You started with one laptop and a Gmail address.
Now you have 8 staff, clients waiting on quotes, and your bookkeeper is threatening to quit because “the internet is slow again”.
Welcome to every growing small business in Sandton, Fourways, Randburg, Bryanston and Roodepoort.
This is the exact checklist we give every single owner who calls us and says:
“I’ve outgrown the friend who knows computers stage. Help me do this properly.”
Save this page it will save you tens of thousands of rands and countless grey hairs.
Phase 1: The Minimum Viable IT Stack (1–5 People Under R15 000 Once Off)
- Proper business email (@yourcompany.co.za) $\rightarrow$ Microsoft 365 or Google Workspace
- Cloud storage that actually syncs (OneDrive / Google Drive) $\rightarrow$ no more “which USB has the latest quote?”
- Password manager for the team (we set up Bitwarden or Microsoft Authenticator $\rightarrow$ free)
- Automatic cloud backup on every laptop (Backblaze or Microsoft 365 backup)
- Decent antivirus that isn’t slow junk (Windows Defender + common sense is enough)
- Small UPS for the router and main PC (load shedding will kill your work otherwise)
Cost when we set it all up for you: R4 950–R7 950 once off + normal monthly fees.
Phase 2: Proper Small Office Setup (5–20 People R25 000–R65 000 Once Off)
- Business grade Wi Fi system (Ubiquiti UniFi or TP Link Omada) $\rightarrow$ no more dead spots
- Separate staff and guest networks
- Network printer/scanner that actually works from every laptop and phone
- Centralised cloud backup for the whole office (usually Synology NAS + cloud mirror)
- Proper Microsoft 365 Business Premium licences (includes Intune $\rightarrow$ we lock down company data on personal phones)
- Basic cybersecurity basics (multi factor authentication everywhere, SPF/DKIM/DMARC on email)
- One monthly IT support retainer so things get fixed before they break
Real example last month:
10 person recruitment agency in Bryanston moved from “everyone uses their own laptop and Gmail” to proper setup.
Downtime dropped from 4–5 hours a month to basically zero.
They calculate it’s saving them R18 000+ per month in lost productivity.
Rough Cost Guide for Johannesburg Small Businesses (Honest Numbers)
| Users | Office Type | Once Off Setup (approx.) | Monthly Retainer (approx.) |
| 1–5 users | Work from home or tiny office | R8 000–R15 000 | R800–R1 500/month |
| 6–15 users | Proper office in Sandton/Randburg/Bryanston | R35 000–R65 000 | R2 500–R4 500/month |
| 16–50 users | Multiple locations or sensitive data | R80 000–R180 000 | R6 000–R12 000/month |
We always give fixed prices never hourly surprises.
When to Stop DIY and Get a Proper Johannesburg IT Partner (The Signs)
- You’re scared to open email attachments in case of ransomware
- Your staff waste 30+ minutes a day on “Wi Fi not working” or “printer offline”
- You have no idea where the latest version of anything is saved
- Your accountant/bookkeeper keeps phoning you about IT problems
- You’re turning down bigger clients because your systems look amateur
If two or more of these are true you’re already losing money every single week.
Ready to Stop Wasting Money on Broken IT?
Whether you’re a startup in Fourways with 3 people or a 25 person business in Sandton that’s finally ready to go proper, we’ll give you a completely free, no pressure IT assessment.
We’ll come to you (or jump on a quick remote session), look at everything, and give you a written roadmap with exact costs zero obligation.
- 📞 Call or WhatsApp 081 854 5393 right now
- ✉️ Email info@theithub.co.za
- 🌐 Book your free IT assessment at www.theithub.co.za
We’ve been the go to IT partner for hundreds of Johannesburg small businesses since 2014.
The IT Hub we make small businesses work like big ones.
Your proper IT setup starts with one message. Send it now.
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