We Outsourced The Hard Part So You Don’t Have To

The AI wave has already hit the SMB market, and small MSPs feel the squeeze: limited capital, stretched teams, and clients who expect faster outcomes. We break down a zero-upfront, deployment-first partnership model that lets a lean MSP deliver enterprise-grade automation without taking on inventory risk, long training cycles, or rigid contracts. Instead of betting on expensive tools, you pay only on successful delivery—aligning incentives around real results and unlocking a faster path to premium services.

We dive into the mechanics that matter: how vendor-led remote installs remove the labor bottleneck, what kinds of automation drive value right away, and why standardized, outcome-focused solutions can still preserve your strategic control. From AI-driven Level 1 support deflection and automated compliance reporting to standardized security remediation, these tools reduce cognitive friction and eliminate swivel-chair tasks, lifting speed, consistency, and reliability across your clients’ workflows.

The business case is compelling. Reported client ROI around 3.5 to 1 stems from 20–40% labor savings and 30% productivity gains—numbers that transform your pitch from “keeping the lights on” to “improving the bottom line.” We connect those outcomes to the MSP’s growth engine: 31% higher MRR on premium subscriptions and up to 42% better retention when you embed automation into everyday operations. Add channel-only exclusivity that avoids direct-to-end-customer conflicts, and you gain genuine regional differentiation, stronger reviews, and a brand that attracts both top talent and higher-quality referrals.

Most importantly, we talk timing. Waiting cedes early-mover advantage to faster competitors and narrows your path out of commodity services. If capital risk and deployment labor are no longer the blockers, the real decision becomes where to reinvest your freed capacity: targeted marketing, deeper client outreach, or that next key hire. Ready to lead your market with practical, profitable automation? Follow, share, and leave a review to help more MSPs find a smarter path to AI-led growth.

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Transcript

The Gap In AI Adoption

SPEAKER_01 0:00

All right, let's untack this. We're focusing today on uh the small managed service provider, you know, the dedicated team serving small and medium businesses, typically those folks with fewer than, say, 50 employees. If you are operating in that space, you know you're facing a massive strategic challenge right now. It's it's pretty clear.

SPEAKER_00 0:19

Aaron Powell Yeah, our sources are confirming that the vast majority of like advanced AI and automation services, they're currently offered almost exclusively by the giants. We're talking MSPs with 200 or more employees. Trevor Burrus, Jr.

SPEAKER_01 0:31

Right. It's a huge gap.

SPEAKER_00 0:32

Trevor Burrus, Jr.: It really is. Only about a third, roughly 32% of the U.S. MSP market is actively deploying these uh advanced solutions. And those smaller firms, you know, the backbone of local IT support, well, they're struggling to keep up.

SPEAKER_01 0:45

They often lack the resources, the RD wet, the train staff.

SPEAKER_00 0:48

Trevor Burrus, Jr.: Exactly. They can't afford the big RD spend or hold inventory or pull staff for extensive training needed to really compete on that level. So our deep dive today isn't just about pointing out the problem again.

SPEAKER_01 0:59

It's about drilling down into a very specific and uh frankly pretty revolutionary proposed solution we've been seeing in the sources, which is partnering with Growth Right Solutions, or GRS, the sources we've looked at, they present this as, well, almost an essential strategic maneuver that small MSPs need to consider right now, like now to survive and you know actually grow.

SPEAKER_00 1:20

Okay. And what's fascinating looking at the material is how this GRS partnership model seems uh explicitly designed to tackle the two biggest constraints for these small teams, capital risk and operational capacity. Right. It's framed as more than just a tech upgrade. It's pitched as an immediate, almost reputation-transforming shortcut. It allows a lean MSP team to offer sophisticated, sort of large firm capabilities pretty much instantly.

Zero-Upfront GRS Model Explained

SPEAKER_01 1:47

Aaron Powell Okay, let's cut straight to the financial core then, because let's be honest, this is where the skeptical alarm bells usually start ringing loudly for any small business owner. Trevor Burrus, Jr. Always. Cutting-edge tech usually means huge upfront costs, inventory risks, maybe rigid contracts. It's daunting. But we've been looking hard at GRS's model, and well, it seems to challenge almost every one of those assumptions. It's what they call their approach, and we should analyze the mechanics, not just the marketing name, obviously, uh zero risk immediate value partnership. The deal, basically, sounds incredibly simple. GRS charges absolutely nothing for membership. Sure. Nothing up front. Zero.

