If you want to investigate ASPs for your small business, here are a few points to keep in mind. First, decide which applications you want to outsource. When compiling your shortlist of finalists, don't consider anyone without 24-hour expert technical support. Also, each contender should have multiple clients to use as references. Then, meet and interview the team members of each ASP as if you were hiring them as part of your in-house IT staff.
Billing can get tricky.
Payment methods vary for each ASP, but generally they bill per user, per month or per year. Exact pricing can be hard to pin down due to the varying factors - which applications you rent, number of users, startup fees, training needed, and hardware and software costs. Quick tips Don't forgo the test drive. Consider a consultant. Negotiating price with ASPs can be dizzying.