Tech help for your small business
Hi, I'm Matthew 👋 I build, fix, and look after the tech for small businesses, from email and websites to apps, spreadsheets, security, and AI.
Whatever you need, I can help. You get one person to contact for all of it, so you don't have to think about tech.
I work in English or Japanese (my Japanese is still a work in progress 🙂).
Everything I can help with
If you don't see it here, ask anyway.
Websites
- A new websiteA clear site that works on phones and tells people what you do.
- Website updates and fixesChange hours, prices, and photos, or fix whatever broke.
- Squarespace, Wix, and WordPress helpGet more out of the site builder you already pay for.
- Domains and hostingYour web address, renewals, and where your site lives, sorted out and written down.
- English and Japanese websitesOne site for customers in Japan and visitors from abroad.
Shops, registers, and online sales
- Shopify and online storesSet up or improve a Shopify, BASE, or Square Online store, with payments and shipping.
- Registers and card paymentsSquare, AirPAY, Smaregi, PayPay, and Stripe for taking payments in person.
- One system for the shop and the websiteProducts, prices, and stock kept in sync between your register and your online store.
- Inventory trackingKnow what's in stock and when to reorder, without counting by hand.
- Gift cards, coupons, and loyalty programsWays to bring customers back, run from the systems you already have.
Digital marketing
- Google Maps and Business ProfileMake sure people searching nearby find you, with the right hours and photos.
- Showing up on Google (SEO)Help the right people find your site when they search.
- Online adsGoogle, Instagram, and Facebook ads, set up with a budget you choose.
- ReviewsReplying to Google and TripAdvisor reviews, and asking happy customers to leave one.
- Blog posts and website writingClear writing about what you do, in English or Japanese.
Analytics
- Google AnalyticsSee how many people visit your site, where they come from, and what they look at.
- Knowing what your ads bring inTrace calls, bookings, and sales back to the ad or post that brought them.
- Sales analysisBest sellers, slow seasons, and what each product actually earns.
- Understanding your customersWho comes back, where they're from, and what they buy together.
- Reports and dashboardsSales, costs, and trends on one screen, updated on their own.
Design
- Logos and brand basicsA simple logo, colors, and fonts, used the same way everywhere.
- Menus, flyers, and business cardsPrint pieces that look like they belong to the same business.
- Photos for your website and menusEditing, resizing, and organizing the photos you already have.
- Slides and documentsPresentations, proposals, and price lists that look professional.
Apps and software
- iPhone and Android appsFrom the first idea to an app your customers can download.
- Publishing to the App Store and Google PlayDeveloper accounts, screenshots, review, and updates.
- Web applicationsBooking systems, customer portals, and tools that run in a browser.
- Custom tools for your teamReplace a clumsy process with something built for how you work.
- Taking over from a previous developerPick up existing code, servers, and accounts, and write down how it all works.
- DatabasesSet up, clean up, and back up the data your business runs on.
- Servers and cloud hostingAWS, Google Cloud, and the bills that come with them, kept under control.
- Connecting your systemsGet your website, store, accounting, and email sharing the same information.
Email, calendars, and messaging
- Business email setupEmail at your own domain with Google Workspace or Microsoft 365.
- Email that isn't workingMessages bouncing, landing in spam, or not arriving at all.
- Moving email to a new serviceSwitch providers without losing old messages.
- Calendars and schedulingShared calendars, staff schedules, and appointment reminders.
- LINE Official AccountSet up for businesses in Japan, where customers expect to reach you on LINE.
Everyday IT
- Computers and laptopsWhat to buy, setting it up, and moving everything over from the old one.
- Wi-Fi and internetFaster, more reliable internet, and guest Wi-Fi for customers.
- Printers and scannersGetting them working, and keeping them working.
- File sharing and cloud storageGoogle Drive, Dropbox, or OneDrive, organized so people can find things.
- BackupsSo a lost laptop or a dead drive isn't a disaster.
- Setting up new staffAccounts, email, and equipment ready on their first day.
- Choosing softwareWhich booking, accounting, or register system actually fits.
Security and accounts
- Passwords and password managersStop keeping passwords on sticky notes and in group chats.
- Two-step loginThe simplest protection against stolen accounts.
- Hacked or locked-out accountsGetting back into email, social media, and other accounts.
- Scam and phishing checksNot sure an email is real? Ask me before you click.
- Who has access to whatClose accounts when someone leaves, and know who can see what.
- Security checkupA plain-language review of where you're exposed and what to fix first.
Spreadsheets and data
- Excel and Google Sheets helpFormulas, formatting, and the spreadsheet that's gotten out of hand.
- Moving data to a new systemCustomers, orders, and history moved over when you switch software, with nothing lost.
- Cleaning up dataCustomer lists, inventory, and contacts without the duplicates and typos.
- Turning a spreadsheet into a real toolWhen the spreadsheet has become the system, make it a proper one.
- Budgets and financial modelsForecasts and what-if planning you can update yourself.
Bookkeeping and back office
- Bookkeeping setupBooks kept tidy and ready to hand to your accountant.
- Accounting softwareQuickBooks, Xero, or freee, set up and connected to your bank and store.
- Invoices and paymentsSend, track, and follow up on invoices without the manual work.
- Automating repetitive workIf someone types the same thing in every week, a computer can probably do it.
- Getting data out of PDFs and emailsOrders, receipts, and forms turned into rows you can use.
- Connecting apps with Zapier and MakeSmall automations between the tools you already use.
- Online forms and bookingLet customers book, order, or ask questions without a phone call.
AI
- What AI can do for your businessAn honest look at what's worth it and what isn't.
- ChatGPT and Claude for your teamThe right accounts, privacy settings, and habits.
- An AI assistant that knows your businessAnswers questions from your own documents, menus, and policies.
- AI in your daily workDrafting replies, sorting email, and summarizing documents.
- AI agentsAI that carries out multi-step tasks on its own, set up safely.
- Teaching your staff to use AIShort, practical sessions in plain language.
Advice and planning
- Fractional CTOTechnical leadership for startups and growing companies, without a full-time hire.
- A second opinion on quotesBefore you sign with an agency or developer, have someone check it.
- A tech plan and budgetWhat to fix now, what can wait, and what it should cost.
- Hiring developers and IT helpWrite the job post, interview candidates, and check their work.
- Moving off paperStep by step, at a pace your team is comfortable with.
- Anything elseIf it involves a computer, ask. If I can't help, I'll say so.
How it works
- 1
Contact me
Email me about what you need.
- 2
We talk it through
Before I start, I'll tell you what I'd do and about how long it will take.
- 3
I take care of it
I build it, set it up, or look after it, and you have one person to ask about anything tech.
Rates
- Monthly retainer
- A fixed monthly fee that covers up to a set number of hours of my time.
- Extra hours
- If a month needs more than that, the extra time is billed by the hour.
Email me for current rates.
A bit about me
I've been building software for over 15 years. I co-founded a startup that went through Y Combinator, and these days I also run the operations side of a drink company, so I know what it's like when tech is one more thing on a long list.
I live in Kamakura, Japan with my wife. When I'm not working, I'm usually playing tennis 🎾 or reading a very long novel.
Full background: CV
Questions
Do you use AI?
Yes, every day. It lets me get more done in less time. I still decide what to build, check the results, and fix things when they break.
What if I don't know what I need?
That's fine. Tell me about your business and what you'd like to be easier, and I'll suggest where to start.
Can you consult in person?
Yes. I can travel anywhere in Japan to meet in person.
Let's talk ☕
Tell me what you'd like built, set up, or looked after. I'm one email away.
matthew@aisatsu.co