I have been planning this post, on and off, for months. Then I almost shelved it, when I read Shane’s excellent “Just like Air“.

You see I wanted to write something very similar. Not the bit about “money being like air” (although that would be nice, it’s not my goal). No, it’s the bit about small business being best.

When I decided to embark on this enterprise, I spent ages reading (mainly online, but a few books too) about how to proceed. One thing that still trips me up is how to refer to 3hv in articles. Should I use “I” as, at present, there is only me? Or should I use “we” as people won’t want to buy from a one man band?

And actually, I now use both, depending upon the circumstance. Firstly, 3hv is a one man band (at least for now). But I do work with others as needed.

And there is no reason for most “small to medium” size businesses not to want to work with a one man band. You see, I can offer things that the bigger companies can’t.

Personal Service: you will be speaking to the person doing the work. Not an account manager (who has no technical knowledge) or a help-desker (who has no idea about your particular circumstances). But me. The head honcho. The big kahuna. You can even have my mobile number if you want (in fact it’s on the web-site).

Fast Moving: the world of technology moves at a bewildering pace. Although I have been using Ruby on Rails for years if the time comes to switch I can switch. I don’t have a massive investment in existing technologies. I don’t have a vested interest in promoting one over the other. In fact, being small means that my major vested interest is in keeping costs down - and I can pass that on to you.

Better value: when you hire a large company, what are you paying for? It’s not just the team that is doing the work. There is the help-desk staff, the account managers, the HR Director, the big, fancy office, the company cars, the sales reps. With 3hv, you pay for me, any expenses that are incurred and any outside help we need to bring in to get the job done. Minimal overheads means more bang for your buck (as they say).

Decisions at the Speed of Light: I don’t have to run things by my manager, who has to run things by the regional manager who has to run things by the Finance Director. Because I do all three roles. Meaning that decisions get made quickly. Transparently.

Effective Communications: no chinese whispers as the sales guy says “X”, the implementer says “Y” and the developer says “Z”. The words travel from you to me and back again. Meaning less miscommunications, less wasted time and less frustration.

Priorities: I don’t have hundreds of clients. At the time of writing I have two major clients and a few minor ones. That means that when you hire me I have to treat you as a priority. Every single client is vitally important to me. Meaning I go out of my way to give you the best possible service.

As I say, read Shane’s article. It is inspiring. The wave of the future is micro-companies, doing what they love, exceeding expectations and delighting their customers in a way that is unlike the mega-corporations that surround us today. So join us - if you need a web-site, some software writing or a bit of advice on how best to proceed, contact 3hv today and see how things are changing.

Meeting Room photo by tsk.