Tech, trust and transformation: Brian Mauch on building BMC Networks from solo practice to industry leader
Témoignages de clients · 20 oct. 2025
Brian Mauch founded BMC Networks in 1997, growing it from a one-person consultancy to a 35-employee managed IT services provider specializing in the legal industry. Today, as part of TELUS Business, BMC's legacy of innovation continues to shape legal tech services. In this interview, Mauch shares insights on building a successful managed IT company and the role of technology in enabling business growth.
What inspired you to start BMC Networks?
Mauch: I graduated from university with degrees in both law and business, along with a strong interest in computers. I blame this on my mother – she got me a Commodore 64 when I was very young because she had the foresight to predict that computers would one day be an integral part of business. This sent me down the path to being tech support for friends and family. All my summer jobs through school were computer related.
I realized that a legal career wasn't going to be like the LA Law reruns I'd been watching and wanted to do something that combined my education with my interest in technology. I saw that law firms were slow to adopt technology but there was a clear need as they discovered that other industries were using computers successfully. Recognizing that law firms had unique technological needs and were at the early stages of digital transformation, I decided to start a business specializing in IT services for the legal sector.
How were the early days of the business?
Mauch: I started out as Brian Mauch Consulting, offering hourly IT support to law firms on an as-needed basis. I sat around waiting for the phone to ring a lot. Work would come in waves and then it would be quiet and I had to get used to that up and down flow of small business. An interesting turning point came five months in when my girlfriend, now wife, won a trip to Hawaii. I hadn't considered the need to have backup support for the business until then. Hiring my first contractor to cover while I was away opened my eyes to new possibilities for growth. What started as a practical solution for a vacation turned into the first step toward building something bigger than myself.
What were the key challenges law firms were facing with technology at that time?
Mauch: Most firms, especially small and mid-size firms, did not have an IT department at the time. They had a need for IT knowledge but weren't large enough to hire a full-time IT person. The legal industry was also in its infancy when it came to technology. There were accounting applications out there, maybe some very basic document management, but there was a lot of development of new systems. Lawyers knew that they could probably be more efficient and productive, serve more clients and ultimately be more profitable if they adopted technology, but they needed someone to help them navigate this new landscape.
“Lawyers knew that they could probably be more efficient and productive, serve more clients and ultimately be more profitable if they adopted technology, but they needed someone to help them navigate this new landscape."
How did you approach growing the business in those early years?
Mauch: In the early days, I was content operating as a solo consultant with one contractor. Things changed when we had our first child, and I realized I needed better work-life balance. That's when I decided to start leveraging myself and grow the business. Fortunately, there was a lot of opportunity in the market. There was so much demand that I had been turning away new business. This was actually a good problem to have because it meant there was a proven market opportunity when I was ready to expand.
I then took the necessary steps to expand – hiring full-time employees, getting office space and setting up all the systems and IT infrastructure needed for a growing business. It was a significant transition, but it allowed us to take on more clients and projects.
How did technology enable your own company's growth?
Mauch: Technology came easy for us because we were a technology company. Our whole business model was about enabling businesses to use technology. I invested quite early in all the systems we could to make things more manageable for me and our team.
One of my first key decisions was getting a cell phone in 1997 when not everyone had them. I visited a local TELUS Mobility dealership and chose a phone number that we still use as our main line today, 30 years later. The universal inbox came with an email address and a built-in fax number - cutting-edge for its time. As we grew, we continued adopting new technologies and scaling to manage our expanding client base and team. It's interesting to reflect on how our journey began with that first connection to what would become our future business partner. In a way, our recent evolution to become part of TELUS Business feels like we’ve come full circle.
What role did technology play in your business evolution?
Mauch: Cloud technology was a game-changer for us and our clients. We made the shift to cloud tools early on, which really helped us collaborate as a team and serve our clients more efficiently. We were set up for remote work thanks to these cloud systems. This allowed us to quickly pivot and help our clients make the same transition. We could say, "This is what's working for us. This is how we're still communicating and working together as a team. This will help your firm as well." It gave us credibility because we were walking the talk.
What was your biggest challenge in growing the business and how did you overcome it?
Mauch: Like many businesses, our biggest test came with the sudden shift to remote work in 2020. We found ourselves guiding customers through their own digital transformations while navigating market uncertainties. What proved invaluable was our team culture. Being technology-focused and highly collaborative by nature, we were well-positioned to help our clients make the transition while keeping our own team connected and effective.
Another ongoing challenge was taking on increasingly larger clients and projects. It's about having the confidence to take risks and face the unknown. Not everything works out, but you learn from every mistake. Having the right technology systems in place is crucial, but so is the willingness to stretch and grow. In business, you hope the successes outnumber the failures, and you gain valuable experience along the way.
“Having the right technology systems in place is crucial, but so is the willingness to stretch and grow.”
What advice would you give other business owners about managing growth?
Mauch: The number one advice I have is to find and participate in industry peer groups. You're not the first person to have a particular issue. Someone out there has faced it and gotten through it, and you can learn from their experience. We joined international peer groups, shared best practices and formed valuable relationships.
While technology solutions are important, they have to be implemented with proper change management. We often see businesses try to force new technology without preparing their team or understanding the impact. Technology has to be combined with the soft skills required for management.
I'd also encourage owners to invest in professional advice, from legal and accounting to business coaching. I've never regretted money spent on outside consultants.
Most importantly, learn to let go of control. Business owners often think they have to do everything themselves, but that comes with trust issues. Think about which responsibilities you can hand off first by considering which "hats" you're wearing and which hat you would pass off to the next employee you hired. If all goes well, you end up giving control to someone who does a better job because they can devote more time to it.
"While technology solutions are important, they have to be implemented with proper change management."
How do you think BMC Networks impacted the legal industry?
Mauch: We were one of the first in Canada to provide specialized IT services for the legal industry, becoming one of the first and ultimately the largest managed IT provider in this niche. While many IT companies opt for a generalist approach to cast a wider net, we found that our specialization was actually our key differentiator. It made us the go-to experts for law firms, facilitating referrals and driving our growth. My background in law gave us an additional edge, allowing us to truly understand and address the unique technological needs of legal practices.
We participated actively in the local legal industry community, joining associations like the Legal Managers Association and the Bar Association. The relationships and bonds that me and my team forged over that time were very important and those will last beyond business.
We also did some philanthropic work, including pro bono work for a local non-profit organization. I know our work was very much appreciated and it made our team feel really good to be doing that sort of work.
I think we played a significant role in helping law firms, especially small and mid-sized ones, modernize their operations and become more efficient through technology. We weren't just selling them IT services; we were helping them transform their businesses.
“We weren’t just selling them IT services; we were helping them transform their business.”
Looking back, what makes you most proud of BMC's journey?
Mauch: What makes me most proud is seeing how we supported employees in achieving their career and life goals. Whether someone stayed for 10 years or just a couple, I was happy if they learned something during their time with us. I'm also proud of the impact we had on our clients' businesses, especially seeing small and mid-size firms succeed and be happy with their progress.
Any final words of wisdom for other SMB leaders?
Mauch: Remember that you're not alone in your journey. Seek out advice, whether it's from peer groups, consultants or mentors. Embrace technology, but don't forget the human element – change management is crucial. And finally, don't be afraid to take calculated risks. Growth often means stepping out of your comfort zone, but with the right preparation and mindset, it can lead to incredible opportunities.
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