What is Solutions Consulting?
Solutions Consulting is a computer consulting firm specializing in the Macintosh and iOS platforms. We handle all levels of information technology needs for a wide variety of clients; everything from high-end mission-critical servers for clients who can afford zero-downtime to small companies and individuals whose needs are more modest. We can handle every aspect of the modern office or home, including networking, internet access, MDM (Mobile Device Management), remote access and leading edge technologies.
We at Solutions Consulting believe that while each client's needs are unique, every client deserves exceptional service. We sell no hardware, represent no vendors and are fiercely dedicated to choosing only the most appropriate hardware and software to meet our clients needs.
All of our consultants are expert generalists and many specialize in unique areas. On those rare occasions when we feel that needed expertise is best acquired outside the company, we will bring in the right expert. At all times our goal is the speediest, most appropriate and most economical solution to a client's needs.
Solutions Consulting has been operating in the Los Angeles area since 1990. The company is owned by Benjamin G. Levy.
Who is Benjamin G. Levy?
Benjamin Levy has been working as a Macintosh Consultant for more than 20 years. He is a member of the Apple Consultants Network, on whose Advisory Council he served for five years.
A long-time speaker at Macworld Expo Mr. Levy has spoken at each of the last 19 Expos and delivered more than 50 individual sessions on a wide range of cutting edge topics.
Mr. Levy is also an Apple Certified Trainer with more than 10 years experience and delivers Apple training to IT professionals at schools, corporations and training centers around the country.
Professional Certifications are a way of distinguishing both technical competence and commitment to continued improvement. An active participant in Apple's Certification program since its inception and the very first beta exams, Mr. Levy stays current:
Apple Help Desk Specialist, Mac OS X 10.3, 10.4
Apple Certified Support Professional, Mac OS X 10.5, 10.6, 10.7, 10.8, 10.9, 10.10, 10.11, 10.12, 10.13, 10.14
Apple Certified Technical Coordinator Mac OS X 10.1, 10.2, 10.3, 10.5, 10.6, 10.7, 10.8, 10.9, 10.10
How do you bill?
As consultants, we sell our expertise, thus we bill an hourly rate for time spent working on your project. Typically, we will bill only for time we spend in your office, but if we are engaged to do outside research, create databases, do testing, or handle a professional relationship for your office, we will charge for that work.
We do not generally charge for telephone support when it can be kept to a reasonable amount of time because we would rather see you up and running as fast as possible, and if we can do that on the telephone instead of having to book time to come into your office then it's a better situation for both of us. Exceptions are made for lengthy or regular calls, but our main interest remains getting you back to your work. Toward that end we often suggest setting up remote access software to permit us to remotely work with your system for troubleshooting and demonstration purposes.
We are not resellers and are not able to provide you with hardware or software, but we do maintain excellent relations with a variety of vendors we believe provide excellent and convenient service, and we welcome the opportunity to connect you with them. However, you are under no obligation to work with anyone we suggest, so if you have a preferred supplier you are, of course, free to continue to work with them.
Allowances are made for educational institutions, non-profits and other like organizations. We do not offer terms and invoices are due and payable when received.
Several companies have inquired about working with us on a retainer. It has been our experience that in the average retainer agreement either the client pays for uneeded time or the consultant provides services that are outside the scope of the agreement. Our response has been to avoid most retainers; our expertise and focus on service is evident and we feel the fair solution is to bill only for those hours we actually work for you. However, some companies' budgeting plans require that these kinds of costs be anticipated on an annual basis and we can work with you if that's the case at your company. We are also happy to schedule regular appointments as required by your needs,
What areas do you cover?
Most Solutions Consulting clients are in the Los Angeles area, however we service some companies as far away as Santa Barbara and San Diego and we can be enagged to work on projects in any location (go ahead, ask about Antarctica!). In cases of lengthy travel we will discuss appropriate billing requirements.
Many of our clients travel with laptops and we will attempt to support those clients with remote access software, telephone support, or, if necessary we will try to put you in contact with an Apple Consultants Network member in the area in which you are travelling and will work with them to provide educated support for your unique system.
Who are your clients?
Solutions Consulting supports a wide variety of clients in a wide variety of markets including design, print, publishing, manufacturing, banking, law, photography, music creation, video production, real estate, entertainment, fashion, medical, news media and every sort of home user. A number of our clients require extreme discretion and we respect that and are willing to work under appropriate guidelines.
References matched to your interests are available on request.