AI disruption is slower than you think Why most MSP owners can't answer basic financial questions about their own business Service GP, EHR, utilization, and the metrics that separate guessing from scaling Vision and execution as the non-negotiable foundation for any strategic move Why simple plans focused on what you already do outperform ambitious new initiatives The execution gap between MSPs that exit at 8-12X and everyone else ⸻ 👤 Host Links Josh Peterson LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joshdpeterson/ Gary Boyle LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/garyboyle/ ⸻ 🚀 Subscribe & Follow BMK Vision YouTube (Video Podcast): https://www.youtube.com/@beringmckinleyvision?sub_confirmation=1 Learn More About the Vision Platform: https://beringmckinley.com/vision Apply to Be a Guest: https://beringmckinley.com/blog#speaker-form ⸻ 🔎 SEO Keywords MSP sell or scale MSP exit strategy MSP financial metrics managed service provider growth MSP EBITDA AI for MSPs MSP strategic planning MSP operational discipline BMK Vision Podcast know your numbers MSP ⸻ 📝 Credits Host: Josh Peterson Co-Host: Gary Boyle Producer: Bering McKinley Episode: #96 — Sell Scale or Pivot - Know Your Numbers First

Every MSP owner has argued about ticket statuses. But that argument is almost always a symptom of something bigger — a service operating model that isn't clearly defined. In this BMK Vision Roundtable, Josh Peterson and Gary Boyle unpack a real listener question about status hygiene and use it to expose the deeper issues: unclear ownership, the absence of a dispatcher, and the financial blind spots that come from poor ticket discipline. 🎙 What We Cover in This Episode Why status debates signal a broken service model The dispatcher role — even at four techs, you're overdue Ownership clarity: no ticket should exist without a name on it Completed vs. closed and why invoicing takes five days Agreement gross profit (AGP) and its link to time entry Balancing operational and financial excellence as you scale ⸻ 👤 Host Links Josh Peterson: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joshdpeterson/ Gary Boyle: https://www.linkedin.com/in/garyboyle/ ⸻ 🚀 Subscribe & Follow BMK Vision YouTube (Video Podcast): https://www.youtube.com/@beringmckinleyvision?sub_confirmation=1 Learn More About the Vision Platform: https://beringmckinley.com/vision Apply to Be a Guest: https://beringmckinley.com/blog#speaker-form ⸻ 📝 Credits Host: Josh Peterson Co-Host: Gary Boyle Producer: Bering McKinley Episode: #95 — Ticket Statuses Won't Fix a Broken Service Model

Most MSPs say they're different. Bryon Beilman actually is. As CEO of iuvo Technologies, he made a deliberate decision to hire consultants — not technicians — building a team that averages 24 years of experience and delivers strategic business value that goes far beyond uptime and ticket resolution. In this conversation, Josh Peterson and Bryon explore why traditional managed services are becoming table stakes, how narrowing your ideal client profile can unlock growth, and why AI-powered projects are the next frontier for MSPs willing to have real business conversations with their clients. What We Cover in This Episode Hiring consultants over technicians and why it changes client relationships Evolving from per-device pricing to a retainer-based consulting model Narrowing the ICP and firing customers who don't fit AI as a go-to-market strategy: from two-week quotes to one-day turnaround Project-based revenue as a growth lever for recurring and non-recurring clients The vendor conference trap and death by a thousand $300/month tools Building an empowering culture where consultants make autonomous decisions Why asking "why" five levels deep is the most valuable skill in IT Guest Links Bryon Beilman LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bbeilman iuvo Technologies: https://www.iuvotech.com Subscribe & Follow BMK Vision YouTube (Video Podcast): https://www.youtube.com/@beringmckinleyvision?sub_confirmation=1 Learn More About the Vision Platform: https://beringmckinley.com/vision Apply to Be a Guest: https://beringmckinley.com/blog#speaker-form Credits Host: Josh Peterson Producer: Bering McKinley Episode: #94 - Consultants Over Technicians - The Premier MSP (Bryon Beilman)

Most MSP owners describe their typical client and call it an ideal client profile. That gap is costing them real revenue. In this roundtable, Josh Peterson and Gary Boyle break down the difference between an ICP and a TCP — and introduce pull-through rate as the metric that reveals whether your clients can actually drive growth. Josh Peterson is the CEO of Bering McKinley. Gary Boyle is a Partner for Strategy & Business Development at Bering McKinley. Together, they explore why MSPs get stuck at $2 million with the wrong client mix, how to staff and plan for project work, and what the AI wave means for defining your ideal client going forward. ⸻ 🎙 What We Cover in This Episode Ideal Client Profile vs. Typical Client Profile Pull-through rate: what to target and how to measure it Why a $2M MSP with 17 clients is an anomaly worth studying Account management as a growth thesis test Data Rich, Information Poor (DRIP) — mining what you already have Staffing for project work most MSPs ignore The AI and automation opportunity reshaping MSP positioning ⸻ 👤 Host Links Josh Peterson LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joshdpeterson Gary Boyle LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/garyboyle/ ⸻ 🚀 Subscribe & Follow BMK Vision YouTube (Video Podcast): https://www.youtube.com/@beringmckinleyvision?sub_confirmation=1 Learn More About the Vision Platform: https://beringmckinley.com/vision Apply to Be a Guest: https://beringmckinley.com/blog#speaker-form ⸻ 📝 Credits Host: Josh Peterson Co-Host: Gary Boyle Producer: Bering McKinley Episode: #93 - Your Ideal Client Profile Is a Revenue Strategy - Not a Description | BMK Vision Roundtable

Most MSPs invest in security tools — firewalls, endpoint protection, SIEM — but few have a reliable way to know whether those tools are actually configured correctly. Misconfigurations in the very products designed to protect your clients are one of the leading attack vectors in cybersecurity today. Adam Bennett has spent 25+ years on the front lines and built a company to solve exactly this problem. Adam Bennett is the Co-Founder & CEO of SureStack and CEO of Crosshair Cyber. In this conversation, we explore why security stack misconfigurations create silent compounding risk, how cyber insurance gives many SMBs a false sense of protection, and why the MSP that takes ownership of security posture earns the trust — and contracts — of serious clients. ⸻ 🎙 What We Cover in This Episode Why the tools meant to protect you may be your biggest vulnerability Real-world incidents caused by two unchecked configuration boxes The growing role of regulation and compliance in driving security adoption How SureStack automates continuous security stack validation using AI Why MSPs should enforce minimum security stacks for every client Using security posture assessments as a pre-sales differentiator Adam's journey from government cybersecurity to building a product company Cyber insurance gaps: what happens when the application doesn't match reality ⸻ 👤 Guest Links Guest LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/adam-bennett-0290881bb/ Company Website: https://surestack.ai ⸻ 🚀 Subscribe & Follow BMK Vision YouTube (Video Podcast): https://www.youtube.com/@beringmckinleyvision?sub_confirmation=1 Learn More About the Vision Platform: https://beringmckinley.com/vision Apply to Be a Guest: https://beringmckinley.com/blog#speaker-form ⸻ 📝 Credits Host: Josh Peterson Producer: Bering McKinley Episode: #92 — Your Security Stack Is Lying to You | From the Trenches (Adam Bennett)

Most MSP owners who struggle with sales performance aren't dealing with a bad salesperson - they're dealing with no system. In this roundtable, Josh Peterson and Gary Boyle respond to a real listener email from an MSP owner who has tolerated five years of inconsistent results from a salesperson he's afraid to hold accountable. The diagnosis: this isn't a sales problem. It's a leadership problem wearing a personnel costume. ⸻ 🎙 What We Cover in This Episode Why no quota means no sales role - not a flexible arrangement How the owner's vision must precede the salesperson's target The two-quota framework: activity quota and results quota What base pay is actually purchasing - and why most MSP owners have it backwards How to interview a salesperson to reveal whether they're metrics-driven before you hire them What to do when the horse is already out of the barn Why accountability is clarity, not punishment - and how to introduce structure without blowing up the relationship ⸻ 👤 Your Hosts Josh Peterson - CEO, Bering McKinley Gary Boyle - Partner for Strategy & Business Development, Bering McKinley ⸻ 🚀 Subscribe & Follow BMK Vision YouTube (Video Podcast): https://www.youtube.com/@beringmckinleyvision?sub_confirmation=1 Learn More About the Vision Platform: https://beringmckinley.com/vision Apply to Be a Guest: https://beringmckinley.com/blog#speaker-form ⸻ 🔎 SEO Keywords MSP sales management MSP salesperson performance MSP sales system Managed service provider sales quota MSP accountability BMK Vision Podcast ⸻ 📝 Credits Host: Josh Peterson Co-Host: Gary Boyle Producer: Bering McKinley Episode: #91 - No Quota, No Sales Role: The MSP Sales System Reset

