NetworkTigers examines how small businesses scale without a network manager, the trade-offs they face, and how to know when it is time to add network support.
Small businesses often grow by being scrappy, lean, and flexible. For many, this means avoiding overhead wherever possible, including hiring IT staff. Early on, this works well. Cloud platforms, plug-and-play apps, and basic networks can keep operations running smoothly without much specialist input.
But as sales grow, product lines expand, or teams become more distributed, the hidden costs of doing it all in-house begin to mount.
For this discussion, we are defining small businesses with fewer than 100 employees, often in sectors like e-commerce, manufacturing, professional services, or logistics. According to the U.S. Small Business Administration, businesses with fewer than 500 employees are typically considered small, although size standards vary by industry
Getting by with less: How lean IT works early on
Many small businesses rely on intuitive, cloud-based platforms to cover core functions. Tools like Shopify, Trello, QuickBooks, Google Workspace, or Slack offer fast, affordable ways to run online stores, manage teams, track finances, and fulfil orders.
This simplicity works especially well when a single person, or a very small team, handles tech tasks alongside other responsibilities.
Why hesitate to hire?
Hiring a full-time network manager is a big step. For a company that has built success without one, it can feel unnecessary or hard to justify, especially when every hire counts.
Some common concerns include:
- Cost. Salaries and benefits for technical staff add up.
- Workload. Some business owners worry there will not be enough technical work to justify the role.
- Fear of complexity. Bringing on IT staff can feel like giving up the control and simplicity of a DIY setup.
These are valid concerns, and for many companies, delaying the hire is a reasonable choice. The key is knowing how to keep scaling without putting your business at risk.
Practical ways to scale without a network manager
If hiring a dedicated network manager is not yet feasible, there are other ways to keep systems running well:
- Managed service providers (MSPs). These third-party firms can handle everything from network monitoring to help desk support on a monthly retainer.
- Freelance consultants. Ideal for one-off needs such as system upgrades, audits, or cloud migrations.
- Shared or fractional roles. Some SMBs split the cost of a network expert with another small business or use a part-time contractor.
- Hybrid approaches. An internal employee with IT skills can manage day-to-day issues while working with external experts for higher-level needs.
These options provide flexibility and support without the full-time cost. These options provide flexibility and support without the full-time cost. Another way to reduce long-term strain is by investing in reliable infrastructure from the start. High-quality refurbished networking equipment can offer enterprise-level performance at a fraction of the cost, helping small businesses scale more efficiently.
What a network manager brings to the table
Even if you do not need one today, it helps to understand what a network manager typically handles:
- System design and optimisation.
- Security and access controls.
- Downtime prevention and troubleshooting.
- Vendor and license management.
In short, they bring structure and foresight that often pays off in fewer disruptions and better decision-making.
When it is hard to scale without a network manager
As growth continues, some issues become harder to ignore:
- Systems become fragmented, causing slowdowns and errors
- Customer experience suffers due to performance or reliability issues.
- Employees lose time solving problems they are not trained to handle.
- Security risks increase as data volumes and access points multiply.
This is often the point at which business owners realise that what worked before is starting to strain under the weight of expansion.
The cost of inaction
Delaying IT investment might feel like a cost-saving measure, but the risks carry hidden expenses:
- Lost sales from unexpected downtime.
- Reputation damage from data breaches or inconsistent service.
- Compliance penalties for mishandling customer data.
- Productivity losses from recurring issues.
These challenges do not always make headlines but chip away at growth over time.
Making the right call for your business
Scaling without a network manager is possible—and common—during early growth. However, as operations become more complex, most businesses benefit from adding IT support in some form. Whether through an MSP, a hybrid arrangement, or eventually hiring someone in-house, there is no single path.
What matters is choosing the approach that balances your risk, budget, and long-term goals.
Scaling sustainably: choose the model that fits
Scaling without a network manager is often a smart, resourceful strategy in the early stages. But it is inadvisable to become a permanent workaround if the business grows beyond its systems. The good news is that support does not have to mean a full-time hire. A mix of external services, internal planning, and occasional expert help can provide the stability needed to scale with confidence.
About NetworkTigers
NetworkTigers is the leader in the secondary market for Grade A, seller-refurbished networking equipment. Founded in January 1996 as Andover Consulting Group, which built and re-architected data centers for Fortune 500 firms, NetworkTigers provides consulting and network equipment to global governmental agencies, Fortune 2000, and healthcare companies. www.networktigers.com.
