From the trenches · 15+ years
Hi, I'm Chris Lancaster.
I've spent the last 15+ years helping small business owners navigate the chaotic world of IT. This site is where I write down what I've learned — the gear that actually works, the vendors worth trusting, and the noise to ignore.
Why this site exists
Small business owners are drowning in noise. Every vendor says their solution is perfect, every sales rep promises the moon, and there's no shortage of overhyped marketing disguised as advice. Meanwhile, you've got a business to run.
I created Small Office Tech to cut through that noise. Not sales pitches. Not theory. Practical recommendations from someone who's actually implemented these solutions in small offices just like yours.
How I work
- I don't recommend anything I haven't used or thoroughly researched. Every router, switch, NAS, and firewall on this site has either lived in a real small office under my care or been vetted against the deployments that have.
- I don't take vendor money to change my opinion. The site uses affiliate links so I can keep the content free, but commissions never affect what I recommend or what you pay.
- I update guides as products and prices shift.Look for the “Updated” date at the top of each article — that's when the pricing, models, and recommendations were last verified.
- I write for 5–25 person offices. Not enterprise. Not consumer mesh. The middle ground where most small businesses actually live.
Day job
I run Golden State IT, a managed services provider for small businesses. The day job pays the bills; this site is where I share what works so other small business owners can make better IT decisions without needing to hire someone like me.
That said — if you'd rather skip the DIY and just have someone handle your IT, drop me a note. Golden State IT takes on a limited number of new clients each year.
Talk to me
Have a question? Found an error? Want to suggest a topic? clancaster@goldenstate-it.com. I read every email and try to respond within 24 hours.