Creative Software Services
Creative Software Services (CSS Consulting) is a privately held, Iowa-based IT services firm founded in 1991 that provides custom Microsoft .NET software development, network and desktop infrastructure design and support, and per-computer managed backup and anti-virus subscriptions to small and midsize organizations in the Midwest.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1991
- HeadquartersNorth Liberty, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Creative Software Services does
Creative Software Services, Inc., operating as CSS Consulting, is a privately held Iowa-based IT services firm founded in 1991 that provides network and desktop infrastructure, custom software development, and managed services to small and midsize organizations primarily in the Midwest. The firm designs, installs, and supports wired and wireless networks, firewalls, routers, switches, and server virtualization using partners such as Dell, VMware, Cisco, Veeam, and Microsoft; develops custom software using C#, VB.NET, ASP.NET, and Microsoft SQL Server, including web services APIs, performance optimization, data migrations, and Xamarin-based cross-platform mobile apps; and delivers recurring managed backup and managed anti-virus/malware services with optional off-site replication and a per-computer monthly subscription model. The company also resells and supports 3CX VoIP phone systems with video conferencing, live chat, SMS, and Facebook Messenger integration as an add-on communications line.
CSS operates a sales-led consulting model, acquiring customers through its website, phone outreach, and direct engagement rather than paid marketing channels, and conducts engagements via a Listen-Design-Implement process. Revenue is generated from three streams: professional services project work for custom software development, project and contract work for network/desktop installation and support, and subscription recurring revenue from managed backup and managed anti-virus services billed monthly per computer with no long-term commitment. Its stated customer base is small and midsize organizations, with no named enterprise logos, no public pricing beyond per-seat managed services terms, and no disclosed revenue. The firm is founder-owned and bootstrapped, with no institutional funding, no acquisitions, no parent company, and no subsidiaries; the only material structural change on record is a 2011 rebrand from Creative Software Services to CSS Consulting.
Creative Software Services firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Creative Software Services
- Legal name
- Creative Software Services, Inc.
- Website
- https://cssconsulting.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1991
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Creative Software Services (CSS Consulting) is a privately held, Iowa-based IT services firm founded in 1991 that provides custom Microsoft .NET software development, network and desktop infrastructure design and support, and per-computer managed backup and anti-virus subscriptions to small and midsize organizations in the Midwest.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Creative Software Services industry classification
Industry- Product category
- IT Consulting and Managed Services
- NAICS
- Custom Computer Programming Services (541511), Computer Systems Design Services (541512), Other Management Consulting Services (541618)
- SIC
- Services-Computer Programming Services (7371), Services-Computer Integrated Systems Design (7373), Services-Management Consulting Services (8742)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Digital & Technology Transformation Consulting (BPAHACAH)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Software/Application Support (SaaS, Enterprise Apps) (BPAAACAC), Digital Workplace & Collaboration Consulting (BPAHAEAH)
Keywords
Where Creative Software Services is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- North Liberty
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices2 records
Markets served
Creative Software Services business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Custom Software Development Services: Partnering with small and midsize organizations to provide targeted, effective custom software solutions. Services include new software development, enhancement of existing systems, and providing development resources to organizations with existing development teams.
- Network & Desktop Services: Network design, installation, and support services including network appliances (firewalls, routers, switches), wireless networks, VoIP phone systems, and virtualization solutions.
- Managed Services: Recurring managed services including managed backup with off-site replication and managed anti-virus/malware protection with continuous updates and monitoring. Pricing is per computer with monthly fees.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Monthly | Managed Anti-Virus: Low monthly fee per computer with no long-term commitment |
| Subscription | Monthly | Managed Backup: Flexible pricing options |
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | Custom Software Development: Project-based pricing |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels1 record
Creative Software Services product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Creative Software Services (CSS Consulting) provides custom software development, network design and desktop services, and managed IT services (managed backup and managed anti-virus) for small and midsize organizations. Software is built primarily on Microsoft .NET technologies, while infrastructure services span firewalls, routers, switches, virtualization, VoIP (3CX), and ongoing support.
Product overview
CSS Consulting offers an integrated portfolio of three core service areas: Network & Desktop Services (network design, installation, virtualization, security appliances, wireless networks, VoIP phones), Software Development Services (custom software, mobile apps, web APIs, data migrations), and Managed Services (backup and anti-virus protection). The services are designed to work together, with managed backup and anti-virus being add-on security modules, and 3CX VoIP being a communication add-on. The company specializes in Microsoft technologies for software development and partners with major vendors like Dell, VMware, Cisco, and Microsoft for infrastructure solutions.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Network & Desktop Services Provides network design, installation, virtualization, support, maintenance, and management for business networks, including wired/wireless connectivity, firewalls, routers, switches, and storage systems for small and midsize organizations.
