Who's New in Business: Finish Line IT Inc.

Owner: Steven Ralphs.

Product or service: Computer and network services.

Location: Oxnard.

Date established: November 2008.

Hours open: 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. Saturday and Sunday by appointment.

Telephone: 805-228-4408.

E-mail: info@finishlineit.com.

Web site: http://www.finishlineit.com.

Employees: Five.

Startup captial: $7,000.

Estimated annual gross revenue: $250,000.

Questions to Steven Ralphs:

What prompted you to start your own business? As an IT consultant over the past several years, I saw that many businesses lack reliable technical support and end up losing critical data and productivity when their network is down. I also saw that many businesses had to work with multiple companies for their printers, phone systems and network support. I wanted to offer a one-stop shop to save time, money and headache.

I decided to take the business full time partly because of the economy. In these tough times, more businesses are deciding to outsource IT support to save potentially tens of thousands of dollars a year.

What is your educational and career background? I have more than 10 years of IT experience. I have held various computer networking and engineer positions for large corporations, including Blue Shield, Verizon and Castle & Cooke (parent company of Dole Foods and Sherwood Country Club).

How much research did you do before starting your business? At each of the positions I have held, I have diversified my skills, specializing in network optimization, Windows engineering, VoIP technology, Internet-service connections, and phone and point-of-sale systems. I researched products and partnered with leading software and hardware companies and Internet service providers, including Microsoft, Cisco, Dell and MegaPath.

What were the most helpful sources, including Web sites? I met with SCORE counselors in Oxnard and they offered valuable advice about staffing, my business plan, day-to-day operations and other available resources. I also consulted with my accountant and LegalZoom.com to decide whether the business should be incorporated or a sole proprietorship.

When were you the most discouraged? The biggest challenge has been publicity. As a small startup, we are on a tight budget and can’t afford expensive marketing campaigns.

What company or individual do you admire? I admire companies that give back and make a difference. For example, Love Heals Jewelry, a small, family-owned business in Ojai, plants 10 trees for every piece of jewelry sold.

What will make your business stand out from competitors? As a small company, we offer the same services and a more personalized experience than a large business. We are a complete IT solution, offering Web site design, network design and maintenance, remote support, server and desktop administration, backup solutions and phone system installation. Finish Line IT also offers service plans with routine maintenance to proactively monitor and update equipment and back up data to prevent critical data loss. At the same time, we can charge less because we have less overhead.

Who is your target client/customer base? Businesses and residents in Ventura County looking for highly skilled technical support, whether they need to build an advanced network or repair a personal computer. Finish Line IT can leverage technology to save customers money, offering tailored solutions that optimize efficiency while keeping their budgets in check.

— Businesses less than one year old can be profiled in Who’s New in Business. Businesses older than one year can be profiled in Company Spotlight. Those owning franchises in the region can be profiled in Franchise Focus. Only businesses that have never been profiled in The Star may participate. For more details or the questionnaire, call 805-437-0235.

To read the article on the Ventura County Star web site or to listen to the podcast of the article, click here.