Budgeting IT spend as a monthly cost, not surprise bills

Treating IT as a predictable monthly line — support, licensing, a rolling hardware refresh fund — rather than a series of unplanned emergency purchases makes cash flow far easier to manage and avoids the classic "the server just died and now we need thousands today" scenario. A rough rule of thumb many small businesses use is budgeting a percentage of revenue for IT, then refining it based on your actual usage and risk.

Coach's tip: ask your IT support for a 12-month view of likely spend, including renewals and ageing hardware — surprises are usually predictable in hindsight.