Knowledge
Hub
Supporting SMBs with practical advice on Microsoft technology, business systems, cybersecurity, AI and IT strategy.
Explore expert guides, articles and customer success stories designed to help your business make smarter technology decisions.
SMB technology guides, without the jargon.
We are not a generic IT company. Truly SMB was built from the ground up for small and mid-sized businesses, and every guide, article and resource on this page is written the same way: for your size, your constraints and your budget, not for an enterprise with an IT department and a consulting retainer.
That is why this Knowledge Hub exists. Our SMB technology guides, articles and customer success stories come from the team that does the work, across 300+ SMB customers in three countries. No abstract frameworks, no vendor marketing, just what works at your size, what it costs and how long it takes.
Everything we do sits on two core services. Microsoft Business Central gives you one platform for finance, operations and reporting, so your team stops rekeying the same data between disconnected systems and you stop waiting until month end to know where you stand. Secure Managed IT Support keeps everything underneath it monitored, protected and properly supported, by real people on the phone rather than a ticket queue.
Because we work only with SMBs, we cover everything else a growing business needs on the way: security services, Microsoft 365 and Copilot, AI and process automation, Teams Voice, Azure, Power Platform, CRM and ongoing IT strategy through TrulyFIT. Most SMB technology problems are not caused by a bad product. They are caused by several suppliers each optimising their own corner while nobody owns how the pieces fit together.
Have a read, take what is useful, and if you have a question about anything here, get in touch. We are happy to talk it through whether or not you are looking to buy something.

Microsoft Business Central
One platform for finance, operations and reporting, with Microsoft Copilot built in. Fixed-price implementation, live in weeks.Secure Managed IT Support
Proactive monitoring, cyber security and fast, human support on simple per-user pricing. No ticket queues.
CRN Channel Awards 2025 winnerManaged Services Provider of the Year
Start here.
Three guides that answer the questions SMB leaders ask first about Business Central: what it costs, who should deliver it and how the project actually runs.

Steve BrooksMicrosoft Business Central Pricing Explained
Implementation, support and Microsoft licences: the three costs that make up your real budget, with our own prices published in full plus the fees other partners don't mention.

Steve BrooksHow to Choose a Microsoft Business Central Partner
The software is only half the decision. Five areas to dig into on industry fit, size, pricing, post-go-live support and SMB fit, plus the questions to ask before you sign.

Renee SunnarBusiness Central Implementation Roadmap: A Step-by-Step Guide from Discovery to Go-Live
What happens at every stage of a Business Central implementation, from the kick-off meeting through configuration, data, training and UAT to go-live in 8 to 12 weeks and the support that follows.

The Customer Who Found Their Own Software
A Preston road contractor replaced Sage Construct, then solved a brand new problem by reaching into the Business Central ecosystem rather than commissioning custom development. Nearly a year on, they are still adding capability.
The full feed.

Free Security Check: What Would Your Business Do?
A phishing email gets through. An alert fires at 3am. Someone pastes customer data into an AI tool. Answer 12 quick questions to see where the gaps might be, with instant results.

The Customer Who Found Their Own Software
A Preston road contractor replaced Sage Construct, then solved a brand new problem by reaching into the Business Central ecosystem rather than commissioning custom development.

Steve BrooksBusiness Central Implementation Checklist: How to Prepare for Success
What to get right before the project starts: choosing a partner, defining success, cleaning your data and preparing your team, plus a printable checklist to work through to go-live.

Steve BrooksMicrosoft Business Central Pricing Explained
Implementation, support and Microsoft licences: the three costs that make up your real budget, with our own prices published in full plus the fees other partners don't mention.

Steve BrooksHow to Choose a Microsoft Business Central Partner
The software is only half the decision. Five areas to dig into on industry fit, size, pricing, post-go-live support and SMB fit, plus the questions to ask before you sign.

Renee SunnarBusiness Central Implementation Roadmap: A Step-by-Step Guide from Discovery to Go-Live
What happens at every stage of a Business Central implementation, from the kick-off meeting through configuration, data, training and UAT to go-live in 8 to 12 weeks and the support that follows.

Matt KiernanAI Efficiency for SMBs: Why AI and Automation Work Better Together
As consumption-based AI licensing becomes the norm, inefficient use of AI starts to cost real money. Where AI belongs in a process, where automation is still faster and cheaper, and how to tell the difference.