Most MSPs have invested heavily in perimeter security. But there is a financial risk hiding in plain sight: the unstructured data organizations create every day — spreadsheets, Word docs, old deal rooms, payroll files — that has never been inventoried, valued, or protected at the file level. That gap is what Return on Mitigation was built to close. James Oliverio is the Founder & CEO of ideaBOX and a Senior Advisor at Actifile. With 30+ years spanning Wall Street CIO roles, MSP ownership, and a Harvard certification in cybersecurity risk management, James developed the ROM framework to help C-suites quantify data exposure in dollars and connect that number to the controls that actually reduce it. ⸻ 🎙 What We Cover in This Episode - What Return on Mitigation (ROM) is and how the financial calculation works - Why traditional DLP tools detect risk but stop short of real remediation - How AI tools like ChatGPT are creating a new hidden liability for organizations - Why 44% of 2024 cyber insurance claims were denied — and how to protect clients from that trap - How to run a data risk assessment on your own MSP before offering it to clients - The FAIR Institute methodology and financial modeling for breach exposure - File-level encryption as the true remediation strategy — not just detection - How to position the ROM conversation at the C-suite level ⸻ 👤 Guest Links Guest LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/james-oliverio-7659ab/ Company Website: https://ideabox.com ⸻ 🚀 Subscribe & Follow BMK Vision YouTube (Video Podcast): https://www.youtube.com/@beringmckinleyvision?sub_confirmation=1 Learn More About the Vision Platform: https://beringmckinley.com/vision Apply to Be a Guest: https://beringmckinley.com/blog#speaker-form ⸻ 🔎 SEO Keywords - MSP cybersecurity - Return on Mitigation - Data risk management - Cybersecurity insurance - Unstructured data security - DSPM - AI data exposure - MSP security strategy - Data breach liability - ideaBOX ⸻ 📝 Credits Host: Josh Peterson Producer: Bering McKinley Episode: #90 — Data Risk Is the MSP's Invisible Liability

Most MSP owners say they're great at sales — but when you examine what's actually happening, many are confusing orders with selling. In this BMK Vision Roundtable, Josh Peterson and Gary Boyle unpack why sending quotes too early kills deals, why the order of selling matters more than any closing technique, and how a simple three-pillar framework can transform close rates for MSPs at any size. Co-Host Introduction Gary Boyle is a Partner for Strategy & Business Development at Bering McKinley. A former MSP owner and entrepreneur, Gary brings firsthand sales experience to a conversation about what it really takes to earn the right to deliver a proposal. ⸻ 🎙 What We Cover in This Episode - Why most MSP "sales" are really just order-taking - The order of selling: yourself first, company second, services last - What happens when you send a quote before earning the right - How to establish budget without asking "what's your budget?" - The three-pillar sales framework: FTA → Discovery → Close - Why the proposal should memorialize what's already been agreed - The trial close and solution delivery meeting - Close ratio and its dangerous relationship to pricing - Hidden revenue opportunities inside your existing client base ⸻ 👤 Host & Co-Host Links Josh Peterson: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joshdpeterson/ Gary Boyle: https://www.linkedin.com/in/garyboyle/ ⸻ 🚀 Subscribe & Follow BMK Vision YouTube (Video Podcast): https://www.youtube.com/@beringmckinleyvision?sub_confirmation=1 Learn More About the Vision Platform: https://beringmckinley.com/vision Apply to Be a Guest: https://beringmckinley.com/blog#speaker-form ⸻ 🎙️ Co-Host Bio — Gary Boyle Gary Boyle is a Partner for Strategy & Business Development at Bering McKinley. With a background spanning network engineering, entrepreneurship, and strategic consulting, Gary brings real-world operator experience to helping MSP owners build stronger, more profitable businesses. 🎙️ Host Bio — Josh Peterson Josh Peterson is the CEO of Bering McKinley and host of The BMK Vision Podcast. Since 2004, Josh has worked with hundreds of MSP owners to build operationally sound, profitable businesses through consulting, peer teams, and direct coaching. ⸻ 📝 Credits Host: Josh Peterson Co-Host: Gary Boyle Producer: Bering McKinley Episode: #89 — Stop Sending Quotes: The MSP Sales Process That Actually Closes

Most MSP owners will tell you they want to improve profitability. But when the solution involves cutting recurring revenue, the conversation gets uncomfortable fast. This roundtable tackles the hard truth: not all revenue is healthy revenue, and the clients you're afraid to lose may be the ones destroying your margins. Josh Peterson, Gary Boyle, and Ryan Alter dig into a real client scenario where 15% of agreements were operating below sustainable margins — and explore why MSP owners tolerate it, what it costs them, and how to break the cycle. 🎙 What We Cover in This Episode • Why revenue growth masks profitability problems in MSPs • The real cost of low-margin agreements on service capacity and team morale • How Gary and Ryan both repriced 100% of their clients — and lost none • The ego trap: why owners protect revenue that's hurting them • Standardizing pricing as the first step toward financial clarity • Why buyers purchase EBITDA, not top-line revenue • The vicious cycle of underpricing to zero 👤 Guest & Co-Host Bios Ryan Alter is the founder and former CEO of Alter Enterprise, a managed IT services provider he built over 17 years in Missoula, Montana. Ryan successfully exited in 2023 when Alter Enterprise was acquired by Fisher's Technology. He now runs Silver Stream AV. LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryan-alter-896a5b11/ Gary Boyle is a Partner for Strategy & Business Development at Bering McKinley. With a background spanning network engineering, entrepreneurship, and strategic consulting, Gary brings real-world operator experience to helping MSP owners build stronger, more profitable businesses. LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/garyboyle/ Josh Peterson is the CEO of Bering McKinley and host of The BMK Vision Podcast. Since 2004, Josh has worked with hundreds of MSP owners to build operationally sound, profitable businesses through consulting, peer teams, and direct coaching. LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joshdpeterson/ 🚀 Subscribe & Follow BMK Vision YouTube (Video Podcast): https://www.youtube.com/@beringmckinleyvision?sub_confirmation=1 Learn More About the Vision Platform: https://beringmckinley.com/vision Apply to Be a Guest: https://beringmckinley.com/blog#speaker-form 📝 Credits Host: Josh Peterson Producer: Bering McKinley Episode: #88 — Revenue Is Vanity: Why MSPs Must Fire Unprofitable Clients | BMK Vision Roundtable

Not every MSP story ends with a big exit or a moonshot growth curve. Some of the most important transitions in this industry happen when an owner realizes that ownership itself was never the right fit — and does something about it. David Norelid spent nearly a decade running his own MSP before making the decision to close it down and take a role at another MSP, a move he now calls the best decision of his career. David Norelid is the Technical Alignment Manager at 5 Factor Technology, and in this conversation, we explore the hidden costs of solo MSP ownership, the mindset shift from "get to" to "don't have to," and what the future of managed services demands from technologists who want to stay relevant. ⸻ 🎙 What We Cover in This Episode - The 25-year journey from Craigslist trunk slammer to MSP owner to MSP employee - Why the transition from break-fix to managed services was both exciting and financially dangerous - Losing a whale client and the cascading impact on tools, staff, and morale - The liberating power of asking "What if that's okay?" - Why MSPs get stuck at $500K–$1M and what actually holds them back - The Technical Alignment Manager role: half sales, half technology - Microsoft's long game and the licensing squeeze on MSPs - Where AI adoption really stands in MSP client environments - Why the most important skill in IT is learning how to learn ⸻ 👤 Guest Links Guest LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidnorelid/ Company Website: https://www.5factortech.com/ ⸻ 🚀 Subscribe & Follow BMK Vision YouTube (Video Podcast): https://www.youtube.com/@beringmckinleyvision?sub_confirmation=1 Learn More About the Vision Platform: https://beringmckinley.com/vision Apply to Be a Guest: https://beringmckinley.com/blog#speaker-form ⸻ 📝 Credits Host: Josh Peterson Producer: Bering McKinley Episode: #87 — MSP Owner to Employee: Why He Walked Away | From the Trenches

Most MSP owners don't plan their hires — they react to them. A great person shows up, excitement takes over, and suddenly you're building a role around a person instead of filling a seat you've already designed. In this BMK Vision Roundtable, Josh Peterson and Gary Boyle break down why that pattern keeps repeating and what it's actually costing you. Gary Boyle is a Partner for Strategy & Business Development at Bering McKinley, and in this conversation, we explore the hidden cost of reactive hiring, the clarity gap behind most role failures, and why designing the seat before finding the person is a leadership discipline — not an HR task. ⸻ 🎙 What We Cover in This Episode Why "I found a great person" is the start of most hiring mistakes The real reason your best tech shouldn't become your service manager How undefined roles turn great employees into failed hires The one number that defines the service manager job: 55% gross profit Why evangelizing your vision is a three-time exercise — not forever The planning gap that forces reactive hiring at the 1–3M mark How a $600,000 lesson inside Bering McKinley changed everything Signs you're already falling into the trap and don't realize it ⸻ 👤 Host Links Josh Peterson LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joshdpeterson Gary Boyle LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/garyboyle/ ⸻ 🚀 Subscribe & Follow BMK Vision YouTube (Video Podcast): https://www.youtube.com/@beringmckinleyvision?sub_confirmation=1 Learn More About the Vision Platform: https://beringmckinley.com/vision Apply to Be a Guest: https://beringmckinley.com/blog#speaker-form ⸻ 🔎 SEO Keywords MSP hiring mistakes MSP role design MSP service manager MSP leadership MSP business planning Managed service providers MSP staffing MSP org design Small business hiring BMK Vision Podcast ⸻ 📝 Credits Host: Josh Peterson Co-Host: Gary Boyle Producer: Bering McKinley Episode: #86 — Stop Hiring People — Start Designing Roles

In this episode of the BMK Vision Podcast, Josh Peterson sits down with Gary Boyle, Partner for Strategy & Business Development at Bering McKinley. They dig into why MSP partnerships break down, how undefined roles create a slow-burning disaster, and what owners can do right now to get ahead of it — drawing from real client situations happening right now. This conversation explores how the most common partnership problems — misaligned expectations, weak operating agreements, and murky equity structures — quietly erode MSP businesses for years before anyone faces them head-on. Practical and honest takeaways for any MSP owner in a partnership or thinking about starting one. 🔗 Learn more about the BMK Vision Operating System: https://beringmckinley.com/vision ⸻ About Gary Boyle Gary Boyle is a Partner for Strategy & Business Development at Bering McKinley. With a background spanning network engineering, entrepreneurship, and strategic consulting, Gary brings real-world operator experience to helping MSP owners build stronger, more profitable businesses. About the Host Josh Peterson is the CEO of Bering McKinley and host of the BMK Vision Podcast, helping MSPs grow through operational maturity, financial clarity, and leadership development. Learn more: https://beringmckinley.com/vision 🎤 Apply to be a guest: https://beringmckinley.com/blog#speaker-form

