If you’re a New Jersey business owner, you need to be judicious in your investments, especially these days.

At the end of 2019, the outlook wasn’t optimistic for the Garden State’s economy, with many experts fearing that New Jersey wasn’t prepared should a recession happen in 2020. Sadly, the COVID-19 pandemic has all but guaranteed that local businesses will be struggling in the coming months.

Ask any business owner or CEO what their company’s most important resources are, and most likely you’ll hear answers such as, “Our people,” or “Our office culture.” But there’s one resource that all companies have in spades but often remains untapped.

As a small- to mid-sized business (SMB) owner, you want to spend judiciously on your IT. If you don't plan your IT budget, it can balloon unexpectedly, throwing your numbers awry. Most big businesses have enough money to shoulder unplanned expenses. But for SMBs whose pockets don’t go as deep, such runaway projects can be catastrophic to your bottomline.

Having a full schedule isn’t necessarily a sign that someone manages his or her time effectively. Chances are, the opposite is the case. There’s far more to achieving an optimal work-life balance than trying to get your calendar filled up. Having a full diary is more likely a sign of stress and impending burnout.

As a business owner, you are keenly aware of how technology is an integral part of commerce these days. You’ve been told countless times that technology helps drive growth and innovation, increases your competitive advantage, and improves internal and external communication in your organization.

The success of any small- to mid-sized business (SMB) depends on whether its IT aligns with its business strategy and complements its operations. However, it’s not uncommon for SMBs to encounter the following problems:

Network downtime that lowers productivity

Unexpected, expensive repairs

Slow and unreliable network that affects efficiency

Inadequate IT staff

If you’re an SMB, you’ll do well to turn to a managed IT services provider (MSP) like Online Computers for your IT requirements.

Most small- to medium-sized businesses (SMBs) begin as start-ups. Being new to the business means making rookie mistakes. It’s okay to make mistakes, especially if you learn from them. No pain, no gain, right? But it’s even better if you can learn from the mistakes of others.

Project managers can be invaluable strategic partners, but there are also many who are only interested in making a quick buck while providing little or no support. A talented and effective project manager is an entirely different character — someone who can lead by example, create a cohesive team, and help you maximize your return on investment.

Technology continues to drive profound change in the way people buy and consume goods, and this has radically transformed business processes, too. It has also placed organizations under increasing pressure to innovate, yet they’re not quite sure where to start.

The fact that most of us take modern technology for granted is one of the main reasons why security breaches and unscheduled downtime are among the biggest threats to organizations today. While end-user experiences are getting better all the time, the underlying infrastructure is dizzyingly complex, and things aren’t getting any easier for businesses that are still struggling to get the most out of their in-house systems.