In this episode, Dan Nickel, President of TechMate, shares the ups and downs of running a business. He talks candidly about the wide range of responsibilities, from taxes and insurance to the emotional toll of letting employees go, especially when it’s family. Dan started TechMate with his brother in January 2015 after a 23-year career at AT&T. Despite starting with little knowledge of hardware repair, he learned on the job, and TechMate has since evolved into a managed service provider, offering IT services to businesses without full-time IT staff.

Dan shares some memorable moments, like fixing a computer just by plugging it in and dealing with a client’s computer infected with inappropriate content. He also touches on the challenges and rewards of working with family, recounting a tough decision to fire his son and their eventual reconciliation. Moving from Vermont to Minnesota in 1998, Dan has raised his family in St. Michael and finds joy in both his children’s successes and the satisfaction of solving IT problems for customers.

He advises aspiring business owners to be prepared for the extensive responsibilities beyond the core job skills, emphasizing the need for patience and readiness to tackle various challenges. Dan values the relationships and experiences gained through business ownership, highlighting that the real reward isn’t just financial.

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For more information about TechMate and Dan:

Website: https://techmatebusiness.com
Email: business@techmatemn.com.