SPEAKER_00 2:24

And that structure, that zero upfront piece, that's really the essential differentiator for a small MSP, isn't it?

SPEAKER_01 2:30

Seems like it.

SPEAKER_00 2:31

You're effectively shifting your RD burden, your inventory risk, entirely onto GRS, the partner. The MSP, according to this model, only pays for products that are actually delivered and installed successfully for their end client.

SPEAKER_01 2:44

Aaron Powell Okay. Hold on though. How does GRS make money then? I mean, if they're putting millions into RD handling the deployment, and the MSP isn't paying a dime up front, like what's the catch? There's always a catch.

SPEAKER_00 2:55

Right. Well, that's the critical question, definitely. And if we peel back the layers based on the sources, the model seems to work because GRS is optimizing for scale and uh channel trust, not necessarily for squeezing partners on inventory risk. Okay. They're focused purely on deployment volume, it seems. So they remove that financial gamble for the MSP partner by getting rid of minimum purchase requirements, bitching quarterly quotas, taking away all those upfront capital commitments that kill small players. Aaron Powell Right.

SPEAKER_01 3:23

Those are often the deal breakers.

SPEAKER_00 3:24

Aaron Powell Exactly. So the MSP acts as the trusted local face, the distributor essentially. And GRS tries to ensure fast adoption by just removing all those traditional barriers to entry. You, the MSP, are leveraging GRS's capital and expertise to service your client, and you only pay when you successfully deliver value on success.

SPEAKER_01 3:46

Aaron Powell That makes sense. It really reframes the decision, doesn't it? It shifts it away from being a purely financial gamble, which is terrifying for a small operation, to more of a strategic choice about like market positioning and growth. That alone must reduce stress.

SPEAKER_00 4:01

A significant reduction, I'd imagine.

How GRS Makes Money At Scale

SPEAKER_01 4:02

All right. So moving past the money, which sounds well, almost too good to be true, but logical if they're playing the volume game. Let's talk about the second major bottleneck: labor, manpower. Small teams are already stretched thin, just managing basic infrastructure, keeping the lights on. How do, you know, four or five technicians suddenly become experts in deploying complex AI-driven automation tools overnight? That seems like a huge leap.

SPEAKER_00 4:29

Aaron Powell And this is where we look at the operational advantage piece. The sources highlight this as streamlined service delivery. It's designed to address that capacity issue head on. Apparently, GRS handles all the delivery and installation remotely without the MSP's own staff needing to lift a finger during the actual deployment phase.

SPEAKER_01 4:47

Aaron Powell Okay, but if GRS handles all the work, what are we actually talking about here? We need specifics. What kind of AI and automation are these small MSPs suddenly able to deliver? Is this just like basic scripting or something more substantial?

SPEAKER_00 5:00

Aaron Powell No, not at all. Based on the examples given, and this is really crucial for you, the listener, to grasp the depth of capability being offered here. We're talking about advanced workflow automation, stuff designed to really reduce cognitive friction for the SMB staff. That's what drives the ROI we'll get to later.

SPEAKER_01 5:19

Aaron Powell Okay, like what give me an example.

SPEAKER_00 5:20

Aaron Powell Okay, so sources show automation targeted at say level one support deflection. Think AI automatically handling common issues like password resets, maybe permission changes, without a human needing to intervene. Trevor Burrus, Jr.

SPEAKER_01 5:34

Right. Freeing up tech time.

SPEAKER_00 5:35

Trevor Burrus, Jr.: Exactly. Or things like automated compliance reporting or even security remediation if a threat's detected, the AI executes a predefined standardized fix automatically, real automation. Got it. So the MSP gets immediate access to these proven products without needing to upskill their staff for months or manage complicated procurement and inventory cycles. Trevor Burrus, Jr.

SPEAKER_01 5:56

Which frees up those precious four or five technicians.

SPEAKER_00 5:58

Right. To focus on higher value activities, client consultation, strategic planning, relationship building, maybe even sales, it effectively outsources the heavy lifting, the RD and deployment part of innovation to GRS.