You don’t need time tracking to survive at $1M — but you absolutely need it to scale past $2M.   In this episode, we break down one of the most common growth ceilings in the MSP industry: the belief that “we don’t track time” is a culture win. Josh Peterson and Gary Boyle unpack why that mindset often leads to stalled margins, mispriced agreements, technician burnout, and emotional decision-making instead of operational clarity. Guest Introduction   Gary Boyle is a Partner at Bering McKinley, and in this conversation, we explore service profitability, agreement gross profit, technician capacity, and the real economics behind scaling a managed services business. This episode challenges the idea that time tracking equals micromanagement and reframes it as leadership discipline. ⸻   🎙 What We Cover in This Episode   • Why MSPs stall between $1M–$3M in revenue • The “noisy vs quiet client” profitability problem • Agreement gross profit and why it matters • The illusion of flat-rate pricing • Service salary to service revenue ratio • Capacity modeling for technicians • Why “we’re profitable” isn’t enough • Leadership discipline vs micromanagement ⸻   👤 Guest Links   Guest LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/garyboyle/ Company Website: https://beringmckinley.com ⸻   🚀 Subscribe & Follow BMK Vision   YouTube (Video Podcast): https://www.youtube.com/@beringmckinleyvision?sub_confirmation=1   Learn More About the Vision Platform: https://beringmckinley.com/vision   Apply to Be a Guest: https://beringmckinley.com/blog#speaker-form

In this From the Trenches episode of the BMK Vision Podcast, Josh Peterson sits down with Ray Stasieczko for an unfiltered conversation about the copier-dealer-to-MSP transition—and why so many businesses lose their way chasing relevance instead of building real value.   Ray shares hard-earned lessons from decades in the print and IT services space, challenging vendor-driven MSP models that promise easy growth but often lead to low margins, outsourced complexity, and stalled businesses. Together, Josh and Ray explore why most copier dealers only convert a small percentage of clients into managed IT customers, why outsourcing the help desk breaks the economics for many MSPs, and why clarity of intent (“why”) matters more than chasing the next trend.   This episode is a candid look at what actually works, what doesn’t, and what MSPs and copier dealers need to rethink as disruption accelerates. 🎙 What We Cover in This Episode   • Why many MSPs get “lost on the way to relevance” • The reality of the 3–5% copier-to-MSP conversion rate • Vendor-driven strategy vs. business fundamentals • Why outsourcing the front-line help desk hurts margins • The difference between lifestyle MSPs and growth-focused firms • Why fee-based assessments and consulting matter • “Why comes first, how comes second” as an operating principle • What mature MSPs do differently to protect value 👤 Guest Links   Ray Stasieczko LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/raystasieczko/ 🚀 Subscribe & Follow BMK Vision   YouTube (Video Podcast): https://www.youtube.com/@beringmckinleyvision?sub_confirmation=1   Learn More About the Vision Operating System: https://beringmckinley.com/vision   Apply to Be a Guest: https://beringmckinley.com/blog#speaker-form

At around $5M in revenue, many MSPs run into a leadership problem that has nothing to do with effort or intelligence—and everything to do with role fit. In this episode, the BMK Vision Podcast team breaks down a real client scenario where an owner is sitting in the sales seat but doesn’t truly want sales leadership.   Josh Peterson is joined by Gary Boyle and Ryan Alter to explore why ownership does not automatically mean seat fit, why delegating tasks is not the same as owning outcomes, and how avoiding hard role decisions quietly taxes the entire business. The conversation digs into the tension between partnerships, ego, accountability, and growth—and why sales leadership is a non-optional seat at this stage of maturity.   This episode is especially relevant for MSP owners navigating multi-partner dynamics, stalled growth, or the shift from tactics to strategy. 🎙 What We Cover in This Episode Why ownership does not equal seat fit The difference between delegating tasks and owning accountability Why sales leadership becomes non-optional around $5M How misaligned seats create friction across sales and service When coaching turns into avoidance The real cost of delaying role-fit decisions How leaders can surface truth without confrontation The role of consultants in guiding difficult ownership conversations 👤 Guest & Host Links   Josh Peterson CEO, Bering McKinley https://www.linkedin.com/in/joshdpeterson/   Gary Boyle Senior Partner, Bering McKinley   Ryan Alter Founder, Silverstream AV 🚀 Subscribe & Learn More   YouTube (Video Podcast): https://www.youtube.com/@beringmckinleyvision?sub_confirmation=1   Learn more about the Vision Operating System: https://beringmckinley.com/vision   Apply to be a guest on the podcast: https://beringmckinley.com/blog#speaker-form

Many MSP owners reach a stage where progress slows, not because of a lack of effort—but because everything still depends on them.   In this BMK Roundtable, Josh Peterson, Gary Boyle, and Ryan unpack the real reasons founder dependence reappears as MSPs grow. From broken buy-in and stalled initiatives to internal projects replacing billable work, this conversation tackles the leadership and operational discipline required to scale without burning out.   If you’re an MSP owner or executive feeling stretched, frustrated, or stuck doing too much yourself, this episode will help you rethink priorities, delegation, and what it really takes to move the business forward.   Learn more about Vision: https://beringmckinley.com/vision   Apply to be a guest: https://beringmckinley.com/blog#speaker-form

Most MSPs don’t get stuck because they lack skill, tools, or effort. They get stuck because they’ve never clearly answered one foundational question:   What do you actually want?   In this episode of the BMK Vision Podcast, Josh Peterson (CEO, Bering McKinley) and Gary Boyle (Partner, Bering McKinley) continue the conversation about why MSPs stall—and go deeper into the question that unlocks real strategy, alignment, and momentum.   They discuss why revenue and valuation alone are often insufficient goals, why many owners are uncomfortable naming a number, and how the most effective strategies start with goals you can feel in daily life—time, control, optionality, family, and impact.   The conversation also explores how a lack of clear direction shows up inside teams as “poor communication,” why accountability and culture are not opposites, and how simple operating rhythms (like daily huddles) can dramatically improve clarity, alignment, and morale.   If your MSP feels busy but directionless—or your team is quietly asking, “what are we even doing?”—this episode will help you reset the conversation and define a target worth executing toward. 🔍 Topics Covered   • Why revenue is a tool, not the goal • What a sufficient answer to “what do you want?” really looks like • Why valuation goals drift—but purpose-driven goals don’t • Time, control, and optionality as strategic anchors • The culture fallacy: accountability vs. “good culture” • Why teams feel lost when direction isn’t clear • Using daily huddles to build clarity and community • Aligning personal goals with company strategy 👥 Hosts   Josh Peterson – CEO, Bering McKinley https://www.linkedin.com/in/joshdpeterson/   Gary Boyle – Partner, Bering McKinley https://www.linkedin.com/in/garyboyle/ 🚀 Learn More   Learn more about the BMK Vision Operating System: https://beringmckinley.com/vision   Apply to be a guest on the podcast: https://beringmckinley.com/blog#speaker-form

Most MSPs don’t get stuck because they lack technical skill. They get stuck because the business reaches a point where brute force stops working — and the owner hasn’t made the shift from operator to CEO. In this weekly BMK Vision Roundtable, Josh Peterson (CEO, Bering McKinley) is joined by Gary Boyle (Partner, Bering McKinley) and Ryan Alter (Former MSP Owner) to break down why so many MSPs plateau around the $2M mark and what actually needs to change to move beyond it. This episode goes deeper than sales tactics or tools. The conversation focuses on mindset, leadership, strategy, and the hardest work most MSP owners avoid: clearly defining what they want from the business and building a plan to get there. If your MSP feels busy, successful on paper, but somehow stalled, this episode will help you understand why — and what needs to change to get unstuck. 🔍 Topics Covered • Why $2M has become the “new $1M” ceiling for MSPs • The operator vs. CEO mindset shift • Why touching tickets creates trust issues at scale • Sales vs. strategy — what really drives growth • The accidental entrepreneur trap • Why most owners struggle to define what they want • Peer groups, advisors, and escaping the MSP echo chamber • Turning strategy into execution (objectives → milestones → actions) • Building an MSP that’s an asset, not just a job 👥 Hosts Josh Peterson – CEO, Bering McKinley https://www.linkedin.com/in/joshdpeterson/ Gary Boyle – Partner, Bering McKinley https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryan-alter-896a5b11/ 🚀 Learn More Learn more about the BMK Vision Operating System: https://beringmckinley.com/vision Apply to be a guest on the podcast: https://beringmckinley.com/blog#speaker-form

