General contractors live on job sites, not behind desks. But your business still depends on technology – estimates, project files, QuickBooks, email, client communications, subcontractor coordination. When that tech fails, jobs slow down and money gets left on the table.
Here’s the IT checklist every contractor should have covered.
Your Data Needs to Be Accessible from Anywhere
- ☐ Email works reliably on your phone (not just when you’re at the office)
- ☐ Project files accessible from job sites, trucks, and home
- ☐ QuickBooks/Sage accessible remotely or cloud-based
- ☐ Photos and documents from job sites sync to a central location
Your Data Needs to Be Protected
- ☐ Automatic offsite backups running daily (not a USB drive in the office)
- ☐ If your truck gets broken into and your laptop is stolen, can you recover everything?
- ☐ Ransomware protection on all devices – one bad email shouldn’t lock up your bids and contracts
- ☐ Customer information (addresses, payment info) encrypted and secure
Your Team Needs to Be Set Up Right
- ☐ New hires get a phone/tablet configured and ready without you figuring it out
- ☐ When someone leaves, their access to company files and email is cut immediately
- ☐ Everyone has their own login (no shared passwords across the team)
- ☐ Devices are managed – you can wipe a lost phone remotely
Your Office Tech Needs to Work
- ☐ Computers less than 5 years old (old machines waste time every day)
- ☐ WiFi covers the office and yard reliably
- ☐ Printer/scanner works without constant troubleshooting
- ☐ Phone system routes calls properly (VoIP, not an ancient landline)
You Need Someone to Call
- ☐ When something breaks, you have a number to call and get help in under an hour
- ☐ That person knows your setup (not starting from scratch every time)
- ☐ The cost is predictable (flat monthly fee, not $200/hour surprises)
If you can’t check off most of this list, you’re running with risk you don’t need to. A flat-rate managed IT provider handles all of it for less than one full-time hire – and you get 24×7 coverage instead of one person’s schedule.
Need IT help? Seashore IT provides flat-rate managed IT for businesses with 5-250 computers across the Western US – from auto shops and contractors to law firms and healthcare practices. Call (833) 997-6886 or email info@seashoreit.com.
Seashore IT – Your transparent IT partner, aligned to your goals, embedded in your success.