I’ve seen them, and know about them too. But never in my wildest, weirdest dreams, did I think they would target Mom & Pop operations, or small start-ups like mine.ÂÂ

They call themselves “solutions providers”, or “remotely-enabled IT”. They use words like “global”, “international”, and “worldwide” in their names and slogans.ÂÂ

They call or e-mail you out of practically nowhere. They begin by telling youthey want to partner with your small business and help you do projects when things get so big for you that you need help.

And I don’t like the smell of it one bit.

They almost always have U.S. postal addresses and locations, but a check further will provide another, foreign one.ÂÂ

I’ll tell you what, Apu. When I need something done that I want to leave U.S. soil, I’ll let you know. In the meantime, find someone else to buy your silly “help” story.ÂÂ

I know that what really happens is:

a) You do help me but then my customers fire me because they don’t understand you when calling your office to ask questions,

or

b) You try to buy me out.ÂÂ

I’m not having either one, thanks. I’m staying right here in the good ol’ U.S. of A, and maybe even stay right here in St. Paul, Minnesota. I plan to run my Little Engine That Could until it Can’t No More, and keep providing my “big city-quality” services to my customers, and I’ll do it with a small town smile.

Author: Bobbi Jo of BWoods Web Site Design