Most business owners assume the R&D tax credit is only for labs, scientists, or massive corporations. In reality, many MSPs and service-based businesses qualify every year without realizing it. In this episode of the BMK Vision Podcast, Josh Peterson sits down with Val Majewski, Partner at American Incentive Advisors, to break down what the R&D tax credit really is, why most companies self-censor themselves out of qualifying, and how innovation in everyday business processes can translate into real tax savings. Val explains how MSPs, IT firms, and professional services businesses often meet the IRS requirements through process improvement, software development, automation, and service innovation. The conversation also covers recent tax law changes that reopened credits for 2022, 2023, and 2024, common audit misconceptions, and how proper documentation protects business owners. This episode is especially relevant for MSP owners and leaders investing time and money into improving operations and wondering how innovation can reduce tax liability. ⸻ 🎙 What We Cover in This Episode • What actually qualifies as R&D for service businesses • Why MSPs frequently miss the R&D tax credit • The IRS four-part test for R&D qualification • Retroactive credits for tax years 2022–2024 • Why most CPAs do not proactively bring this up • Audit fears versus real-world risk • Real recovery ranges from small businesses to large firms • How discipline from professional sports applies to business success ⸻ 👤 Guest Links Guest LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/valmajewski/ Company Website: https://thinkabx.com ⸻ 🚀 Subscribe & Follow BMK Vision YouTube (Video Podcast): https://www.youtube.com/@beringmckinleyvision?sub_confirmation=1 Learn More About the Vision Platform: https://beringmckinley.com/vision Apply to Be a Guest: https://beringmckinley.com/blog#speaker-form

In this episode of From the Trenches on the BMK Vision Podcast, Josh Peterson sits down with Steve Brickner, Founder/CEO of Kraken Technology Solutions, for a grounded conversation about where MSPs are headed next—and why the market is rewarding leadership more than ticket throughput.   Steve shares his path from construction into IT, why early-stage MSPs need the ability to pivot quickly, and how “fractional technology leadership” is becoming the new wedge for trust, retention, and higher-value client relationships.   ⸻   🎙 What We Cover in This Episode Reframing MSP value: from tickets to technology leadership Fractional leadership and the consultative MSP model Why cybersecurity became table-stakes—and what comes after IT as a growth driver (not just a cost center) Translating security and tech decisions into CFO-ready ROI language Relationship-first prospecting: community, chambers, and content Webinars vs podcasts in 2026: attention, intent, and repurposing Podcast production stack ideas (Riverside + automated switching)   ⸻   👤 Guest Links Guest LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stevebrickner981ba9242  Company Website: https://krakentechnology.io/    ⸻   🚀 Subscribe & Follow BMK Vision YouTube (Video Podcast): https://www.youtube.com/@beringmckinleyvision?sub_confirmation=1   Learn More About the Vision Platform: https://beringmckinley.com/vision   Apply to Be a Guest: https://beringmckinley.com/blog#speaker-form

Most MSPs delay hiring a dispatcher because they believe it will slow response times or distance clients from technical help. In reality, the lack of dispatch is one of the biggest reasons MSPs struggle with inconsistent service, forgotten tickets, poor utilization, and burned-out technicians.   In this episode of the BMK Vision Podcast, Josh Peterson breaks down why dispatch is not administrative overhead—it’s the control system that protects client experience and operational health. Drawing on nearly two decades of experience working with thousands of MSPs, Josh explains why technicians should not be responsible for prioritization, follow-ups, or workload decisions, and how a well-designed dispatch model changes everything. 🎙 What We Cover in This Episode   • Why dispatch is widely misunderstood in MSPs • The hidden cost of technician self-dispatch • How dispatch eliminates forgotten tickets and aging backlogs • The three things every dispatcher must own: tickets, time, and the day • Why utilization fails without centralized control • When to hire your first dispatcher (even as a small MSP) • Priority-based vs centralized dispatch models 👤 Host   Josh Peterson is the CEO of Bering McKinley and host of the BMK Vision Podcast. He helps MSP owners bring structure to chaos through operational clarity, financial discipline, and scalable leadership systems. 🚀 Subscribe & Learn More   YouTube (Video Podcast): https://www.youtube.com/@beringmckinleyvision?sub_confirmation=1   Learn More About the Vision Platform: https://beringmckinley.com/vision   Apply to Be a Guest: https://beringmckinley.com/blog#speaker-form

In #75 of From the Trenches on the BMK Vision Podcast, Josh Peterson talks with Jocelyn Gorman (President, DSI) about building an MSP inside a copier-dealer ecosystem—and why the real advantage isn’t the client list, it’s credibility, infrastructure, and a willingness to take smart risks.    They cover the “big contract first” origin story, why large accounts can fund growth without delivering profitability, how sales teams must evolve from generalists to specialists, and how Jocelyn is using Lean Six Sigma + practical AI to reduce admin work and focus the team on higher-value outcomes.   Guest: Jocelyn Gorman (DSI)  Company site: https://www.dsinm.com  Guest LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jocelyn-gorman-09b47422    Explore Vision: https://beringmckinley.com/vision Apply to be a guest: https://beringmckinley.com/blog#speaker-form YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@beringmckinleyvision?sub_confirmation=1

Your MSP business is doing more right than you think—but the industry rarely pauses to say it. In this episode, Josh Peterson is joined by Gary Boyle and Ryan Alter for a “Don’t Be That Guy” conversation that flips the script: why the MSP business model is awesome, why it’s often more resilient (and sellable) than other SMB categories, and what owners must do to protect margin as the market tightens.   They unpack how high retention can quietly create a comfort plateau, why price increases get delayed (even when everyone knows they should happen), and why the only metric that really tells the truth—regardless of MRR, per-seat, or hourly billing—is effective hourly rate. If you want a healthier team, better clients, and a business that can actually fund your life and your future, this one is a mindset reset.   ⸻   🎙 What We Cover in This Episode Reframing MSPs as a resilient, sellable SMB model Working on the business vs in the business (and escaping burnout) Why 90%+ retention can cause growth stagnation Margin erosion and the annual price-increase discipline “Good / Better / Best” client segmentation to create capacity CAC: how to calculate it and where MSPs overspend Recurring vs project work—and why EHR is the truth How pricing affects service quality, talent, and client behavior   ⸻   👤 Guest Links   Gary Boyle (LinkedIn): https://www.linkedin.com/in/garyboyle/  Ryan Alter (LinkedIn): https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryan-alter-896a5b11/ Josh Peterson (LinkedIn): https://www.linkedin.com/in/joshdpeterson/   ⸻   🚀 Subscribe & Follow BMK Vision   YouTube (Video Podcast): https://www.youtube.com/@beringmckinleyvision?sub_confirmation=1   Learn More About the Vision Platform: https://beringmckinley.com/vision   Apply to Be a Guest: https://beringmckinley.com/blog#speaker-form

In this Don’t Be That Guy webinar episode of The BMK Vision Podcast, Josh Peterson sits down with Fletcher Wimbush of Discovered for a direct, no-nonsense conversation MSP owners need to hear: you suck at hiring—and it’s costing you more than you think.   Fletcher breaks down why most MSP hiring processes fail before the first interview even happens, how relying on “gut feel” leads to expensive mistakes, and why assessment-first hiring is the fastest way to reduce turnover and improve team performance. The discussion covers screener questions, integrity and attitude assessments, reference checks that actually matter, and how to keep recruiting without misleading candidates or burning yourself out.   If you’re an MSP owner juggling growth, service delivery, and leadership—and still hiring reactively—this episode will challenge your assumptions and give you a clearer path forward.   Guest: Fletcher Wimbush Founder of Discovered, Fletcher has spent more than a decade helping small and mid-sized businesses fix broken hiring processes. He specializes in recruitment automation, assessment-driven hiring, and reducing turnover by helping leaders make better decisions earlier in the process.   Host: Josh Peterson Josh Peterson is CEO of Bering McKinley, a management consulting firm that helps MSPs scale through operational discipline, financial clarity, and leadership development. He is the host of The BMK Vision Podcast, where real-world conversations challenge MSP owners to think and operate differently.   Learn more about the Vision Operating System: https://beringmckinley.com/vision   Subscribe to the BMK Vision Podcast on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@beringmckinleyvision?sub_confirmation=1   Apply to be a guest on the podcast: https://beringmckinley.com/blog#speaker-form   Connect with Fletcher Wimbush on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/fletcher-wimbush/   Learn more about Discovered: https://www.discoveredats.com/

Kevin Kahn joins Josh Peterson to share the real story behind scaling an MSP through mentorship, relationship-driven growth, and operational discipline. Kevin explains how a pivotal early mentor changed his trajectory, how IntelliComp grew organically for years, and what shifts when you modernize your stack to get better visibility, reporting, and business control.   Guest Introduction Kevin Kahn is the President of IntelliComp Technologies (Baltimore) and a longtime MSP leader. In this conversation, we explore scaling pains, pricing and efficiency, tool migrations (and the real cost of change), and how MSPs should think about AI and automation without losing the client relationship that keeps the business strong.    What We Cover in This Episode • Building an MSP on relationships (and what you sacrifice for it) • Lessons from “almost going broke” moments and recovering stronger • All-you-can-eat helpdesk billing: model first, pricing second • Switching PSA/RMM: when it’s worth the pain (and when it’s not) • Why modern reporting matters for running the business • Hardware margins, leasing, and why MSPs struggle to operationalize it • AI for MSPs: where efficiency gains are real (and where risk is real) • Customer success, empathy, and why humans still matter   Guest Links Guest LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kevin-kahn/ Company Website: https://intellicomp.net/    Subscribe & Follow BMK Vision YouTube (Video Podcast): https://www.youtube.com/@beringmckinleyvision?sub_confirmation=1 Learn More About the Vision Platform: https://beringmckinley.com/vision Apply to Be a Guest: https://beringmckinley.com/blog

In this BMK Quick Takes episode, Josh Peterson teaches the most important—and most misunderstood—sales principle in the MSP industry: the correct order of selling. Josh explains why selling yourself first, your company second, and your services last leads to stronger trust and better outcomes. He also breaks down the four essential components of a First-Time Appointment: budget, timeframe, next steps, and referral confidence. What We Cover   • Why emotional trust drives nearly every buying decision • How to structure curiosity-driven discovery • The true order of selling for MSPs • Establishing budget using revenue-based benchmarks • Helping prospects commit to a realistic timeframe • Securing next meetings professionally and consistently • Making referral requests feel natural and confident Subscribe & Follow BMK Vision   YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@beringmckinleyvision?sub_confirmation=1 Vision Operating System: https://beringmckinley.com/vision Apply to Be a Guest: https://beringmckinley.com/blog

