In this episode, Richard Tubb speaks to Craig Sharp, the founder of UK based MSP Abussi, one of the longest-running managed service providers in the country.

Craig founded Abussi in 1995 as a database supplier, and the business has transitioned over the past 26 years from software into break/fix hardware. Today they offer managed services, which they've been rocking for more than 15 years.

Craig is something of a go giver and incredibly knowledgeable on customer success and managed services and is always willing to help a fellow MSP.

Richard asks Craig how he started the business and where he got the name from, before delving deeper into what makes Abussi unique, including Craig’s decision to keep the business small and how they work on relationships to retain clients long-term.

Craig explains the business benefits for visiting your clients in-person and why he focuses on systems and processes rather than tech tools, and why his passion for sharing knowledge ultimately helps his clients.

Richard asks Craig about the tools Abussi use to help their clients and the vendors they partner with, as well as why they recently changed some suppliers. They also discuss how the Abussi team stays up to date with the industry and what the future holds for the business.

Craig shares his advice on where IT and managed services is going as an industry, how to handle wrong-fit clients and the biggest mistakes Craig sees MSPs making today.

Richard also asks Craig to share who his mentors and influences are and what he does to relax, as well as what the MSP community means to him and why you shouldn’t be afraid of your competitors.

Mentioned in This Episode

• Olympian and TV presenter: Kriss Akabusi
• Design consultants: Scitech
• Book: Paul Jarvis: Company of One: Why Staying Small is the Next Big Thing for Business
• Satellite internet provider: Starlink
• Book: Michael E Gerber: The E-Myth Revisited: Why Most Small Businesses Don't Work and What to Do About It
• Book: Douglas Adams: The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy
• Data visualisation tool: Power BI
• Book: Bob Burg: The Go-Giver: A Little Story About a Powerful Business Idea
• MSP peer group: The Tech Tribe
• Book: Cal Newport: Deep Work: Rules for Focused Success in a Distracted World
• Collaboration tool: SharePoint
• Cloud storage: OneDrive
• Cloud marketplace: Giacom
• RMM software: Atera
• Business operating system: Zoho One
• Remote access tools: LogMeIn
• Remote access tools: Splashtop
• Cybersecurity services: Webroot
• Cybersecurity services: Acronis
• Cybersecurity services: Bitdefender
• Cloud network: Arista
• Threat management solution: Untangle
• Cybersecurity services: SonicWall
• Network security solutions: WatchGuard
• Network security solitutions: CiscoMeraki
• Network switches: Zyxel
• Author and SMB expert: Karl Palachuk
• Birmingham homeless charity: Networkfour