Description
The Small Business Network Setup service gives you a network that is designed properly from day one: segmented, secure, reliable and fully documented. Whether you are opening a new office, moving premises or rebuilding a network that grew without a plan, we design, configure and validate it with you, then hand over everything you need to run it with confidence.
Overview
A small business network does not need to be complicated, but it does need to be deliberate. Too many offices run everything on a single flat network where staff laptops, guest phones, printers, cameras and payment terminals all share the same space. That makes troubleshooting harder and turns a single compromised device into a risk for everything else.
In this engagement we start with your actual requirements, design a sensible structure with separate networks for different kinds of devices, and configure your firewall, switches and wireless system to match. Every decision is explained in plain language and recorded in documentation that you own. The design follows the same principles covered in our guides on VLANs, Wi-Fi design and firewall hardening.
Who it is for
- Businesses opening a new office, shop, clinic or studio.
- Organizations moving to new premises and wanting a clean start.
- Teams whose existing network has become unreliable, insecure or impossible to understand.
- Businesses replacing consumer-grade equipment with business-grade gear.
- IT generalists who want an expert to design and build the foundation they will maintain.
What is included
The standard scope covers a single site with one firewall or router, up to four switches, up to eight wireless access points and up to 50 users.
- Requirements workshop: a structured call to understand your users, devices, applications, internet service, growth plans and any security or compliance concerns.
- Network design: logical topology, VLAN plan (for example staff, guest, voice, printers and cameras or IoT), IP addressing using a clear subnetting scheme, DHCP and DNS design, and inter-VLAN firewall policy.
- Equipment guidance: a vendor-neutral bill of materials, or an assessment of whether your existing equipment is suitable.
- Firewall configuration: secure management access, inter-VLAN rules based on least privilege, guest isolation, sensible outbound policy, logging and firmware updates.
- Switch configuration: VLANs, trunk and access ports, port security basics, spanning tree, management network and descriptive port labeling.
- Wireless configuration: separate staff and guest SSIDs, WPA2 or WPA3 security, channel and power planning, and band settings.
- Testing and validation: connectivity, segmentation, failover where applicable, Wi-Fi coverage checks with your on-site contact, and configuration backups.
Deliverables
- A design document explaining the network structure and the reasoning behind it.
- Logical and physical network diagrams.
- An IP addressing and VLAN plan.
- Device inventory and port map.
- Backed-up configuration files for every in-scope device.
- A short operations guide covering common tasks such as adding a user device or changing the guest Wi-Fi password.
- A 90-minute handover call and 30 days of email support for questions about the delivered setup.
Process and timeline
A typical engagement takes 2 to 3 weeks, depending mainly on equipment delivery and on-site availability.
- Week 1, discovery and design: intake questionnaire, requirements workshop, design proposal and bill of materials. We confirm the design with you in writing before configuration begins.
- Week 1–2, preparation: once equipment is available, devices are connected for remote management and baseline configurations are applied.
- Week 2, configuration: full firewall, switch and wireless configuration, carried out in agreed change windows with rollback options.
- Week 2–3, testing and cutover: validation, user testing and cutover from any old network, scheduled to minimize disruption.
- Week 3, handover: documentation delivered and handover call completed.
On-site assistance is optional and available only by separate written agreement covering location, travel and any additional costs. For most setups, a trusted person on site following our instructions is enough.
What we need from you
- A main contact with authority to approve the design and schedule changes.
- Business-grade equipment, either existing or purchased according to the agreed bill of materials.
- Working internet service and the account details from your provider.
- Someone on site to unpack, mount and connect devices and to help test coverage, unless on-site work is agreed.
- Access to any existing network equipment that will be replaced or integrated.
- Agreement on maintenance windows for cutover.
What is not included
- Hardware, software licenses or subscriptions, which you purchase directly.
- Structured cabling, electrical work or rack installation. Our guide to structured cabling explains what to ask a local installer.
- Configuration of servers, workstations, printers, phones, cameras or business applications beyond their network connectivity.
- Multi-site connectivity, site-to-site VPNs between several locations or advanced routing, unless agreed in writing.
- Ongoing managed services or monitoring after the support period.
- Professional predictive or on-site wireless surveys with specialized equipment.
The outcome
You finish with a network that is segmented, secured, tested and documented, plus a clear understanding of how it works. Your team or any future IT provider can support it without reverse-engineering decisions, and you have a solid foundation for growth. To keep it healthy over time, consider a periodic Network Health Assessment.
Questions about scope or equipment? Contact us before ordering and we will help you decide.