Leaving a stable role to launch your own MSP is exciting—and brutally hard. In this episode, Josh Peterson talks with Chris Hart, founder of Hart CTO Inc and longtime IT executive, about what his first 90+ days back in the MSP saddle have really looked like: slow leads, pricing pressure, doubts about size, and the surprising lifelines that are keeping the business moving.    Guest Introduction Chris Hart is the founder of Hart CTO Inc, a Florida-based fractional CTO and consulting firm serving law firms and professional services organizations. With more than two decades leading MSP teams and technology operations, Chris has supported thousands of end users, built cybersecurity practices, and guided firms through complex infrastructure and cloud transitions. In this conversation, he and Josh explore the realities of starting a new MSP in a saturated, acquisition-heavy market—and how fractional CTO work, assessments, and subcontract projects can bridge the early-stage gap.    ⸻   What We Cover in This Episode Leaving a stable executive role to relaunch as an MSP owner Why the first 90 days were tougher and slower than expected Handling “you’re too small” objections with 75–200 user prospects Pricing realities around $85–$100 per user and why “full freight” is hard Using subcontract projects and residential work to keep cash flowing Building a referral “army” of part-time sales partners and ISPs Selling paid assessments into companies that already have MSPs Positioning fractional CTO services for legal and professional firms How consolidation and acquisitions change the local MSP opportunity Mindset, activity levels, and the long game of building a durable MSP   ⸻   Guest Links   Guest LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chris-hart863/  Company Website: https://hartcto.com    ⸻   Subscribe and Follow BMK Vision   YouTube (Video Podcast): https://www.youtube.com/@beringmckinleyvision?sub_confirmation=1   Learn More About the Vision Platform: https://beringmckinley.com/vision   Apply to Be a Guest: https://beringmckinley.com/bering-mckinley-podcast-blog

Growing an MSP from “computer guy” to a multi-technician, acquisition-ready business isn’t about hacks or hype—it’s about talking to more people, building real systems, and avoiding the wrong hires at the wrong time. In this episode, Josh Peterson is joined by Chad Kempt, founder and president of Fast Computers, an Ontario-based MSP that’s been serving clients since 1998 and recently merged with another provider to expand its footprint.   Chad and Josh unpack why most sub-$1M MSPs don’t need a salesperson—they need the owner to step up—and how dispatch and service management can either unlock growth or destroy margins if you get the structure wrong. They also dig into realistic targets, ASCII-level peer community involvement, and the discipline required to use data without drowning in dashboards. 🎙 What We Cover in This Episode   • Chad’s 27-plus-year journey from solo “computer guy” to MSP founder • Why owner-led sales usually beat early sales hires for small MSPs • The shift from 5–25 seat SBS clients to 50–150 seat cloud-first organizations • How Fast Computers approached M&A and the operational load that comes with it • Dispatch vs. service management: who owns hours, schedules, and tickets • When to hire an admin/dispatcher and when to hold off on a service manager • The danger of saying “yes” to every client request and shrinking your margins • Picking a few meaningful PSA metrics instead of chasing every chart • How ASCII community involvement helped Chad refine his model and mindset 👤 Guest Links   Guest LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chadkempt/ Company Website: https://fastcomputers.ca/ 🚀 Subscribe & Follow BMK Vision   YouTube (Video Podcast): https://www.youtube.com/@beringmckinleyvision?sub_confirmation=1   Learn More About the Vision Platform: https://beringmckinley.com/vision   Apply to Be a Guest: https://beringmckinley.com/bering-mckinley-podcast-blog

What happens when a long-time MSP owner finally admits he can’t keep being the only salesperson—and decides to build a truly accountable, automation-ready organization? In this episode, Josh Peterson talks with Charles Swihart, Founder & CEO of Preactive IT Solutions, about implementing EOS, scaling sales beyond the owner, and preparing for the next wave of AI and automation in the MSP world.   Charles has been leading Preactive IT Solutions, a Houston-based MSP specializing in construction and engineering firms, since 2003. Under his leadership, the company has grown through disciplined financials, strong account management, and a relentless focus on KPIs and standards.    ⸻   🎙 What We Cover in This Episode   • Why 80% of self-implementing EOS attempts fail—and why Charles hired a coach • How EOS “future casting” forced him to replace himself in the sales seat • Lessons from an early failed sales hire and what he changed about the process • Building a KPI culture: response time, resolution time, and time entry on tickets • Setting 80–90% time-on-ticket targets for help desk and project teams • Using AI tools for ticket triage and internal efficiency—what’s working today • Why RPA / automation vendors often over-promise and under-deliver • Planning an internal automation pod focused on business process improvement • The role of account management and QBRs in driving project and security revenue • Age, exits, and why many MSPs sell too early instead of adapting to the next wave   Plus: How to talk to clients about AI and automation in terms of business outcomes—not just cheaper IT.   ⸻   👤 Guest Links   Guest: Charles Swihart – Founder & CEO, Preactive IT Solutions Guest LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/charlesswihart Company Website: https://www.preactiveit.com   ⸻   👤 Host & BMK Vision   Host: Josh Peterson – CEO, Bering McKinley LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joshdpeterson/   Learn more about the BMK Vision Operating System for MSPs: https://beringmckinley.com/vision   Apply to be a guest on the BMK Vision Podcast: https://beringmckinley.com/bering-mckinley-podcast-blog    YouTube (Video Podcast): https://www.youtube.com/@beringmckinleyvision?sub_confirmation=1

What does it really look like to build a mountain of cash between your MSP and the next crisis? In this episode of the BMK Vision Podcast, Josh Peterson sits down with Bryan Currier, Founder & CEO of Advantage Technologies, to unpack the systems, disciplines, and mindset that took his dental-focused MSP from a near cash disaster during the Great Recession to a multi-state, Hassle Free IT platform serving 800+ healthcare clients.    Bryan explains how he uses dedicated reserve buckets (annual expenses, taxes, bonuses, and true emergencies), weekly sweeps into Treasuries, and strict account separation to protect against fraud, maintain liquidity, and sleep at night—without starving growth. He and Josh then zoom out into strategic planning, vertical focus, and what the “next-gen MSP” might look like as advisory, automation, and AI become table stakes. 🎙 What We Cover in This Episode   • How a Great Recession cash crunch forced Bryan to rethink risk and reserves • Designing primary, operations, and reserve accounts to cap fraud exposure • Using weekly cash sweeps and U.S. Treasuries to fund annual and seasonal expenses • Why he built an emergency reserve big enough to cover multiple payrolls • The “Moving the Mountain” campaign and getting the whole team aligned • Meeting Monday, Task Tuesday, Wide View Wednesday, Tactical Thursday, Freedom Friday • Naming what you really want as an owner (freedom, wealth, impact) and mapping milestones • Vertical focus in dental IT—and why he’d add complementary verticals today • Turning internal SharePoint + Copilot projects into advisory and automation services • Partnering with specialists vs hiring W2 for next-gen capabilities 👤 Guest Links   Guest LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bcurrier01  Company Website (Advantage Technologies): https://www.adv-tech.com/  👤 About the Guest – Bryan Currier   Bryan Currier is the Founder and CEO of Advantage Technologies, an MSP and dental IT specialist he started from his parents’ basement in 2000. Today Advantage Technologies provides “Hassle Free IT” that is simple, secure, stable, and supported for more than 800 clients across multiple states, with a deep focus on dental and healthcare practices.  🎤 About the Host – Josh Peterson   Josh Peterson is the CEO of Bering McKinley and host of the BMK Vision Podcast. With nearly two decades in the MSP industry and experience working with hundreds of owners worldwide, Josh helps leaders build operational maturity, financial clarity, and growth-focused leadership using the BMK Vision Operating System. 

Are you building a business you love—or flying a plane with no destination?   In this Don’t Be That Guy episode of the BMK Vision Podcast, Josh Peterson and former MSP owner Ryan Alter dig into one of the hardest questions in ownership: Should you sell your MSP or keep running it—and on what terms? Together they explore burnout, lifestyle businesses, valuations, and what it really takes to land the plane where you actually want to end up.   Guest Introduction Ryan Alter is the former owner and CEO of Alter Enterprise, a Missoula, Montana–based MSP he grew from a one-man shop into a 25-person team before selling to Fisher’s Technology in 2023.  Drawing on nearly two decades in IT services, Ryan now mentors MSP owners on financial clarity, operational maturity, and exit strategy—helping them decide whether to double-down on growth or intentionally plan a sale that protects clients, staff, and sanity. 🎙 What We Cover in This Episode   • The exact moment Ryan realized he was “done” and ready to sell • How COVID-era exhaustion and a $2M plateau pushed a critical decision • Lifestyle business vs. growth business: honest definitions (without judgment) • Why many MSPs slowly go out of business while still “looking successful” • What buyers actually value: recurring revenue, margins, and clean data • How project-heavy revenue and weak AGP drag your multiple down • The next generation of MSPs: advisory, AI, and deep business-process work • How to run your MSP as if you’ll sell tomorrow—even if you never do • Practical advice for employees when their company is getting sold • How to “name your airport” and set a clear financial landing target   Plus: why being brutally honest about your own goals is the most important KPI you’ll ever track. 👤 Guest Links   Guest LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryan-alter-896a5b11  Company / Exit Story: https://www.fisherstech.com/alter-enterprise/  🚀 Subscribe & Follow BMK Vision   YouTube (Video Podcast): https://www.youtube.com/@beringmckinleyvision?sub_confirmation=1   Learn More About the Vision Platform: https://beringmckinley.com/vision   Apply to Be a Guest: https://beringmckinley.com/bering-mckinley-podcast-blog