Steve BrooksHow Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central and Copilot Work Better Together
Business Central holds the numbers, Copilot makes them answerable in plain language. Here is where the pairing saves real time across SMB finance and operations.

Tim RookesVirtual CTO Services: Do You Need One?
Most SMBs need technology leadership long before they can justify a full-time CTO. A look at what a virtual CTO actually does, when it pays for itself, and how TrulyFIT keeps the roadmap honest.

Steve BrooksWhy Growing SMBs Should Standardise on a Microsoft Technology Stack
Fragmented tools quietly tax a growing business. Here is why standardising on one Microsoft stack, Business Central, Microsoft 365, Copilot and Azure, removes cost, risk and friction as you scale.

Steve BrooksAI Agents for Business: How to Avoid Creating Tomorrow's Shadow IT
Teams are already building their own agents. Without ownership, data boundaries and a simple approval route, you inherit a new generation of shadow IT.

Tim RookesThe SMB Guide to Preparing Your Data for AI and Automation
Copilot is only as good as the data underneath it. A practical framework for getting SMB data accurate, structured and governed before you roll AI out across the business.

Hello People Solutions: AI and Automation Cut HR Admin by up to 50%
An HR consultancy modernised with Copilot, AI and automation, replacing manual compliance work and freeing the team for client relationships.

Ketley Brick: A Full IT Refresh That Restored Confidence in the Technology
Ageing devices and inconsistent software were holding a brick manufacturer back. Standardised hardware, Microsoft 365 and full domain integration gave the team a secure, reliable platform to work from.