Solving The Labor Constraint

SPEAKER_01 6:12

Aaron Powell That brings up a really critical point, though. Something any seasoned MST owner watching your margins will worry about control and exclusivity. If GRS is handling deployment, maybe using standardized templates, doesn't that kind of remove the MSP's ability to customize solutions for their clients?

SPEAKER_00 6:28

Aaron Powell That's a valid tension, yeah.

SPEAKER_01 6:29

And also if it's a partner program, how do they guarantee that we aren't all just selling the exact same thing five miles apart, leading to, you know, the inevitable race to the bottom on price?

SPEAKER_00 6:40

Okay, two good points. On customization, the sources suggest the risk is mitigated because the initial solutions offered are high-value standardized problem solvers. The value isn't in bespoke code for every client necessarily, but in the immediate proven outcome, the labor saving, the productivity boost.

SPEAKER_01 6:57

So the MSP still owns the client relationship.

SPEAKER_00 6:59

Absolutely. The MSP owns the client relationship, the overall IT strategy integration, the advisory role. The GRS tool is a powerful part of the stack they manage.

SPEAKER_01 7:11

Okay. And the exclusivity part, the price wars?

SPEAKER_00 7:14

That seems to be where GRS makes a really strong strategic stand according to the materials. They explicitly state they do not sell directly to the public, to end clients ever.

SPEAKER_01 7:24

Oh, interesting.

SPEAKER_00 7:25

Yeah, this is foundational to what they call their exclusive technology positioning. It's designed specifically to avoid that toxic channel conflict, you know, where the vendor starts competing with his own partners.

SPEAKER_01 7:36

Yeah, we've all seen that happen. It erodes trust fast.

SPEAKER_00 7:38

And prices, it leads to price erosion. So by GRS staying out of direct sales, when you, as the MSP partner, are the only provider in your region offering this specific proven GRS solution set, well, you immediately gain genuine regional differentiation. It's not just white label stuff everyone has.

SPEAKER_01 7:56

So the perception shifts. The MSP isn't just seen as a reseller, but as the exclusive local channel for a premium, maybe even slightly mysterious, trusted technology that businesses can't just go buy off the shelf.

SPEAKER_00 8:08

Exactly. And that instantly enhances their reputation as a local leader of Ford Baker.

Real Automation Use Cases

SPEAKER_01 8:13

Okay. Here's where it gets really interesting for me because we absolutely need to connect this capability back to the actual growth engine, the client success. Right. If the SMB client isn't seeing massive tangible value, the whole partnership is basically worthless long term.

SPEAKER_00 8:30

Completely agree. It all hinges on client ROI.

SPEAKER_01 8:34

So what kind of return on investment are these businesses actually seeing? Are the numbers real?

SPEAKER_00 8:39

Well, the ROI figures cited in the data we reviewed are uh pretty significant, enough to completely change an MSP's sales pitch. SMBs using these automated solutions are reporting an average ROI of around 3.5 to 1.

SPEAKER_01 8:52

3.5 to 1? That's substantial.

SPEAKER_00 8:54

Aaron Powell It is. But just throwing out that number isn't enough, is it? We need to understand how they get there, the mechanism of savings.

SPEAKER_01 9:00

Aaron Powell Right. Let's break that down. Where is that, say, 20% to 40% labor savings they mentioned coming from? What does that look like day-to-day for the client?

SPEAKER_00 9:07

Aaron Powell Okay, so it's primarily driven by reducing what people often call swivel chair works, jumping between apps, manually copying data, and also just repetitive cognitive tasks. Trevor Burrus, Jr.

SPEAKER_01 9:19

Like data entry or basic report pulling.

SPEAKER_00 9:21

Aaron Powell Exactly. For the SMB, their staff spend less time manually reconciling data between systems, generating routine internal reports, or dealing with those basic everyday technical friction points like password resets we mentioned. Automating those internal processes frees up their staff to do actual profit-driving work, customer-facing activities, strategic tasks.

SPEAKER_01 9:42

Makes sense.

SPEAKER_00 9:43

And we also see productivity boosts cited 30% or more. Partly because automation brings a level of consistency and speed that frankly human staff just can't maintain under pressure without errors creeping in.