In this BMK Quick Takes episode, Josh Peterson explains why most MSP goals fail before they ever begin. Goals are not dreams, affirmations, or intentions—they are math.   Josh walks through how purpose statements create clarity, how SMART objectives actually work in real businesses, and how revenue targets must be reverse-engineered into proposals, meetings, prospecting activity, and daily behavior. This episode is a direct challenge to MSP owners who avoid committing to outcomes out of fear, uncertainty, or self-protection.   If you’ve ever said “I just want to get a few clients first” or “I’m not ready to sell yet,” this Quick Take will reframe how you think about growth.   Learn more about the Vision Platform: https://beringmckinley.com/vision   Subscribe on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@beringmckinleyvision?sub_confirmation=1   Apply to be a guest: https://beringmckinley.com/blog#speaker-form

In this episode of the BMK Vision Podcast, Josh Peterson talks with Stephanie Peace, founder of Goldroot Strategies, about what it really takes to build a marketing engine that feels human in an AI-driven world. From grassroots outreach and “smarketing” alignment to data hygiene and social content, they walk through how MSPs can stop spraying and praying—and start building real relationships that convert.   Guest Introduction Stephanie Peace is the founder of Goldroot Strategies, a marketing and brand strategy firm that helps MSPs and small businesses clarify their message, clean up their CRM data, and turn long-form content into daily, authentic visibility. After years of leading sales, training, and coaching in B2C environments, she shifted into the MSP space, supporting executive recruiting and then building personal brands and thought leadership for AI and managed services leaders.   ⸻   🎙 What We Cover in This Episode   • Moving from canned, generic content to human, voice-driven marketing • Why grassroots outreach (donuts, door-knocking, local presence) still works • How to align sales and marketing into one “smarketing” motion • Cleaning up HubSpot/CRM data so your journeys actually work • Using webinars and podcasts as a content engine, not one-off events • Repurposing long-form video into short clips, posts, and articles • Why social media presence now feeds AI search and discoverability • Human-first AI: agentic workflows, prompt engineering, and what’s next • Choosing the right person (internal or external) to “own” your marketing • Building a purpose-centered career and legacy around people and community   ⸻   👤 Guest Links   Guest LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/%F0%9F%92%A5stephanie-peace-james%F0%9F%92%A5-b2558940   Company Website: https://goldrootstrategies.com   ⸻   🚀 Subscribe & Follow BMK Vision   YouTube (Video Podcast): https://www.youtube.com/@beringmckinleyvision?sub_confirmation=1   Learn More About the Vision Platform: https://beringmckinley.com/vision   Apply to Be a Guest: https://beringmckinley.com/bering-mckinley-podcast-blog

Most small-business and MSP owners know hiring is mission-critical, yet still rely on gut feelings, rushed interviews, and contingency recruiters whose incentives don’t align with quality. In this episode, Josh Peterson talks with Fletcher Wimbush, CEO of Discovered, about how to replace guesswork with a proven, science-based hiring process that consistently produces A-players.   Guest Introduction Fletcher Wimbush is the CEO and founder of Discovered, an AI-enabled performance hiring and applicant tracking system designed to help growing companies build better teams with less risk. Drawing on decades of experience, thousands of interviews, and validated assessment tools, Fletcher has developed FACTS-driven hiring systems that improve candidate quality, reduce turnover, and create high-performing teams across industries.    In this conversation, Josh and Fletcher dig into why traditional recruiting fails, how integrity and attitude must be measured early, and what a modern hiring funnel should really look like for MSPs and other small businesses. 🎙 What We Cover in This Episode Exposing the broken incentives in contingency recruiting Defining “good” in a role: job analysis and performance-based job descriptions Why personality tools like DISC have limited value in hiring decisions Using integrity, attitude, and cognitive assessments without bias or shortcuts Structured interviews focused on significant accomplishments and hard evidence How to run reference checks that actually tell you the truth Generational myths vs. real hiring-process problems Designing working interviews and job tryouts that de-risk new hires Discovered’s flat-fee, de-risked recruiting model for small businesses 👤 Guest Links Guest LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/fletcher-wimbush Company Website: https://www.discoveredats.com/ 🚀 Subscribe & Follow BMK Vision   YouTube (Video Podcast): https://www.youtube.com/@beringmckinleyvision?sub_confirmation=1   Learn More About the Vision Platform: https://beringmckinley.com/vision   Apply to Be a Guest: https://beringmckinley.com/bering-mckinley-podcast-blog

James Sanford, President and founder of Teamspring Technologies in North Georgia, joins Josh Peterson to talk about what the next evolution of MSP work really looks like when automation and AI are at the center. From his beginnings as a software engineer to building a family-run MSP serving Atlanta-area SMBs and nonprofits, James explains how recurring revenue, advisory work, and automation are reshaping his business.   [Guest Introduction] James Sanford leads Teamspring Technologies, an MSP based in Sugar Hill, Georgia that has been supporting local businesses since 1999 with managed IT, cybersecurity, cloud, and VoIP services. In this conversation, James and Josh explore how MSP owners can turn repetitive work into automation, how AI will change service delivery and staffing, and why owners must decide whether to stay lifestyle-focused or intentionally scale toward generational wealth and leadership impact. 🎙 What We Cover in This Episode Tracing James’ journey from software engineer to MSP owner and local IT partner Why recurring revenue—and not one-off projects—changed how he built Teamspring Real automation examples: CRM data enrichment, prospect research, and scoring Streamlining M365 onboarding/offboarding and documentation with forms and scripts How AI assistants and tools are already changing Level 1 and Level 2 support The emerging role of a dedicated automation engineer inside MSPs Choosing between a lifestyle MSP and building a scalable, multi-million-dollar firm Generational wealth, working with adult children, and developing leadership skills Using books, peer groups, and coaching to fuel the next stage of owner growth 👤 Guest Links   Guest LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jksanford  Company Website: https://www.teamspring.us/  🚀 Subscribe & Follow BMK Vision   YouTube (Video Podcast): https://www.youtube.com/@beringmckinleyvision?sub_confirmation=1   Learn More About the Vision Platform: https://beringmckinley.com/vision   Apply to Be a Guest: https://beringmckinley.com/bering-mckinley-podcast-blog   Host LinkedIn (Josh): https://www.linkedin.com/in/joshdpeterson/ Company LinkedIn (Bering McKinley): https://www.linkedin.com/company/bering-mckinley/

This episode dives deep into one of the most important conversations in the MSP industry today: the decision every owner must make—transform or exit. Josh Peterson is joined by James Davis, a strategy advisor and fractional CSO helping APAC technology companies modernize their business models and unlock new growth.   James breaks down why MSPs remain stuck at the $1–2M ceiling, how mindset and identity prevent owners from scaling, and why advisory services, automation, and rethinking your value streams represent the biggest Blue Ocean opportunity the industry has ever seen. 🎙 What We Cover in This Episode   • Why most MSPs plateau and how to break free • The real difference between tactical and strategic MSPs • Why lifestyle businesses are not a negative—and how to be intentional • How to uncover an owner’s true motivation and purpose • Future revenue streams: automation, advisory, and AI • How to forecast realistically and identify risky revenue • What Blue Ocean offerings look like for MSPs • Why now is the most dangerous time to “wait and see” 👤 Guest Links   Guest LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamesdavis-strategy Guest Website: (none listed publicly; LinkedIn primary profile) 🚀 Subscribe & Follow BMK Vision   YouTube (Video Podcast): https://www.youtube.com/@beringmckinleyvision?sub_confirmation=1   Learn More About the Vision Platform: https://beringmckinley.com/vision   Apply to Be a Guest: https://beringmckinley.com/bering-mckinley-podcast-blog

What happens when an MSP owner takes dispatch seriously, insists on real-time time entry, and uses data instead of gut feel to run the business? In this episode, Luis M. Alvarez, President & CEO of Alvarez Technology Group, sits down with Josh Peterson to walk through 25 years of lessons building a security-focused MSP on the California Central Coast.    Luis shares how he moved from break-fix to managed services, why agreement gross profit (AGP) became a non-negotiable metric, and how tools like ConnectWise and Cognition360 help his team decide which clients to grow and which ones to fire. Along the way, he explains why dispatch owns the tickets, the day, and the hours—and how a strong dispatcher protects both profit and client experience. 🎙 What We Cover in This Episode   • Luis’ journey from Air Force linguist to MSP CEO • Building Alvarez Technology Group from 2-person shop to leading regional MSP • The transition from time-and-materials to flat-fee managed services • Hosted vs on-prem PSA/RMM and the real cost of switching tools • Why AGP, utilization, and pull-through revenue matter more than MRR alone • Using Cognition360, Power BI, and ConnectWise data to run the business • Dispatch as the control tower for tickets, tech time, and client expectations • Guardrails for scope creep and protecting project margins • Becoming a security-focused MSP and making the stack non-negotiable • How EOS, KPIs, and weekly rhythms keep a 25-person MSP aligned 👤 Guest Links   • Guest Website: https://www.alvareztg.com/  • Guest LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/luismalvarez  🚀 Subscribe & Follow BMK Vision   YouTube (Video Podcast): https://www.youtube.com/@beringmckinleyvision?sub_confirmation=1   Learn More About the Vision Platform: https://beringmckinley.com/vision   Apply to Be a Guest: https://beringmckinley.com/bering-mckinley-podcast-blog

