TeamLogic IT Franchisee Interview: Female Entrepreneur, Arti Dutt

Meet TeamLogic IT Female Entrepreneur, Arti Dutt

We continue our monthly series spotlighting the diverse franchisees who make up the TeamLogic IT family. Each month, we’re sharing the stories of devoted business owners who are driving success for small and medium-sized businesses in their community. This month, we speak with one of our female owners, Arti Dutt, owner of a TeamLogic IT location in Northridge, California. Arti shares what it is that makes TeamLogic IT so special and what she’s most proud of in her eight years as a TeamLogic IT owner.

Q: How did you come to franchise with TeamLogic IT?

Dutt: I joined the TeamLogic IT family eight years ago. I had left my job in IT and was looking for a new business venture that interested me. I looked at all kinds of franchises, including some large, well-known brands. I had never heard of TeamLogic IT before. However, the IT sector was familiar to me, as I had spent over 25 years in the industry. I went to the TeamLogic IT “Discovery Day” to learn more. The people I met that day – that’s what sold me on TeamLogic IT. I knew this was my family.

Q: What is it about the people at TeamLogic IT that makes it so special?

Dutt: I am originally from India and came to the U.S. 25 years ago. I come from an entrepreneurial family–my dad, my brother, my sister, everybody has had businesses. I knew I wanted a business, but I also realized that I didn’t have the family support here in the U.S. that I would have had back in India.

Meeting so many people at TeamLogic’s Discovery Day had such a major impact on my decision. I think I talked to every single TeamLogic IT owner in Southern California! The message I kept hearing from owners, from the corporate team, is that “we’re here for you.” No matter who I called, when I asked, “can I talk to you” they were so open. They were willing to share so many things with me, from financials to challenges in running the business. This is what bonds us together and makes TeamLogic IT a family.

Q: When you first started out, you had two children at home you were also raising. What was it like to raise kids while also trying to start and grow a business?

Dutt: It was a challenge and stressful. We had a set schedule of activities almost every day after school—Monday was soccer, Tuesday was karate, Wednesday was piano, Thursday was chess. When I started the business, my children and my husband stepped up to ensure that their schedules stayed the same and they made it to activities as planned.

Running a business and a family is a lot of hard work. I joke that you must be a certain kind of crazy to be running a business, leaving a well-paying eight to five job, with the hope that eventually it’s going to pay, all the while trying to manage the everyday responsibilities of being a mother and wife. Once my children were old enough to drive, it took some of the stress away, and looking back now, I don’t know how I did it all!

Q: Your children are grown and in college now and you’re entering your eighth year of running your TeamLogic IT location. What are your plans for the business with this change in your family dynamic?

Dutt: The business is financially and operationally sound now and runs on its own. I’ve built a strong, dependable team that can take care of our clients and run the day-to-day operations if I’m not there, and I’m so proud of it. Because of that, I’m excited about the opportunity to travel more. As empty nesters, my husband and I have more time for us and we want to travel. I want to go back to India and spend time with my parents, my sister, and my brother.

Q: Depending on your team is so important as a business owner. Did you encounter a time where you had to relinquish control?

Dutt: I had to return to India twice due to an emergency and each time my team handled the business in my absence amazingly well. I also had the support and assistance from the corporate team, and I know I can always depend on them to answer any questions or help with issues that arise.

Also having a national network of owners across the country who are willing to answer questions and provide counsel when needed is such a benefit to being part of TeamLogic IT.

Q: Can you share a time when you needed the network support of your fellow owners? 

Dutt: One of my first clients had an office in Santa Monica and a flagship office in New York. They had an IT person in the Santa Monica office, and when they needed help in the New York office, the employee would fly to New York. That all changed when my TeamLogic IT business took over their IT services.

When they had an issue in the New York office, I located a TeamLogic IT location there and reached out for assistance. We had a technician dispatched to their location and we were able to resolve the issue. They were amazed and shared that in their previous situation, they would have spent hundreds of dollars to fly their technician across the country and most likely would have waited at least two days for the issue to be resolved. That’s the power of the network at work there!

Q: You’ve attended many TeamLogic IT Franchise Owners Summits. What impact has it had on your business?

Dutt: As an owner, you gain so much from attending. From training sessions and getting to know the vendors, to learning what’s coming next for the business and most importantly, my favorite part – talking to people! I especially enjoy meeting the newcomers and those who are just starting out with TeamLogic IT. They have that nervous excitement and feeling of not knowing what to expect. We’ve all been there, and I like helping them get over that.

Q: As TeamLogic IT celebrates 20 years, what does that mean for you and for your business to be a part of a franchise system that has that many years under its belt?

Dutt: It’s a big deal! We run into issues where we go to see a prospect and they ask us how long we’ve been in business. Telling them that my location has been in business for eight years definitely gets their respect. But to also share that TeamLogic IT has been doing this for 20 years really is impressive.

As an organization, we have seen managed service evolve. It used to just be break-fix, but now we are at the forefront of the managed services industry and we plan on staying here for the long haul.

Q: What is your advice to a potential franchisee owner who is considering joining the TeamLogic IT family?

Dutt: It’s fun and it’s a lot of work—you have to be prepared for the work. Do your due diligence and then go for it! And most importantly, we’re here for you. Anytime you need, feel free to give us a call. We’ll help where we can.

Q: What are you most proud of in your eight years as a TeamLogic IT owner?

Dutt: Last year when I was on stage at the Owners Summit awards night, they announced me as the first female TeamLogic IT owner to reach $1 million! That was something I will not forget. The fact that I’m still here eight years later is an achievement and something that I’m proud of. And I’m looking forward to more!

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