Let’s be real — if you're a managing partner at a CPA firm in Kansas City, you didn’t get into accounting to troubleshoot VPN issues or guess why the file server is crawling right before a big deadline.
And yet… here you are. Again.
If tax season tech headaches have become your firm’s unofficial tradition, it’s probably time to look for a Managed Services Provider (MSP) who actually gets the pace and pressure of public accounting. Not a generalist. Not a “one-size-fits-all” IT shop. But a team that understands your world — and works like they’re part of it.
Here’s what to look for in a true MSP partner:
- Speed That Matches Your Season
Your busy season isn’t just “busy.” It’s a blur of 14-hour days, zero room for downtime, and clients who expect responsiveness on-demand. That means your MSP can’t take a number and get back to you on Monday.
Look for:
- Fast response times
- Remote support that’s actually remote-ready
- Local presence in KC when you need boots on the ground
Because a “slow email server” in February is not a small issue. It’s a revenue leak.
- Kansas City Roots, Cloud-Smart Mindset
You want someone who understands the midwestern hustle but also knows how to manage a modern, hybrid firm. That means smooth remote access, secure file sharing, and tools that just work — whether you’re at your desk or logging in from home at 10 PM.
Your MSP should:
- Keep your team connected across offices and locations
- Understand your core apps (QuickBooks, Thomson Reuters, CCH, ShareFile)
- Minimize downtime and make remote work seamless
No more VPN voodoo or blaming “the internet.”
- One Vendor to Rule Them All
Here’s the dream: One phone call. One team. One clear answer. You shouldn't be the middleman between five different tech vendors.
The right MSP will:
- Own the full stack — networks, phones, backups, cloud, printers, you name it
- Handle vendor calls and troubleshooting
- Keep things humming behind the scenes so you don’t have to chase updates or point fingers
Because your staff’s time is too valuable to spend on IT whack-a-mole.
- Backups That Aren’t Just a Checkbox
A backup isn’t a backup if it hasn’t been tested. And when disaster strikes — from hardware failure to accidental deletion — you want to know your firm can bounce back without losing critical data (or precious billable hours).
Look for:
- Daily, automated backups of files, emails, and apps
- 24/7 monitoring to make sure backups actually work
- A plan to restore your systems fast
Because data loss during tax season? That’s not just inconvenient. That’s firm-threatening.
Final Word?
The right MSP doesn’t just fix problems. They prevent them. They don’t just install updates. They give you back headspace. And most importantly? They never make you explain your business twice.
You’ve got a firm to run. Clients to serve. Deadlines to crush.
We’ve got the tech.
Want to see what stress-free IT looks like during tax season? Let’s talk. Book a free discovery call with our KC-based team today.