Operational truth. Financial clarity. The real future of MSPs. In this episode, Josh Peterson and Mordy (Morty) Hackel explore the foundations and philosophies that determine whether an MSP thrives, stagnates, or collapses under complexity. Morty brings more than two decades of New York–based MSP experience, blending technical depth with strategic insight.   Guest Introduction   Morty Hackel is Partner at KJ Technology, an MSP serving financial, professional services, and family-office clients across the New York region. In this conversation, Morty shares his journey from finance to technology, and breaks down the operational DNA required to run a resilient service organization today. 🎙 What We Cover in This Episode   • Why gross margin is the truest measure of MSP health • How time entry affects every financial report • Why “hours are a perishable good” inside a services business • The real purpose of dispatching (and how most MSPs misuse it) • AI, automation & the next phase of MSP operations • Sales reality: relationship sourcing vs. pipeline engineering • How MSPs can grow beyond break/fix thinking • The psychological journey of the aging MSP owner • Building advisory-level relationships with clients • What MSPs must learn before 2026 arrives 👤 Guest Links   LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mordyhackel/ Company Website: https://kjtechnology.com 🚀 Subscribe & Follow BMK Vision   YouTube (Video Podcast): https://www.youtube.com/@beringmckinleyvision?sub_confirmation=1   Learn More About the Vision Platform: https://beringmckinley.com/vision   Apply to Be a Guest: https://beringmckinley.com/bering-mckinley-podcast-blog

What really happens after the deal closes? In this episode of the BMK Vision Podcast – From the Trenches, Josh Peterson sits down with David Spire, Chief Transformation Officer at Entech, to talk about scaling through M&A, re-signing legacy clients, and building a sales engine that actually supports enterprise value—rather than just buying your way to a number.    David shares his journey from MSP founder to merger with Entech, a Florida-based platform MSP backed by private equity. He explains how he moved from owner to CRO and now Chief Transformation Officer, where he leads M&A integration, sales structure, and cross-functional change projects that keep growth disciplined instead of chaotic.   ⸻   🎙 What We Cover in This Episode   • Why David sold and merged his MSP into Entech—and why he’s still there years later • The emotional and practical challenges of moving from owner to partner • How effective hourly rate and agreement gross profit became non-negotiable metrics • Why Entech forces 3–5-year-old contracts back to the table for re-signing • Using “dirty invoices” and floors-with-no-ceilings to fix underpriced agreements • Hiring philosophy: junior sellers + strong system vs “hero” senior sales reps • How acquisition integration runs on a 6-month, 30/60/90 project plan • Why buying a company too close to your size often creates “sibling rivalry” • The role of organic sales in building real enterprise value before and after PE capital • Lessons from dozens of re-signs and multiple acquisitions MSPs can apply today   Plus: David’s perspective on culture, leadership, and why predictability in systems matters more than personality in sales.   ⸻   👤 Guest Links   Guest LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/entech-david/  Company Website: https://www.entechus.com/    ⸻   🚀 Subscribe & Follow BMK Vision   YouTube (Video Podcast): https://www.youtube.com/@beringmckinleyvision?sub_confirmation=1   Learn More About the Vision Platform: https://beringmckinley.com/vision   Apply to Be a Guest: https://beringmckinley.com/bering-mckinley-podcast-blog

What happens when an MSP owner decides that growth has to serve life—not the other way around? In this From the Trenches conversation, Josh Peterson talks with Brian Welch, founder and president of Welch Technology Services, LLC, about building a sustainable MSP in New Jersey, choosing the right clients, and setting a clear 15-year path to an eventual exit.   Brian shares how he left an acquired IT firm to start his own company, the emotional cost of hiring friends, and why he now values slow, deliberate growth that lets him be present as a father. They dive into cyber insurance questionnaires, Microsoft security defaults, and real-world ransomware stories that are finally waking small businesses up to cybersecurity risk. Along the way, Brian explains how The 20 and Robin Robins have shaped his pricing, marketing, and support model—and why documenting a real plan beats living from a never-ending to-do list. 🎙 What We Cover in This Episode   • Leaving an acquired IT company to start an MSP on your own • How culture shifts after acquisition can push great people out • Hiring friends vs. hiring family—and learning from painful lessons • Choosing clients you actually like and protecting your time • Designing a 15-year plan to sell the business and retire • Cyber insurance questionnaires & small-business security reality • Microsoft security defaults, MFA prompts and client education • Using The 20 and Robin Robins to shape pricing and service delivery • Networking via chambers vs. purchased lists and cold outreach • Documenting goals, milestones and initiatives instead of “just a to-do list” 👤 Guest Links   Guest: Brian Welch – Welch Technology Services, LLC 🌐 Website: https://www.welchts.com/  🔗 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brian-welch-16581979 🚀 Subscribe & Follow BMK Vision   YouTube (Video Podcast): https://www.youtube.com/@beringmckinleyvision?sub_confirmation=1   Learn More About the Vision Platform: https://beringmckinley.com/vision   Apply to Be a Guest: https://beringmckinley.com/bering-mckinley-podcast-blog

What happens when a high-performing Xerox rep in the late ‘80s turns copier success into a 25-year growth story—and then decides to go all-in on MSP? In this episode of the BMK Vision Podcast – From the Trenches, Dan Strull, Founder & CEO of GoodSuite, joins Josh Peterson to unpack his journey from analog copiers to managed IT, the cash-flow scars that shaped him, and why he thinks 10X growth is more realistic than 2X.    Guest Introduction Dan Strull leads GoodSuite, a California-based provider of critical business systems that now combines managed IT, cybersecurity, managed print, VoIP, and AV solutions for hundreds of customers across the region.  Starting from humble copier-dealer roots, Dan has grown the company through multiple acquisitions and a deliberate shift into MSP services—while keeping culture, community, and “living is giving” at the center of the brand. He’s also co-author of “10x Happiness,” a book on building a more intentional and joyful life.  🎙 What We Cover in This Episode   • Moving from Xerox sales in the late ‘80s into entrepreneurship • Launching a copier dealership and discovering cash-flow the hard way • How Dan’s wife became CFO and helped scale past $10–12M revenue • Transitioning from imaging-led to IT-led: ConnectWise, e-automate & CEO Juice • Applying copier financial models to MSP agreements and gross margin • Building a revenue team and “technology integrator” role to unify sales • Why AV and physical security are natural extensions for copier/MSP hybrids • 10X vs 2X thinking and the goal to grow from $13M to $25M on the same infrastructure • The story behind 10x Happiness and decades of reading, accountability, and goal-setting • How joy, generosity, and culture show up in GoodSuite’s day-to-day leadership 👤 Guest Links   Guest LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dstrull/  Company Website (GoodSuite): https://goodsuite.com  🚀 Subscribe & Follow BMK Vision   YouTube (Video Podcast): https://www.youtube.com/@beringmckinleyvision?sub_confirmation=1   Learn More About the Vision Platform: https://beringmckinley.com/vision   Apply to Be a Guest: https://beringmckinley.com/bering-mckinley-podcast-blog

Doug Johnston, founder of Stonewall Finance, specializes in financial leadership for MSPs — from bookkeeping cleanup and forecasting to M&A readiness and improving operational decision-making. In this conversation, we dig into what financial maturity looks like, where most MSPs get stuck, and how owners can use their numbers to make smarter, more confident decisions. 🎙 What We Cover in This Episode   • Why MSP financials are often messy — and how to fix them • The difference between actuals, budgets, and forecasts • Understanding financial maturity stages for MSP owners • Clean books as the foundation for valuation and M&A readiness • Sales tax complexity and state-level audit risks • The CFO mindset: how to think beyond the P&L • How buyers de-risk MSP acquisitions • Why operational metrics matter as much as financial ones • The accountant’s role — and boundaries — in MSP deals 👤 Guest Links   Guest LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dougjohnstoncpa Company Website: https://stonewallfinance.com 🚀 Subscribe & Follow BMK Vision   YouTube (Video Podcast): https://www.youtube.com/@beringmckinleyvision?sub_confirmation=1   Learn More About the Vision Platform: https://beringmckinley.com/vision   Apply to Be a Guest: https://beringmckinley.com/bering-mckinley-podcast-blog

Faith, stewardship, and bold decision-making define this powerful conversation between Josh Peterson and Jason Robinson, Co-Founder of IntegriTech in Northwest Arkansas. Jason shares how he left a successful enterprise IT career at Tyson, stepped into small-business ownership with purpose, and built an MSP rooted in service, intentional growth, and values-driven leadership.   This episode explores how calling, partnership structure, and real business discipline transformed Jason’s journey—from early mistakes to Blue Ocean Strategy thinking and a clearer vision for the future of IntegriTech. Guest Introduction   Jason Robinson, Co-Founder of IntegriTech, brings nearly two decades of enterprise experience—spanning storage architecture, large-scale infrastructure design, and church IT ministry leadership. In this episode, Josh and Jason break down:   • What it looks like to transition from corporate stability to entrepreneurship • Lessons learned from early missteps in pricing, cash flow, and service delivery • Building a strong 50/50 partnership with clear responsibilities • The role of faith in business decision-making • How Blue Ocean Strategy and vCIO services are shaping IntegriTech’s future   Jason offers an honest look at what it takes to grow an MSP sustainably while staying grounded in purpose and stewardship. 🎙 What We Cover in This Episode   • Leaving corporate IT for a faith-driven entrepreneurial calling • Turning church IT/AV volunteer work into a technical leadership advantage • Navigating the business learning curve: pricing, cash flow & profitability • How humility, stewardship, and trust shaped IntegriTech’s culture • Building an intentional sales engine after years of referral-only growth • Developing vCIO advisory services clients actually value • Applying Blue Ocean Strategy to shift beyond commodity MSP work • Identifying ideal clients and pruning misaligned ones • Why “who, not how” matters when scaling your MSP 👤 Guest Links   Jason Robinson – Co-Founder, IntegriTech Company Website: https://integritech.io/ LinkedIn (Company): https://www.linkedin.com/company/integritechmsp/ 🚀 Subscribe & Follow BMK Vision   YouTube (Video Podcast): https://www.youtube.com/@beringmckinleyvision?sub_confirmation=1   Learn More About the Vision Platform: https://beringmckinley.com/vision   Apply to Be a Guest: https://beringmckinley.com/bering-mckinley-podcast-blog 🔎 SEO Keywords   MSP leadership, managed service providers, small business growth, MSP sales, Blue Ocean Strategy, Christian entrepreneurship, business stewardship, vCIO services, operational maturity, BMK Vision Podcast, Arkansas MSP, IntegriTech 📝 Credits   Host: Josh Peterson Producer: Bering McKinley Episode: #54 – Faith, Stewardship & Blue Ocean Vision (Jason Robinson – IntegriTech)

