What Is A Trunk Slammer In The MSP Space?
Last Updated: November 21, 2022

Helping B2B Technology Companies Increase Their Lead Volume.
Serving: IT, MSP, Cybersecurity, Software Dev, SaaS, ISV, VARs & More.
A trunk slammer is a slang term in the MSP world for a small MSP or break fix shop, usually 1-2 employees that provides low quality service, and is highly prone to going out of business.
Larger MSPs tend to use this term derogatorily to refer to these smaller MSPs because small MSPs tend to pop up and close down very quickly as they are confronted with the harsh realities of running an MSP beyond just the technical skill required or are unable to service customers at an adequate level. Whatever the case may be, trunk slammers tend to attract low-budget customers that are shopping on price and aren’t savvy enough purchasers to know the difference in price relative to value with a small shop vs. a more established MSP. These trunk slammer shops tend to mishandle the accounts or go out of business leaving their customers scrambling to find a new provider that can service their needs. This often leads them back to more established MSPs who are left with cleaning up the mess the trunk slammer made.

Trunk slammers tend to charge rock-bottom prices and call themselves MSPs, when in reality they are more often break-fix shops. $50 an hour could cover a full-time employee’s labor if they never had to sell or manage a business, but it’s nearly impossible to run a business charging those prices in the United States. There’s no room to purchase the adequate tools, insurance, marketing, or other necessities required to run an MSP at those prices. That’s where the joke comes in, it’s like a guy shows up at your house to fix your plumbing in a 15-year Toyota Corolla and pulls a few worn tools out of his trunk. You can be pretty sure that you’re going to wind up with a flooded basement.
Much like you wouldn’t want a flooded basement in your home, you don’t want one in your business. Be aware of the risks of hiring such a small shop. As the comments below illustrate they are unlikely to have adequate insurance, may be selling questionably sourced hardware, or present other risks to your business.


Share This Article
Hunter Nelson
2 responses to “What Is A Trunk Slammer In The MSP Space?”
-
-
Hunter Nelson
That’s fair, I added in a link to an article explaining what an MSP is.
https://www.atera.com/what-is-an-msp/
-
Recent Blog Posts
Aesopians E8 – How SaaS Companies Are Maintaining Brand Integrity and Operationalizing Growth with HubSpot Ft. Mohamed Hamad Of Third Wunder Agency
SaaS companies move fast—but if your branding and systems can’t keep up, growth can actually become a liability. In this episode of the Aesopians Podcast, host Hunter Nelson is joined…
The Ultimate Guide To ChatGPT SEO
Most SEO professionals are racing to understand how AI tools are reshaping visibility. But the biggest shift isn’t coming from Google—it’s coming from ChatGPT. As organic search volumes and conversions…
MSP Google Ads Costs and Pricing
You’ve heard Google Ads can generate leads quickly, but you’re not sure how much to budget, what kind of results to expect, or whether it’s really worth the spend. Many…
Aesopians E7 – Joining The Feel Good MSP Sales Training Program Ft. Brian Gillette
In this episode of the Aesopians Podcast, we sit down with Brian Gillette, founder of Feel-Good MSP and creator of the “Feel-Good Close.” If you’re an MSP leader who’s tired…
MSP Advertising Strategy: 3 Fundamental Approaches to Drive Real Growth
Is your MSP making effective use of your advertising budget, or are you weighed down too much by bottom of funnel advertising tactics that leave you in a perpetual cycle…
How We Save Thousands With Negative Keywords For MSP Google Ad Campaigns
Google Ads is one of the most powerful inbound lead generation channels available to managed service providers. There are few better moments to introduce your brand than when someone is…
Aesopians E5: From Tech To Rep: Year 1 In MSP Sales Ft. Ashton Fortuna
Most MSPs hesitate to move technicians into sales—worried they’ll lack the polish, confidence, or killer instinct to close deals. Sales is a different game. Techs solve problems with systems; sales…
SEO Not Working: Here’s Why
Lately I’ve been getting on more and more calls lately with people saying something along the lines of “we’ve been doing SEO or inbound for 6 months, 12 months, or…
Why SEO Investments Help Your MSP Weather a Recession and Keep the Door Open for New Opportunities
What happens to your pipeline when the phones go quiet, inboxes stay cold, and paid ads stop converting? That’s not a hypothetical. It’s what happens in a recession. Budgets freeze.…
