Christopher Barber Embraced His Inner Nerd and Grew an Award-Winning MSP

Some MSPs focus only on fixing computers. Others redefine what it means to serve their communities and shape an industry. Christopher Barber, the Chief Nerd of Cheaper Than a Geek, has been doing the latter for more than 25 years.

Through his MSP in Maryland, Chris has combined humor, customer focus, and relentless advocacy to build not only a thriving business but also a legacy of service. His journey shows that giving back is not a distraction from growth. It may be the most strategic move of all.

Chris did not set out to create another IT company. In the late 1990s, while considering a career change, he built his first computer. A trip to a repair shop revealed something that would shape his future. The service was terrible. That moment sparked the idea for Cheaper Than a Geek: an IT company that would put customer experience first. More than two decades later, the company is still known for exactly that.

The MSP world is full of urgent calls, outages, and fire drills. Chris discovered early on that the only way to thrive long-term was with humor. “If you have a professional sense of humor around the chaos, you are okay,” he explains. “If you don’t, eventually you will burn out.” At Cheaper Than a Geek, every team member brings both technical expertise and a lighthearted approach. That balance has kept the company fresh and fun for clients and staff alike.

Over time, Chris’s passion for helping people led him beyond the help desk. He became active in chambers of commerce, workforce councils, and national industry groups. He never approached it with a business-development mindset. Instead, he focused on paying it forward and improving the ecosystem for small businesses and IT professionals. The payoff has been real: stronger candidate pipelines, better industry representation, and lasting professional networks. One of his proudest achievements is helping the National Society of IT Service Providers gain credibility and influence. The organization now has the ear of CISA, NSA, and DHS, ensuring that MSPs have a voice in federal cybersecurity discussions.

Cheaper Than a Geek is unapologetically human. Chris embraces humor and personality, even in job titles. Everyone on the team is a Nerd, from Operations Nerd to Super Duper Nerd. This approach filters out poor culture fits and creates a team that is both professional and personable. Clients see the authenticity and appreciate it. “If being called a Nerd offends you, you are probably not the right fit,” Chris says.

Chris also offers a practical strategy for MSPs looking to specialize. He recommends analyzing revenue by industry, then ranking those industries by ease of working relationship. For Cheaper Than a Geek, this process highlighted real estate. From there, Chris and his team dug deeper, talking directly with professionals in the field to understand their unique challenges. That insight led to tailored services that not only worked for real estate but translated into other industries as well.

Lessons from the Journey

• A bad customer service experience can be the best inspiration for a business.
• Humor is a survival tool in an industry full of emergencies.
• Local leadership and volunteering pay off in ways you cannot predict.
• Relationships with peers and policy makers can reshape the future of the industry.
• Embracing identity and culture makes your business stand out.
• Industry specialization can come from analyzing where revenue and ease intersect.
• Legacy comes from putting people first and creating clients who will never want to leave.

Chris’s story is a reminder that MSPs are not just in the business of uptime and tickets. They are part of communities, industries, and legacies. By showing up, speaking out, and keeping things human, you can grow a company that lasts.

If you are ready to take that next step, Gozynta’s Growth Program can help. Learn more at gozynta.com/growth-program.