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#6 – Don’t Be That Guy - MSP Project Management Playbook (Louis Bagdonas) & (Ryan Alter)
Learn the repeatable habits that make MSP projects profitable—without burning out your team. Josh Peterson is joined by Ryan and Lewis from Mula to unpack timelines, templates, change orders, and how to keep margin intact from quote to close.
✅ Enjoyed this episode?
Like, subscribe, and share your biggest takeaway below.
https://beringmckinley.com/bering-mckinley-podcast-blog
Louis — project management lead at Mula (MSP project platform) — joins Josh Peterson and Ryan to demystify project delivery for MSPs. You’ll hear why “set a real end date” is more than a mantra, how to balance fixed-fee vs. T&M, and the simple reviews that stop margin leaks before they spread. The conversation stays practical: org design, who owns profitability, and how to talk change orders without drama.
👉 Lock timelines early: durations + dependencies + work estimates create on-time delivery.
👉 Make reviews routine: lightweight after-action surveys internal + client protect margin.
👉 Price it right: when to choose fixed fee vs. T&M and how to recover PM time often 15–20%.
👉 Template smartly: start and close every project the same way; add detail where it actually helps.
👉 Culture over heroics: teach PMs to handle stress, reset scope, and communicate change orders.
If you manage projects inside ConnectWise or similar PSAs, this episode gives you a practical playbook to improve customer satisfaction, hit dates, and raise project margin—consistently.
“Visit https://beringmckinley.com for more MSP resources.”
🔗 Resources & Links
• Louis Bagdonas - Moovila: https://www.moovila.com
• Ryan Alter - Silverstream: https://www.silverstreamav.com
• Bering McKinley MSP Consulting: https://beringmckinley.com
⏱️ Chapters
00:00 – Welcome and why projects feel hard
00:01 – Guest intro: Lewis Mula and MSP context
00:02 – The secret sauce: time entry, ticket hygiene, dispatch
00:04 – After-action reviews that actually get done
00:05 – Deadlines as table stakes and how to set them
00:08 – Fixed fee vs T&M: margin traps and pivots
00:11 – Workstation installs: why 2.5 hours lies
00:12 – Using templates without over administering
00:15 – When customers go dark: holds and cadence
00:19 – Dependencies, durations, estimates the critical path
00:23 – Ticket granularity vs admin burden Goldilocks rule
00:25 – Hire PMs: homegrown vs PMP what works in MSPs
00:27 – We can’t afford a PM — fractional time and org design
00:30 – Can you charge for PM Yes and how
00:33 – Rule of thumb: 15–20 percent PM time and ongoing review
00:34 – Who owns profitability Everyone
00:36 – Change orders equals proactive client communication
00:42 – SOW vs scope human speak plus kickoff
00:48 – Dedicated project techs vs shared pool
00:49 – Daily 15–30 minute huddles to align resources
00:50 – Wrap up and handout mention
msp project management, msp profitability, fixed fee vs t&m, change orders
connectwise projects, project templates, after action review, project margin
#beringmckinley, #bmkvisionpodcast, #msp, #managedservices, #projectmanagement, #connectwise, #changemanagement, #fixedfee, #timeandmaterials, #dispatch, #timeentry, #qbr, #operations, #ticketing, #dependencies, #templates, #customersuccess, #profitability, #mspprofit
✅ Enjoyed this episode
Like, subscribe, and share your biggest takeaway below.
View all episodes
By Josh PetersonLearn the repeatable habits that make MSP projects profitable—without burning out your team. Josh Peterson is joined by Ryan and Lewis from Mula to unpack timelines, templates, change orders, and how to keep margin intact from quote to close.
✅ Enjoyed this episode?
Like, subscribe, and share your biggest takeaway below.
https://beringmckinley.com/bering-mckinley-podcast-blog
Louis — project management lead at Mula (MSP project platform) — joins Josh Peterson and Ryan to demystify project delivery for MSPs. You’ll hear why “set a real end date” is more than a mantra, how to balance fixed-fee vs. T&M, and the simple reviews that stop margin leaks before they spread. The conversation stays practical: org design, who owns profitability, and how to talk change orders without drama.
👉 Lock timelines early: durations + dependencies + work estimates create on-time delivery.
👉 Make reviews routine: lightweight after-action surveys internal + client protect margin.
👉 Price it right: when to choose fixed fee vs. T&M and how to recover PM time often 15–20%.
👉 Template smartly: start and close every project the same way; add detail where it actually helps.
👉 Culture over heroics: teach PMs to handle stress, reset scope, and communicate change orders.
If you manage projects inside ConnectWise or similar PSAs, this episode gives you a practical playbook to improve customer satisfaction, hit dates, and raise project margin—consistently.
“Visit https://beringmckinley.com for more MSP resources.”
🔗 Resources & Links
• Louis Bagdonas - Moovila: https://www.moovila.com
• Ryan Alter - Silverstream: https://www.silverstreamav.com
• Bering McKinley MSP Consulting: https://beringmckinley.com
⏱️ Chapters
00:00 – Welcome and why projects feel hard
00:01 – Guest intro: Lewis Mula and MSP context
00:02 – The secret sauce: time entry, ticket hygiene, dispatch
00:04 – After-action reviews that actually get done
00:05 – Deadlines as table stakes and how to set them
00:08 – Fixed fee vs T&M: margin traps and pivots
00:11 – Workstation installs: why 2.5 hours lies
00:12 – Using templates without over administering
00:15 – When customers go dark: holds and cadence
00:19 – Dependencies, durations, estimates the critical path
00:23 – Ticket granularity vs admin burden Goldilocks rule
00:25 – Hire PMs: homegrown vs PMP what works in MSPs
00:27 – We can’t afford a PM — fractional time and org design
00:30 – Can you charge for PM Yes and how
00:33 – Rule of thumb: 15–20 percent PM time and ongoing review
00:34 – Who owns profitability Everyone
00:36 – Change orders equals proactive client communication
00:42 – SOW vs scope human speak plus kickoff
00:48 – Dedicated project techs vs shared pool
00:49 – Daily 15–30 minute huddles to align resources
00:50 – Wrap up and handout mention
msp project management, msp profitability, fixed fee vs t&m, change orders
connectwise projects, project templates, after action review, project margin
#beringmckinley, #bmkvisionpodcast, #msp, #managedservices, #projectmanagement, #connectwise, #changemanagement, #fixedfee, #timeandmaterials, #dispatch, #timeentry, #qbr, #operations, #ticketing, #dependencies, #templates, #customersuccess, #profitability, #mspprofit
✅ Enjoyed this episode
Like, subscribe, and share your biggest takeaway below.