Stop assigning vCIOs randomly, start matching them strategically
As MSP owners, we invest significant effort in building strong, strategic relationships with our clients. And at the center of that relationship is the vCIO. But as your client base grows and their needs become more diverse, the “one-size-fits-all” vCIO model begins to show its limitations. At some point, specialization isn’t just helpful; it becomes […]
Your clients are begging for AI guidance and Microsoft just made it easy
In our MSP, we keep hearing the same thing from clients lately: “We know we should be using AI… but we don’t know where to start, and we’re not sure what’s actually safe.” Meanwhile, their teams are already copying sensitive info into public AI tools because they’re just trying to work faster, and they don’t […]
Stop fighting it: Why a client’s new IT hire can become your best ally
We’ve all lived this moment: a long-term client hires their first internal IT person. Overnight, the relationship changes and pretending it hasn’t only creates confusion and frustration. Instead of resisting the shift, embrace it. A well-executed transition can turn this new hire into one of your strongest allies and transform the account into a high-value, […]
The Co-Managed Wake-Up Call for MSPs
For many years at our MSP, we treated co-managed clients almost the same way as fully managed ones. We had similar processes, a similar cadence of meetings, a similar account management team, and the same reports. But over time, we realized something simple but very important: co-managed clients are fundamentally different. Their needs, expectations, and […]
New Feature in Beta: Stack Alignment!
We’re excited to announce that our new Stack Alignment Module is now in beta and we’re inviting early testers to jump in and help shape the future of stack standardization inside PropelYourMSP. If you’ve ever struggled with keeping clients aligned to your ideal stack or wanted a quick, visual way to track standardization across your […]
The Easiest Productivity Win for vCIOs?
It’s 2025, and yet, slow computers are still a problem! I’m always surprised by how often this issue comes up. At our MSP, we survey every user during the onboarding process for new clients. One of the questions we ask is simple: “Is your computer fast enough to avoid slowing you down in your daily […]
Why Every vCIO Should Be Surveying All Users
As vCIOs, we often spend most of our time talking to a handful of key stakeholders, including owners, department heads, and office managers. And that’s great. But if we stop there, we’re only getting a partial picture of the client’s IT reality. The real insights? They’re sitting with the users. When you survey all […]
Recommendations, Not Options!
As vCIOs, we’re often tempted to play it safe when advising clients. We outline the pros and cons, offer a few different paths, and let the client decide which way to proceed. On the surface, this seems responsible and client-centric—after all, we’re empowering them with choices, right? But here’s the truth: your clients don’t […]
Be Confident in Your Stack
Too often, I see hesitation when it comes time to recommend a change in the tech stack. Whether it’s swapping out a firewall, ditching a misaligned backup platform, or recommending a different EDR, vCIOs sometimes hold back out of fear of seeming overly pushy. That hesitation is understandable, but it can also be costly. Clients […]
Paint an exciting future or be a commodity
When clients stop seeing you as strategic, you start becoming… replaceable. That’s the risk every vCIO faces when the conversation stays stuck in tickets, updates, and costs. Yes, those are important, but they’re not enough. If you’re not painting a bigger, bolder picture of what IT could do for their business, you’re not creating […]
