MSP Checklist: Local Florida Resource Collaboration Plan

This checklist helps MSPs identify and engage with local Florida business resources, such as chambers of commerce and economic councils, to expand their networks, grow their client base, and establish themselves as trusted local IT providers.

Please be sure to read the companion “MSP Guide: Leveraging Local Resources in Central Florida” for an overview of Florida’s local resources to expand your reach, open doors for growth, and boost the value you bring to clients.

Step 1: Identify Key Local Resources

• Chambers of Commerce:
  • Tampa Bay Chamber: Offers networking opportunities, business development programs, and advocacy.
    • How It Helps the MSP: Provides direct access to local business leaders and potential clients in various industries.
    • First Step to Take: Attend a chamber-hosted networking event or luncheon to introduce yourself to other members.
  • Greater Tampa Chamber of Commerce: Focused on supporting small businesses in the Tampa area.
    • Example of Success: Many MSPs have used chamber events to establish partnerships with local small businesses needing IT support.
• Economic Councils and Development Groups:
  • Tampa Bay Economic Development Council: Offers resources and market data to identify growing industries and businesses.
    • How It Helps the MSP: Provides insights into local economic trends, helping you identify potential clients in expanding industries like healthcare and technology.
    • First Step to Take: Schedule a meeting with a representative from the council to learn about upcoming initiatives or business development programs.
• Tech and Entrepreneur Networks:
  • Tampa Bay Wave: A non-profit that supports startups and tech companies.
    • How It Helps the MSP: Positions you as a resource for fast-growing businesses in need of scalable IT solutions.
    • Next Step: Volunteer to host a workshop on IT best practices or cybersecurity for startups to establish thought leadership.

Step 2: Build Relationships with Local Organizations

• Join Local Groups:
  • How It Helps the MSP: Membership in local organizations offers exclusive benefits like event invitations, member directories, and opportunities to promote your services.
  • Next Step: Research the membership requirements and benefits of at least two organizations, and join one that aligns best with your goals.
• Attend Networking Events:
  • How It Helps the MSP: Direct interactions at events build trust and establish you as a part of the local business community.
  • Example of Success: An MSP may join a Tampa networking event and secure a healthcare client after discussing HIPAA compliance solutions during a breakout session.
  • First Step to Take: Register for a recurring monthly event, such as a chamber of commerce mixer or an industry-specific roundtable.
• Volunteer or Sponsor:
  • How It Helps the MSP: Sponsoring or volunteering at events increases visibility and positions your business as a community-focused partner.
  • Next Step: Sponsor a chamber luncheon or provide IT support for a local charity event to demonstrate your value and goodwill.

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Step 3: Leverage Local Resources for Growth

• Collaborate on Workshops:
  • How It Helps the MSP: Hosting educational events through local organizations positions you as a subject matter expert while introducing your services to potential clients.
  • Example of Success: An MSP might partner with a chamber to host a webinar on disaster recovery planning, resulting in three new clients needing hurricane readiness solutions.
  • First Step to Take: Propose a topic relevant to local businesses, such as data privacy compliance or disaster recovery, and pitch the idea to a local chamber or council.
• Tap Into Business Incentives:
  • How It Helps the MSP: Many local economic development programs offer grants or tax incentives for small businesses upgrading their technology, which can create opportunities for MSPs to provide these services.
  • Next Step: Research local funding programs like those offered by the Tampa Bay Economic Development Council and align your services with these incentives.
• Cross-Promote:
  • How It Helps the MSP: Collaborating with organizations to promote your services expands your reach to their audiences.
  • Example of Success: A Tampa-based MSP might partner with an entrepreneur network to co-brand a newsletter, resulting in increased inquiries about managed services.
  • Next Step: Work with a local organization to publish a co-branded guide, such as “Top IT Challenges for Tampa Startups,” and distribute it to their members.

Step 4: Track Results and Refine Your Strategy

• Evaluate ROI:
  • How It Helps the MSP: Measuring the return on investment for your membership fees and event participation ensures you’re allocating resources effectively.
  • First Step to Take: Track new leads, partnerships, and revenue generated from your collaboration efforts over six months to assess effectiveness.
• Refine Your Approach:
  • Example of Success: An MSP that initially focused on chambers of commerce might shift to tech-specific groups after realizing more alignment with their service offerings.
  • Next Step: Use insights from your tracking efforts to adjust your focus toward the organizations and strategies that yield the best results.

When to Use This Checklist:

• When establishing a local presence for your MSP in Tampa.
• During quarterly business reviews to evaluate the success of your networking and collaboration efforts.
• Annually, to refine your local engagement strategies and explore new opportunities.

ChannelPro has created this resource to help busy MSPs streamline their decision-making process. This resource offers a starting point for evaluating key business choices, saving time and providing clarity. While this resource is designed to guide you through important considerations, we encourage you to seek more references and professional advice to ensure fully informed decisions.

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