SPEAKER_01 9:54

Okay, so if you, the MSP, can walk into a meeting with, I don't know, a local manufacturing firm or an accounting practice. Right. And you can incredibly promise, based on this GRS solution, look, you'll likely save 20% on administrative overhead and maybe boost your team's output by 30%. Wow, suddenly you're not just talking about IT support anymore.

SPEAKER_00 10:14

Precisely. You're offering strategic business consultation, you're directly impacting their bottom line, and that allows the small MSP, the five-person shop, to compete effectively against the much larger regional firms who are probably already using similar pitch points because they have the resources to build or buy these tools themselves.

SPEAKER_01 10:31

And crucially, right, that client value has to translate directly into the MSP's own bottom line. Because for years, many small MSPs have felt stuck relying on commodity services, you know, the break fix, the basic managed infrastructure, the fire extinguisher approach to IT.

SPEAKER_00 10:50

Race to the bottom on press for basic services.

SPEAKER_01 10:52

Yeah. And they miss out on that premium tier of recurring subscription services.

Control, Customization, And Exclusivity

SPEAKER_00 10:56

Exactly. And that is the current missed opportunity, clearly highlighted in the sources. We found some hard numbers on this. When small MSPs do manage to successfully offer these premium AI and automation type services, they drive, on average, 31% higher monthly recurring revenue or MRR compared to MSPs who just stick to the basic managed infrastructure or break fix models.

SPEAKER_01 11:20

That's significant growth potential right there.

SPEAKER_00 11:22

It's huge for small business.

SPEAKER_01 11:23

Yep.

SPEAKER_00 11:23

And maybe even more important for long-term stability and business value.

SPEAKER_01 11:27

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 11:27

These types of embedded high value services lead to up to 42% better client retention rates.

SPEAKER_01 11:34

Wow. Okay. Why such a jump in retention?

SPEAKER_00 11:37

Well, it makes sense, right? Because the MSP transitions. You move from being perceived as just a necessary cost center, the IT guy as you call them when something breaks, to becoming a critical strategic partner. You're deeply embedded in the client's operational efficiency and their success.

SPEAKER_01 11:53

You're helping them make more money or save significant time.

SPEAKER_00 11:55

Aaron Powell Correct. So this partnership, this GRS model, is positioned as enabling that stable premium subscription income and strengthening client loyalty, critically, without the MSP having to sign risky, debt-laden contracts themselves to acquire the capability.

SPEAKER_01 12:10

Okay, now let's pivot slightly to talk about the uh often overlooked intangible benefits, things like reputation, community presence. Because being an early mover in a space like AI and automation, especially locally, that sends a powerful signal, doesn't it?

SPEAKER_00 12:25

Absolutely. It's about perception and positioning.

SPEAKER_01 12:28

Right now, being one of the first in your town or region to offer tangible AI solutions, it signals that your MSP isn't just, you know, keeping the lights on with basic IT. It says you're actively leading the technology curve in your community.

SPEAKER_00 12:43

Setting the pace.

SPEAKER_01 12:44

Yeah. And because, as we said, the majority of your regional peers, the other small MSPs, are likely still lagging behind. GRS partners could potentially stand out instantly. At local business networking events, in online reviews, you're suddenly branded as the future ready innovator. Trevor Burrus, Jr.

SPEAKER_00 13:02

And that reputation, that branding, it has profound secondary benefits that directly impact your ability to actually grow the business. How so? Well, when you position yourself as the local AI innovator, you start attracting different kinds of attention. For one, you attract higher quality talent. Tech Savvy staff, especially younger engineers coming up, they want to work with cutting-edge tools. They want to solve big, interesting problems, not just manage legacy systems day in and day out.

SPEAKER_01 13:27

Good point.

SPEAKER_00 13:29

It really is. Yeah. So this could potentially improve your recruiting outcomes drastically. You become a more attractive place to work for the people you need to hire to scale.

SPEAKER_01 13:37

Okay.

SPEAKER_00 13:38

Furthermore, that community impact, it isn't just about, you know, a pat on the back. It's about attracting more qualified referrals. People talk about businesses doing innovative things. It builds long-term brand equity and local trust that just compounds over time. Right. Think about it. When an SMB is vetting a potential long-term strategic technology partner, what do they look for? Reliability, sure, but also future-proofing. They want a partner who understands where things are going. This GRS partnership is framed as providing that immediate proof point. We get AI, we can deliver it, we're ahead of the curve.

