PKA,
For IT help, go to the following site:
http://www.microsoft.com/smallbusiness/hub.mspxAt the top right, you will see a place to enter your zip code to find a Microsoft Small Business Specialist. There are many IT classifications for Microsoft. Microsoft does NOT give these out easily. Depending on the size of your city, you will get a number of places. Here in Bangor, we get three. I have worked with all three, and I can tell you while they are all good, some are better than others and some work for companies. You may always be better off with somene with their own business.
When you find these places, depending on how many, visit each. Show them what you are looking for. You can have an idea of what you want, but as has not been done on here, write done specifically what you want, e.g. I want a network with seven computers that can run billing and EMR software. I would like it to be expandable up to 15 computers.
All of these MSBS should be able to come out and give a FREE estimate and consult. Some don't, but ask them to apply that to the overall charge. Ask each to provide you with at least three businesses they have set up. Make sure you ask the businesses.
Just as servers offer different types of warranties such as being available to come out 7 days a week, 24 hours a day; or 5 days a week next day, etc. make SURE you know what their support is. Can you be OK with downtime of 24 hours or do you need someone to be able to come out with four hours. Do you want a contract whereby you can get support for no cost for a year or do you want to pay for each time. Pay as you go is probably best, but in the first year, maybe a contract.
Finally, (and this is hard), you are better off using someone who will show you what he or she is doing so you can troubleshoot yourself, but most won't as it is job security.
As to your corporation question, I am not very helpful there, but it sounds as though you are putting the cart before the horse. Not everyone would agree, and I know there are physicians out there that do it all, but you may need a CPA and a cheap lawyer (oxymoron). If you go with a CPA, then he or she can tell you the benefits of each.
Rather than having a thread which is solely devoted to your start up including help with financial questions, vehicles and computers, you are probably better off having separate threads for the network stuff versus the financial stuff. Just a thought.
