Need shared files, an application server, Active Directory or a domain controller for your Townsville business? We plan, supply, install, document and hand over — properly, with no surprise upgrade bills 18 months in. Vendor-neutral advice, fixed-price installs, full ongoing support if you want it.
Plenty of MSPs will happily sell you a $10k server when Microsoft 365 with SharePoint would do the job for $20 a user per month. We won't. The first conversation is always about whether you genuinely need one — and a surprising number of small businesses don't.
You probably do need a server when you have a line-of-business app that requires one (accounting suites, dental/medical practice management, design or CAD with shared libraries), 10+ users sharing very large files locally, Active Directory needs for centralised user/device management, or specific data residency / compliance reasons to keep data on-site.
When you do, getting it right at the start matters. A properly sized, well-documented server runs for 5–7 years without drama. A "we'll just throw something in" server tends to need surprise upgrades 18 months in. We do it the first way.
Book a Server Consultation →Central file share with proper folder structure, group permissions, version history and backup — not "the boss's PC" with a network share.
Many industry apps (legal, dental, medical, accounting, engineering) need a Windows Server or SQL Server backend to function properly.
Centralised user accounts, password policy, group policy, device management. Real benefits past about 10 users.
Proper 3-2-1 backup — local snapshot + off-site encrypted cloud — built in from day one, with tested restores.
There's no single "right" answer. Here's what we'll typically recommend and why.
The classic small-business workhorse — Active Directory, file shares, app server.
For specific workloads — Samba file shares, hosted web apps, dev environments.
A purpose-built file/backup box — much simpler than a full server.
SharePoint + OneDrive + Teams + Exchange Online — a "server" in the cloud.
Often the best answer is hybrid — for example, a Synology NAS for big working files plus M365 for email/SharePoint, no Windows Server at all. We design around your actual needs, not a vendor preference.
Not just "rack a box and leave". A proper install covers planning, supply, installation, security, backup and a documented handover.
Indicative — every server build is quoted individually after the consultation. All prices ex-GST. Larger or multi-server projects are scoped separately.
| Engagement | What's Included | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Initial consultation | Requirements + written design + itemised quote (credited if you proceed) | $250 fixed |
| NAS setup (small file share) | Synology/QNAP 2–4 bay, shared folders, backup, user access | $1,200–$2,500 |
| Entry small business server | Single Windows Server, AD, file share, backup, ~10–20 users | $2,500–$6,000 |
| Standard small business server | Server hardware + Windows Server + LoB app + backup + UPS, 20–50 users | $6,000–$12,000 |
| Larger / multi-server / virtualised | Multiple roles, Hyper-V/Proxmox, redundancy, complex apps | $12,000–$25,000+ |
| Ongoing managed support | Patching, monitoring, backup verification, user changes | From $99/user/mo (managed IT plan) |
All projects start with the paid consultation so you have a fixed-price written design before committing. No "scope creep" — what's quoted is what's built.
Plan, build, install, hand over — with documentation good enough that the next person who touches the server (us, you, your future internal IT) understands exactly what's there.
We sit down on-site or remote, walk through your workflows, every app, every user count, growth plans, budget. Output is a written design and a fixed-price itemised quote — not a sales brochure.
Hardware ordered, OS and roles installed on the bench, baseline config applied, tested. Going on-site with a half-built server is how installs run late — we ship up ready to plug in.
Physical install with UPS and cabling. Data migration from existing setup (we do this out of hours where possible to avoid disruption). User workstations joined, profiles set up, apps tested.
Written runbook — admin credentials, network diagram, backup schedule, recovery steps, vendor contacts. 30 days of go-live support included. After that, ongoing support is opt-in, not a lock-in.
Vendor-neutral advice, fixed-price builds, properly documented handovers, and the option of ongoing support without being locked in.
On-site when you need us, not flying someone up from Brisbane on day three of an outage. Real Townsville techs who know the local network and ISP landscape.
We sell what fits, not what gives us the biggest margin. If M365 + a NAS will do, that's what we'll quote — not a $10k Windows Server you don't need.
Written runbook, network diagram, credentials vault, recovery steps. Whoever works on it next — us, you, an internal hire — knows exactly what's there.
Scope, design and price locked in before purchase orders go out. No "scope creep" surprises mid-project.
3-2-1 backup, MFA, EDR, encryption, segmented network — baked into every build, not a paid extra later.
Install with us and walk away if you want. You get full admin credentials and documentation. Ongoing managed support is an option, not a condition.
A server is usually part of a wider IT setup. Here's the rest of what we cover.
On-site installs across every Townsville suburb and out to Ayr, Home Hill and Charters Towers.
Quick answers to the questions Townsville business owners ask before booking a server build.
Often no — for many small businesses, Microsoft 365 with SharePoint and OneDrive covers shared files, email and collaboration without any server hardware. You generally need a real server when you've got a line-of-business app that requires one (accounting, design, dental/medical practice management), 10+ users sharing very large files, or you need Active Directory for centralised user/device control. We'll tell you honestly if you don't need one.
Both have a place. Cloud (Microsoft 365, Azure, AWS) wins on flexibility, no upfront hardware cost and built-in disaster recovery — best for most file/email/collab workloads. On-premises wins when you have specific app requirements, need fast local access to huge files, have poor or expensive internet, or have compliance reasons to keep data on-site. Often the answer is hybrid — some cloud, some local. We're vendor-neutral and recommend what fits.
A typical small business server install (entry-level hardware, Windows Server licence, Active Directory, file share, backup) is roughly $2,500–$6,000 all-in. Bigger projects — multiple servers, more users, virtualisation, complex apps — generally land $8,000–$25,000+. We start with a $250 paid consultation that includes a written design and itemised quote, and that fee is credited back if you proceed.
For email, calendars, shared files (SharePoint/OneDrive), Teams and Office apps — yes, M365 is often the better fit for small businesses and we'll genuinely tell you so. We set up M365 properly for businesses every week. A server still makes sense if you have line-of-business apps that need one, need on-prem Active Directory, or have specific data residency reasons.
You have options. Most clients add it to one of our managed IT plans — patches, backups, monitoring, user changes, all handled monthly for a fixed fee. Some clients have an internal IT person and just want us to be on-call for escalations. Either model works. We don't lock you into our support — install with us and walk away if you want; we'll hand over full documentation.
Every server install includes a proper 3-2-1 backup plan — at least 3 copies of data, on 2 different media, with 1 off-site. Typically that means local backup to a NAS or backup appliance, plus encrypted cloud backup. We test restores regularly so you know it actually works — too many small businesses discover their backup was broken only when they actually needed it.
Bare minimum we ship every server with: full disk encryption, principle of least privilege on user accounts, MFA where supported, EDR/AV, automated patching, segmented network, secure remote access (no exposed RDP), and regular backup testing. For businesses with regulatory requirements (medical, legal, government-adjacent) we layer in more. See our cyber security page for details.
Yes — that's the whole point of a proper requirements phase. Before quoting we list every app that needs to run, talk to the vendors if needed, and design the server around what your apps actually require (Windows Server version, SQL Server if needed, RAM, storage). No surprises at install time.
$250 fixed-fee consult — written design and itemised quote. Credited back if you go ahead. No commitment, no sales pitch, just a proper plan.
Mon–Fri 8am–5pm · After hours by arrangement · All Townsville & NQ