MSP Marketing – How to Build a Strategy That Works
Let’s be honest—most MSP marketing doesn’t work.Not because the tactics are bad, but because they’re unaligned. What looks like a marketing problem is often a strategy problem in disguise. Most…
The 10 Best MSP SEO Agencies To Help You Grow Organic Traffic
If you’re searching for SEO agencies for MSPs, the list of generalists can feel endless—and underwhelming. Most SEO providers don’t understand the managed services space, much less the buyer behavior,…
Why Your MSP’s Online Marketing Efforts Are Failing
If you’re leading an MSP and investing in online marketing, you’re probably feeling a growing sense of frustration. You’ve put money into websites, content, ads—even hired an agency or two…
What Makes a Great MSP Website? 5 Examples You Should Follow
Your MSP website is more than just an online brochure—it’s a powerful tool for attracting and converting potential clients. But what makes a website truly effective in the competitive managed…
Case Study: Cold Start To 2-5 Leads Per Month Via Local SEO For MSP In Canada
Client Background A Managed IT Services Provider (MSP) in British Columbia, Canada engaged us to establish a professional online presence and generate a steady flow of inbound leads. Before working…
Aesopians Episode 4: Leading with Cybersecurity To Spark MSP Sales Conversations – Featuring Michael Bakaic Of Iceberg Cyber
In this episode of the Aesopians Podcast, Hunter Nelson sits down with Michael Bakaic from Iceberg Cyber to discuss how MSPs can use cybersecurity as a conversation starter to attract…
WordPress Out OF Memory Exceptions
Recently I’ve been dabbling in programmatic SEO. I got an idea of rolling out a landing page to attract search engine traffic from every major city in the United States…
Aesopians Episode 3 – Cold Email Marketing For MSPs Featuring Jeffrey Newton Of Cyft.AI
In this episode of The Aesopians Podcast, Hunter Nelson sits down with Jeffrey Newton, Co-founder of Cyft and former MSP sales and marketing leader, to discuss the realities of running…
Case Study: Sourcing 30+ Email Opt-Ins Per Month For Cybersecurity SaaS Startup Via Google Ads
In this case study we’ll share how we helped a Cybersecurity SaaS startup source roughly 30 email opt-ins per month via Google Ads to help fuel their email marketing efforts…
Aesopian’s Episode 2 – Streamlining SEO Content Production Featuring Raj Khera Of Make Media
In this episode of the “Aesopians” podcast, we’re joined by Raj Khera, a serial entrepreneur and the founder of Make Media, to discuss how small businesses can transform their approach…
Aesopians Episode 1 – Azure Cloud For MSPs
In the debut episode of Aesopian’s Podcast, host Hunter Nelson sits down with Matt Hache, an infrastructure consultant at PAX8 and founder of Neon Cobra, to explore how Managed Service…
Related Blog Posts
How We Save Thousands With Negative Keywords For MSP Google Ad Campaigns
Google Ads is one of the most powerful inbound lead generation channels available to managed service providers. There are few better moments to introduce your brand than when someone is…
Aesopians E5: From Tech To Rep: Year 1 In MSP Sales Ft. Ashton Fortuna
Most MSPs hesitate to move technicians into sales—worried they’ll lack the polish, confidence, or killer instinct to close deals. Sales is a different game. Techs solve problems with systems; sales…
The 10 Best MSP SEO Agencies To Help You Grow Organic Traffic
If you’re searching for SEO agencies for MSPs, the list of generalists can feel endless—and underwhelming. Most SEO providers don’t understand the managed services space, much less the buyer behavior,…
What Makes a Great MSP Website? 5 Examples You Should Follow
Your MSP website is more than just an online brochure—it’s a powerful tool for attracting and converting potential clients. But what makes a website truly effective in the competitive managed…
Aesopians Episode 4: Leading with Cybersecurity To Spark MSP Sales Conversations – Featuring Michael Bakaic Of Iceberg Cyber
In this episode of the Aesopians Podcast, Hunter Nelson sits down with Michael Bakaic from Iceberg Cyber to discuss how MSPs can use cybersecurity as a conversation starter to attract…
Aesopians Episode 3 – Cold Email Marketing For MSPs Featuring Jeffrey Newton Of Cyft.AI
In this episode of The Aesopians Podcast, Hunter Nelson sits down with Jeffrey Newton, Co-founder of Cyft and former MSP sales and marketing leader, to discuss the realities of running…
Aesopian’s Episode 2 – Streamlining SEO Content Production Featuring Raj Khera Of Make Media
In this episode of the “Aesopians” podcast, we’re joined by Raj Khera, a serial entrepreneur and the founder of Make Media, to discuss how small businesses can transform their approach…