Nuvo: Cloud Migration and Copilot Behind an Acquisition-Led Growth Plan
A fast-growing accountancy firm inherited legacy servers with every acquisition. Consolidating to the cloud, tidying licensing and introducing Copilot removed the complexity without losing the personal service.
Guides, tools and downloads.
Comparison guides, decision tools and briefing videos to help you choose and get more from your systems. Business Central first, with managed IT, cyber security and AI resources following.
✓ FreeSage & Xero vs Business Central
A three-way comparison of Xero, Sage and Dynamics 365 Business Central for growing SMBs choosing their next ERP.
🔒 Free with emailExchequer vs Business Central
Outgrown Exchequer, or worried about its future? See how Business Central compares and what a move means for your finance team.
✓ FreeQuickBooks vs Business Central
A practical guide to when QuickBooks still serves you well, and the point at which you have outgrown it.
✓ Free5 Signs You Should Switch to Business Central
Manual errors, disconnected systems, reporting headaches. How to recognise when your current system is holding you back.
✓ FreeHow to Land BC in 90 Days, Not Nine Months
The fastest, cleanest way to get value out of Business Central, and the traps that turn ERP projects into year-long sagas.
🔒 Free with emailMVP vs Full ERP, What’s Right for You?
Not every business needs everything on day one. Understand the difference between a minimal first phase and a full rollout.
🔒 Free with emailAll the Data, But No Insights? Reporting in Business Central
From standard reports on day one to Power BI and Jet Reports: the four layers of BC reporting and when to use each.
✓ FreeGet the Numbers Your Board Actually Asks For
From built-in financials to Power BI dashboards, what is available out of the box, what to extend, and where Copilot fits in.
✓ FreeBusiness Central, Your Questions Answered
Cost, timelines, data migration, training, support, the answers we give buyers before they sign.
🔒 Free with emailAn Overview of Business Central, Finance & Operations
A clear, practical walkthrough of how Business Central handles your day-to-day finance and operations.
🔒 Free with emailBC Immersion Briefing, Microsoft Copilot & AI
See how Copilot inside Business Central automates reconciliations, answers plain-language queries and creates sales orders.
Some resources are free to read, others unlock with your email.
Proof, not promises.
Reviews from the finance, operations and leadership teams we support day to day.
“I am honored to give a few words about my experience with Business Central and Truly Support. Business Central: Click & Done! Next Task Please! Truly SMB: Night or Day Truly help us figure out the way!”
“We implemented Business Central for our vendors, customers, and GL accounts, and the Truly SMB team was knowledgeable, considerate, professional, and amazing to work with.”
“The BC Support Team has always been exceptional with their timely responses, taking the time to understand our specific issues, and providing detailed instructions on how to correct those issues. Their support has assisted in making our processes more efficient, saving us time, and preventing delays.”
“I'm not normally a fan of putting all of our eggs in one basket, but trusting Truly SMB with consolidating our IT support needs, including ISP, IT support and Business Central, has worked brilliantly and has definitely been the right decision for us.”
“We have worked with Truly SMB from the very early days and can't rate their service highly enough. The whole team is polite, engaging and supportive when you contact them. A true partner to our business and would highly recommend their services for any size of company.”
“I used Truly SMB for a start up technology business to manage our hardware and software. Truly were great partner. Really flexible as we grew from a few Engineers to a multisite business. Their response to our changing needs was excellent. Thoroughly recommended and I will use again!”
Accredited, awarded and SMB only.
Everything in the Knowledge Hub comes from live SMB projects, implementations, migrations, security programmes and AI rollouts we deliver ourselves.
SMB technology, answered.
Short answers to the questions we are asked most about Business Central, managed IT, cyber security, Copilot and IT strategy.
What is Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central?
Business Central is Microsoft's cloud ERP for small and mid-sized businesses. It brings finance, sales, purchasing, inventory, projects and reporting into one system that connects natively to Microsoft 365, Power BI and Copilot. Our Business Central page walks through the modules, the reporting and how SMBs typically phase a rollout.
What is Business CentralShould we move off Sage, Xero or QuickBooks?
Usually when your finance system can no longer see stock, projects or customers in one place, and month-end depends on spreadsheets. Our switching page covers the signs you have outgrown entry-level accounting software, what migration involves and how we protect your history.
Why switch to Business CentralHow much does Business Central cost to run?
You pay Microsoft for licences and a partner for implementation and ongoing support. We publish support tiers with unlimited support, discounted day rates, bundled consultancy days and regular best-practice reviews, so the monthly cost is predictable rather than hourly.
See Business Central pricingCan we implement Business Central ourselves?
Yes. Our self-serve route gives smaller finance teams a guided, lower-cost implementation with our consultants on hand at the key stages. If your processes are more complex, our packaged implementation approach follows a fixed scope with defined phases and a go-live plan.
Go live on your termsWhat is included in managed IT support?
Helpdesk, device and patch management, monitoring, backup, identity and access management, plus proactive service reviews, for a fixed monthly fee per user. Our IT support page sets out response times, what sits in scope and how we onboard a business from an incumbent provider.
Your IT supportWhat security should an SMB have in place as a minimum?
MFA everywhere, patched devices, endpoint protection, email filtering, tested backups and user awareness training. Cyber Essentials Plus is a sensible baseline and a strong signal to customers and insurers. We are Cyber Essentials Plus certified ourselves.
Security servicesIs Microsoft Copilot worth it for a smaller business?
Copilot pays back quickly where your data is clean, structured and permissioned correctly, and disappoints where it is not. Start with an AI readiness review before licensing at scale, then roll out to the teams with the clearest repetitive workload. Our guide on preparing your data for AI covers the groundwork.
Microsoft CopilotWhere do AI agents and automation fit for an SMB?
Agents and Power Automate flows work best on documented, repeatable processes with an owner, clear data boundaries and an approval route. Without that governance you create a new generation of shadow IT, which is exactly what our AI agents article addresses.
AI & automationWhat is a TrulyFIT assessment?
TrulyFIT scores your business across six pillars, including business systems, security, communications, data and AI, then benchmarks you and gives a prioritised roadmap with costs and sequencing. The score takes about 10 minutes online, and most businesses score below 5 out of 10 first time.
What is TrulyFITWhich countries do you operate in?
Three: the United Kingdom, the United States and Canada. We are headquartered near Derby with a North American base in Liberty Hill, Texas, supporting 300+ SMB customers across all three markets.
Talk to an expertDo you support SMBs outside the Midlands?
Yes. We are a UK-based Microsoft Solutions Partner with 4 designations, working with SMBs nationally as well as across the Midlands. Our teams work remotely and on site, with named contacts rather than a ticket queue.
Talk with our expertsTurn the reading into a plan.
A TrulyFIT assessment reviews your systems, security and IT spend, then gives you a costed, prioritised roadmap, yours to keep.


