About

Hi, I'm Benjamin Levisay. For more than twenty years I've worked where technology meets the people who have to use it: as a technical consultant for creative teams, a software product director, an author, an event producer and, most recently, a salesperson calling on local businesses.

When I worked for an independent Mac sales and service company, I drove up to ten hours to look after our clients. That taught me what small businesses need most: someone who knows the technology, explains it plainly, and has a real stake in their success.

Along the way, writing documentation and help systems became my specialty: books, user guides, built-in help, and the SOPs that keep a business running. I wrote The Small Business Tech Toolkit to put that help on paper. Porchlight is how I offer it in person.

Why the retro look?

You might notice this site looks like a 1950s diner. A lot of people find technology intimidating, and it doesn't have to feel that way. Back then, new technology was something to be excited about: friendly, a little fun, and built to last. That's the spirit I bring to the work. Real business technology still isn't a perfect, gleaming dashboard. It's pieces fitted together, and that's fine, as long as you keep a log and plan for the parts that fail.

How I work

• Plain English wins. If a plan or a product can't be explained simply, it isn't ready yet.
• Write it down. Good requirements, notes, and SOPs save more money than any tool.
• Count the real cost. Payroll is your biggest expense. A cheap tool that wastes your people's time isn't cheap.
• Test it for real. On a real phone, with a real person, before it goes out the door.
• You keep what we make. Your files, documents, and accounts stay in your name.

I'm based in Harrisburg, South Dakota, and work with clients remotely. Let's talk.