ROI, Productivity, And Savings

SPEAKER_01 14:13

Okay, so if the benefits seem so clear, zero financial risk, outsourced labor essentially, massive client ROI potential, enhanced reputation. Why the urgency? Why can't a small MSP just wait six months, maybe a year, let the market shake out, see if this GRS thing is truly stable, and then jump in? Why the push for now?

SPEAKER_00 14:31

Yeah, that's a fair question. The sources we analyzed are pretty unequivocal on this point.

SPEAKER_01 14:35

Right.

SPEAKER_00 14:36

The urgency is real. The AI and automation wave.

SPEAKER_01 14:39

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 14:39

It isn't coming, it's already begun rolling through the SMB market.

SPEAKER_01 14:43

So waiting isn't just cautious, it's risky.

SPEAKER_00 14:46

Waiting actually compounds the risk, according to this perspective. The risk of losing market relevance to savier, faster competitors. That window of opportunity to capture the early adopter advantage, the one that provides that critical reputation boost and justifies the higher MRR, it's closing, maybe faster than people realize. And historically, let's face it, the big tech vendors have often failed the small MSP, haven't they? Right. Either demand unrealistic sales commitments, minimums the little guys can't meet, or the solutions just aren't priced or packaged appropriately for the true SMB market, the under 50 employee segment.

SPEAKER_01 15:21

True. Often feels like they're focused on mid-market or enterprise. Aaron Powell Right.

SPEAKER_00 15:26

So the GRS model is presented as this unique fit, specifically designed to let those small MSPs leap past those constraints, as one source put it, immediately. If you wait six months or a year, you likely lose that crucial exclusivity advantage. You lose the market differentiation that comes with being first.

SPEAKER_01 15:44

Aaron Powell And you risk falling back into that commodity price war you were trying to escape in the first place?

SPEAKER_00 15:49

That's the argument, yes. The market is demanding efficiency now. Your SMB clients are feeling the pressure. Small MSPs are actually perfectly positioned, usually, to deliver the personal touch, the trusted relationship SMBs crave. GRS is positioned as providing the heavy-duty technology muscle they lack internally. It's presented as a near perfect convergence of timing and capability. So just to recap the core proposition here from the sources. It seems to be about immediate growth potential through higher MRR, significantly enhanced client loyalty and retention, a potentially transformational community reputation boost, and instant access to premium AI solutions. And because a zero risk model removes basically every traditional barrier, the decision for you, the small MSP owner, becomes less about financial feasibility and more about strategic direction. It's framed as a growth imperative, not a cost calculation.

SPEAKER_01 16:42

Okay. So what does this all mean then? We've analyzed this GRS partnership model, and it appears, based on the sources, to eliminate all those traditional financial barriers we talked about. No capital outlay, no inventory risk, no scary long-term contracts for the MSP. Right. And simultaneously, it seems designed to eliminate the operational burden too, since GRS apparently handles all the deployment labor.

SPEAKER_00 17:06

That's the pitch.

SPEAKER_01 17:06

Okay. So if this model truly removes the two biggest constraints that constantly hold back a small, busy MSP, which are almost always lack of money and lack of time or manpower, then the question you need to ask yourself listening to this is no longer really if you should offer advanced AI and automation. The market seems to be demanding it.

SPEAKER_00 17:25

It seems that way.

SPEAKER_01 17:26

So the real strategic question you maybe need to answer today, right now, is this What critical internal process in your MSP is it proactive high-level marketing? Is it dedicated time for strategic client outreach and QBRs? Is it finally hiring that next key engineer? What vital growth activity is being neglected today because your limited resources, your time, and your team's focus are bogged down in manual tasks or lower value services.

SPEAKER_00 17:54

That's a powerful question.

SPEAKER_01 17:55

Because if this GRS partnership genuinely provides immediate access to high value offerings and frees up resources by outsourcing the deployment, well, the critical decision isn't just whether to partner. It's where you will immediately redeploy those freed up resources, your time, your team's focus, to truly accelerate your business growth and finally break through those constraints. That seems to be the core challenge this model presents.