January always starts with energy.
New plans.
New goals.
A renewed push to grow.
February usually brings confidence. MSPs start realizing something important: you don’t have to be a telecom expert to add voice services to your stack. The tools exist. The opportunity is real.
But by March, something else happens. Reality shows up.
The calendar is full.
Tickets are getting closed.
Projects are moving forward.
But here’s the question most MSPs haven’t asked themselves yet: Has your recurring revenue actually moved this quarter? Because activity and growth are not the same thing.
The Busy MSP Trap
Most MSPs are incredibly busy.
You’re patching servers.
Upgrading firewalls.
Solving network problems.
Chasing project work.
And none of that is wrong. It’s the work your clients depend on.
But there’s a hidden trap inside that busyness. Projects create spikes. Support tickets create motion. But neither creates predictable growth. Project revenue comes in waves. One month looks great. The next one looks quiet. Recurring revenue is different. Recurring revenue builds stability. It builds equity. It builds a business that grows even when you’re not chasing the next job.
A Simple Checkpoint for Q1
Here’s a simple exercise. Think back to January 1st. Now ask yourself:
How much new MRR have you added since then? Not activity. Not effort. Actual recurring revenue.
If the number is small — or zero — you’re not alone. Many MSPs find themselves in the same position this time of year. They’re working harder than ever. But their MRR graph is flat. As I like to say: “If your calendar is full but your recurring revenue hasn’t moved, you’re not scaling — you’re spinning.”
The Layer Many MSPs Are Missing
One reason this happens is simple.
Most MSP stacks focus heavily on infrastructure:
Security
Networking
Backup
Devices
All important. But there’s one layer many MSPs leave outside their business: Communications.
And that’s a missed opportunity. Because voice isn’t just another service. It’s one of the stickiest, recurring, client-critical services a business uses every single day. When phones go down, nothing else matters. That’s why whoever owns the phone system usually owns a deeper relationship with the client.
Why Voice Changes the Math
Adding voice doesn’t just add another product. It changes your business model.
When communications sit inside your stack:
- Your average revenue per client increases
- Your client relationship gets deeper
- Your contracts become stickier
Instead of managing pieces of technology, you’re managing the core communication infrastructure of the business. And that creates durable recurring revenue. The kind that builds month after month.
March Is the Reset Month
The good news? It’s still early. March is the perfect time to step back and reset. You still have time to make Q1 count — but only if you focus on building recurring value, not just clearing tickets. Look at your client list. Ask yourself:
Where are the opportunities to expand recurring services?
Where could voice be part of the solution?
Where are you already trusted — but leaving part of the stack on someone else’s balance sheet?
Because the MSPs who grow the fastest aren’t always the busiest. They’re the ones who build predictable revenue streams.
One Final Thought
Small business isn’t small. It’s everything. And the MSPs who serve those businesses best are the ones who think beyond projects and start building platforms of recurring value. You run your brand. We’ll run the tech.
If you’re exploring how voice fits into your stack, we’re always happy to talk through the model.
No pressure. No pitch.
Just a conversation about what’s working for other MSPs.