From Army mechanized infantry to copier sales to a $19M MSP exit, Milton Bartley has lived several careers in one. In this episode, he joins Josh Peterson to unpack how ImageQuest grew from a small copier dealership into a security-focused MSP with fewer than 100 clients, a deep niche in community banks, and a successful sale to Evergreen Services Group / Lyra Technology Group.   Milton explains how military discipline, sales fundamentals, and a relentless focus on serving the right clients well shaped ImageQuest’s trajectory—and why he believes the best MSPs are truly service organizations that happen to use technology, not the other way around. He also breaks down three types of private equity and what MSP owners should understand before they think about selling. 🎙 What We Cover in This Episode   • Milton’s journey from the U.S. Army to copier sales and into IT • Launching ImageQuest in 2007 and discovering managed network services • Why copier dealers often out-sell MSPs—and what MSPs can learn from them • How Paul Dippel’s “pick a lane” advice changed ImageQuest’s strategy • Building a service-driven, not purely tech-driven, organization • Growing to ~$19M with under 100 clients through focus and referrals • Specializing in community banks and becoming experts for regulators and auditors • Deciding it was time to sell and the role of capital gains tax in the timing • The three types of private equity and why “buy & hold” made sense for ImageQuest • Life after the sale with Evergreen / Lyra and what stayed the same for staff and clients • The one thing Milton would do earlier if he could: niche down faster 👤 Guest Links   Guest LinkedIn: (add Milton’s LinkedIn URL here) Company Website: https://imagequest.com 🚀 Subscribe & Follow BMK Vision   YouTube (Video Podcast): https://www.youtube.com/@beringmckinleyvision?sub_confirmation=1   Learn More About the Vision Platform: https://beringmckinley.com/vision   Apply to Be a Guest: https://beringmckinley.com/bering-mckinley-podcast-blog

In this episode, Josh Peterson sits down with Todd Holloway, founder of Custech and one of the earliest ConnectWise adopters in the industry. Todd shares how a firefighting career unexpectedly led him into IT, how he built a 30-year MSP through relationships, and why client expectations are shifting fast in 2025.   Guest Introduction Todd Holloway is the founder of Custech, an Atlanta-based boutique MSP known for deep client relationships and long-term operational maturity. We explore his early days in IT, the evolution of pricing models, the rise of low-cost national competitors, SDR hiring, and the ongoing challenge of technician time tracking. 🎙 What We Cover in This Episode   • From firefighter to MSP owner • Building a 30-year MSP through word of mouth • Early ConnectWise history and adopting managed services • Price fatigue & the return of hybrid MSP models • Competing with national PE-backed rollups • SDR hiring, comp plans, and bringing sales in-house • List hygiene, postcards, and local outreach strategies • Technician time entry culture • Long-term client retention strategies 👤 Guest Links   LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/todd-holloway Company Website: https://custech.net 🚀 Subscribe & Follow BMK Vision   YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@beringmckinleyvision?sub_confirmation=1 Learn More About Vision: https://beringmckinley.com/vision Apply to Be a Guest: https://beringmckinley.com/bering-mckinley-podcast-blog 🔎 SEO Keywords   msp, msp sales, custech, connectwise, firefighting, managed services, sdr hiring, account management, service delivery, bmk vision podcast, msp growth, recurring revenue ✅ SPOTIFY DESCRIPTION   (Using your Spotify template)     🎧 #52 – Firefighting, MSP Longevity & the Changing Client Mindset (Todd Holloway – Custech)   In this episode of the BMK Vision Podcast, Josh Peterson sits down with Todd Holloway, founder of Custech and a 30-year MSP veteran. They dive into Todd’s shift from firefighting to IT, how he accidentally launched an MSP, the evolution of pricing models, and why client expectations are rapidly changing.   This conversation explores the rise of low-cost MSP competitors, time-entry challenges, relationship-based retention, SDR hiring, and long-term operational maturity.   👉 Learn more about the BMK Vision Operating System: https://beringmckinley.com/vision About the Guest Todd Holloway is the founder of Custech, an Atlanta-based MSP specializing in long-term client partnerships, operational maturity, and proactive support. A true early adopter of ConnectWise, Todd brings historical insight and practical experience shaped by decades in the industry.   About the Host Josh Peterson is the CEO of Bering McKinley and host of the BMK Vision Podcast, helping MSPs grow through operational maturity, financial clarity, and leadership development. Learn more: https://beringmckinley.com/vision

Most MSP owners obsess over net profit and ignore the number that actually determines the health of the business: gross profit. In this Don’t Be That Guy session, Josh Peterson and former MSP owner Ryan Alter unpack why net profit can be completely distorted by G&A decisions, tax strategy, and owner perks—and why disciplined leaders run the company on gross profit, not what’s left at the bottom.   Ryan and Josh walk through the BMK model for 42% overall gross profit, 55% service department gross profit, and a tight service salaries–to–service revenue ratio that protects both margins and morale. They also explore the balance between recurring, hourly, and project revenue, how agreement gross profit fits into the picture, and what changes when you’re building for a future sale versus optimizing for long-term profit protection.   —   What We Cover in This Episode   • Why net profit can mislead MSP owners into thinking they’re “fine” • How G&A and tax strategy turn net profit into a lie on the P&L • The three revenue buckets and why 42% gross profit is the real goal • Service department gross profit and the 55% target for healthy MSPs • Using service salaries / service revenue ratio as a staffing and burnout gauge • How project work and hourly work complement recurring revenue • Why agreement gross profit must be measured, not assumed • Growth vs. exit: how investors look at recurring vs. project mix • How to assign true P&L responsibility to your service manager • Practical first steps to start managing the business by gross profit   —   Guest Links   Ryan Alter is a former MSP owner from Missoula, Montana who grew a one-person break-fix shop into a 25-person MSP before exiting successfully. He now helps MSP leaders interpret their numbers, align operations with the P&L, and avoid the myths that stall growth.    (If you want to add later once confirmed) Guest LinkedIn: [Add confirmed LinkedIn URL here]   —   Host Links   Josh Peterson is the CEO of Bering McKinley and host of the BMK Vision Podcast. Through the Don’t Be That Guy series and the BMK Vision Operating System, Josh helps MSP owners gain financial clarity, mature their service operations, and build companies that are both profitable and sellable.   Host LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joshdpeterson/ Bering McKinley on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/bering-mckinley/   —   Subscribe & Follow BMK Vision   YouTube (Video Podcast): https://www.youtube.com/@beringmckinleyvision?sub_confirmation=1   Learn More About the Vision Platform: https://beringmckinley.com/vision   Apply to Be a Guest: https://beringmckinley.com/bering-mckinley-podcast-blog

For this From the Trenches conversation, Josh Peterson sits down with Karl W. Palachuk — author, speaker, MSP consultant, and founder of Small Biz Thoughts. Together, they unpack how the MSP industry has changed over the past two decades, why foundational blocking-and-tackling still matters, and how private equity and PSA vendors may shape the next wave of disruption.   Guest Introduction Karl W. Palachuk is the owner of Small Biz Thoughts and founder of the Small Biz Thoughts Technology Community, a global platform helping IT consultants and MSPs master the business side of their business. In this episode, Josh and Karl discuss managed services history, data portability, private equity pressures, and the mindset MSPs need to thrive in an AI-driven future.   ⸻   🎙 What We Cover in This Episode   • How Josh and Karl first connected during the early SMB Nation era • Karl’s shift from local consulting to books, speaking, and community building • Why Managed Services in a Month still influences MSPs well beyond $10M+ • The culture of generosity in the MSP community — and why it matters • Why many newer MSPs rely on formulas instead of real consulting • AI, automation, and the owners who refuse to “learn one more technology” • Private equity, PSA vendors, and the real risk around data portability • What happens if your core PSA gets carved up, sold, or shut down • How small MSPs can still win on service in a billion-dollar-tool ecosystem • Where Karl sees the next wave of PSA and MSP tool disruption   Plus: Why Karl believes those who embrace AI and new tooling now will capture the most upside in the years ahead.   ⸻   👤 Guest Links   Guest LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/karlpalachuk  Small Biz Thoughts: https://smallbizthoughts.com/  Small Biz Thoughts Technology Community: https://www.smallbizthoughts.org/    ⸻   🚀 Subscribe & Follow BMK Vision   YouTube (Video Podcast): https://www.youtube.com/@beringmckinleyvision?sub_confirmation=1   Learn More About the Vision Platform: https://beringmckinley.com/vision   Apply to Be a Guest: https://beringmckinley.com/bering-mckinley-podcast-blog