Aesopians Episode 1 – Azure Cloud For MSPs
In the debut episode of Aesopian’s Podcast, host Hunter Nelson sits down with Matt Hache, an infrastructure consultant at PAX8 and founder of Neon Cobra, to explore how Managed Service…
Lead Magnets – What MSPs Need to Know
Introduction What if we told you that only 20% of potential leads are ready to call or fill out a form today? The remaining 80% represent long-term opportunities that most…
The Ultimate Guide to Hiring an MSP Marketing Agency
Are you one of the many MSPs struggling to attract new clients consistently? According to research conducted by MSP Dojo, a leading MSP sales consulting firm, approximately 85% of MSPs…
The Best MSP Sales Consultants: Increase Your Close Rates With These Options
Is your MSP’s growth stalling despite your best efforts? Are your sales numbers not where they should be, even with a solid team and a great product offering? If so,…
Top MSP White Label Content Providers
Are you struggling to keep your content pipeline filled with high-quality material that truly resonates with your target audience? You’re not alone. Managed IT service providers (MSPs) often face the…
Google Announces Upcoming Helpful Content Update
A potentially impactful algorithm update is set to launch next week according to Google. Google is leveraging innovations in detecting duplicate product reviews and other low-quality product review spam from…
TNHS Helps MSP Narrow Focus To Legal Sector, Launch New Advertising Campaign
AKAVEIL Technologies Inc. (AKAVEIL) is a small but growing managed IT services provider that reached out to Tortoise and Hare Software (TNHS) in May of 2022 for help with their…
Current State Of Demand For IT Services
One thing that has always amazed me over the past few years running an agency here is the inability of so many online marketers to see the big economic picture.…
Types Of Technology Companies
One thing I’ve somewhat struggled with since starting a marketing agency for technology companies is getting a handle on all the various types of technology companies. When you’re working in…
Jacksonville SaaS Companies To Watch In 2022
Jacksonville’s SaaS scene is still in its budding stages relative to larger powerhouse cities like New York, Autstin, San Franciso, and Miami, but there’s still a small but growing cohort…
The 10 Best MSP Marketing Companies of 2025
If you’re looking to engage the services of an MSP marketing company, it’s always a good idea to shop around for the best on that meet the needs of your…
How To Choose The Right MSP Marketing Agency
Choosing the right MSP marketing agency is a pivotal decision for your Managed Service Provider (MSP) business. It involves evaluating various types of agencies that cater to different marketing needs…
Tortoise and Hare Software Featured On #JaxBusinessStrong Podcast
Running a business during coronavirus is a challenging task for companies in any city, and Jacksonville is no exception. There’s a lot of angst circulating about in regards to many…
Top Blog Content
The Ultimate Guide to Hiring an MSP Marketing Agency
Are you one of the many MSPs struggling to attract new clients consistently? According to research conducted by MSP Dojo, a leading MSP sales consulting firm, approximately 85% of MSPs…
The Ultimate Guide To MSP Website Optimization
A well-optimized website is essential for Managed Service Providers (MSPs) looking to scale their business, attract more leads, and achieve a lucrative exit. A lot of MSPs check a few…
The Ultimate Guide To Paid Search On Google Ads For Managed Service Providers
Generating leads for your MSP can be a challenge. You spend so much time managing employees, making sure customer support tickets are answered, procuring hardware, and defending against cyber threats,…
The Ultimate Guide To MSP SEO
Search Engine Optimization (SEO) is one of the most important ways to attract new business for mid-market managed service providers (MSP). If you look at MSPs that have achieved any…
The Ultimate Guide To Setting A Marketing Budget For IT Companies
Many IT companies get their start as a one-man operation and rely almost exclusively on word of mouth, referrals, and other organic offline means to get past their initial growth…
Featured Review of Tortoise and Hare

Tortoise and Hare has been a key partner in our MSP's growth. Over the year's we've worked together they've helped our MSP dramatically increase our website traffic, and build a steady stream of leads sourced from our website and advertising efforts. Over that time, we've been able to raise our base customer size, build economies of scale to more efficiently service customers, and expand into new markets.
Leave a Comment