- Software Development Services Delivers custom software solutions including new development, existing software enhancement, team augmentation, Web Services APIs, performance optimization, data migrations, and cross-platform mobile apps using Xamarin Forms, built primarily on Microsoft .NET technologies.
- Managed Services Provides managed backup services with local/cloud hybrid solutions and off-site replication, plus managed anti-virus/malware protection with continuous monitoring, automatic threat definition updates, and ransomware detection for all networked computers.
- 3CX VoIP Services Installation, configuration, and management of 3CX VoIP phone systems including video conferencing, live chat, SMS, and Facebook Messenger integration for business communication.
Quantifiable outcome
- Fast recovery times - hours vs days in most cases
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use Creative Software Services
Customer profileSegments2 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Creative Software Services technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration1 record
Feature5 records
Creative Software Services partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Six partnerships are on record, tiered core.
- MicrosoftcoreMicrosoft Partner Network (MPN) Silver partner. CSS Consulting specializes in Microsoft technologies including C#, VB.NET, ASP.NET, Microsoft SQL Server, and Microsoft Windows Server environments.
- DellcoreSpecialize in Dell PowerEdge servers and Dell Optiplex & Latitude desktops. Strong vendor relationship for hardware procurement and support.
- VMwarecoreVMware virtualization technology partner. Provides machine virtualization solutions allowing multiple virtual machines on single physical hardware.
- CiscocoreCisco networking equipment partner specializing in firewalls, routers, and switches. Part of network infrastructure solutions.
- VeeamcoreVeeam Backup & Replication partner for virtual workload backup solutions. Used in managed backup services.
- 3CXcoreOfficial 3CX partner providing VoIP phone system installation, support and maintenance. Offers modern communication systems with features including video conferencing, live chat, and SMS integration.
Scale indicators3 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights4 records
Creative Software Services competitors and assessment
Company assessmentOthers
- TEKsystems:
- Datto (Kaseya): Provider of managed backup, security, and RMM software purpose-built for MSPs serving SMBs — comparable on managed backup/anti-virus service lines though Datto delivers productized software to MSPs rather than direct SMB services.
Direct peers
- Atomic Data: Minneapolis-based managed IT services and custom software provider targeting SMB and mid-market clients — comparable in scale, regional focus, and combined managed services + development offering.
- Core BTS: Microsoft-focused IT consulting and managed services firm delivering custom application development, infrastructure, and managed services — directly comparable on Microsoft .NET stack specialization.
- NexGen Networks: Small-to-mid regional IT services and managed services provider focused on SMB customers with similar network design, virtualization, and managed backup offerings.
- Beringer Technology Group: Regional IT services and custom software development firm serving SMBs in the Mid-Atlantic with network, managed services, and custom development offerings — closely comparable to CSS Consulting's three-pillar model.
Broad incumbents
- Rackspace Technology: Large managed cloud and IT services provider serving SMB through enterprise — overlaps with CSS Consulting's managed services and network infrastructure offerings at significantly greater scale.
- CDW: Major IT solutions and services provider covering hardware, networking, and managed services — comparable customer base (SMB/mid-market) and vendor stack (Cisco, Microsoft, Dell) though operating at far greater scale and breadth.
- Perficient: Large digital and technology transformation consulting firm delivering custom software, cloud, and managed services — broader scope but directly comparable on custom development and Microsoft-stack delivery.
- Insight Enterprises: Global IT solutions provider offering hardware procurement, managed services, and consulting — overlaps on Dell/Microsoft partnerships and SMB IT services delivery at a much larger scale.
Market position
Strengths1 record
Weaknesses1 record
Competitive moat3 records
Key risks4 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Creative Software Services social profiles
Digital presenceCreative Software Services financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Creative Software Services leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Creative Software Services funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Creative Software Services M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Creative Software Services
What does Creative Software Services do?
Creative Software Services (CSS Consulting) provides custom software development, network design and desktop services, and managed IT services (managed backup and managed anti-virus) for small and midsize organizations. Software is built primarily on Microsoft .NET technologies, while infrastructure services span firewalls, routers, switches, virtualization, VoIP (3CX), and ongoing support.
Is Creative Software Services a public or private company?
Creative Software Services is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Creative Software Services founded?
Creative Software Services was founded in 1991. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Creative Software Services based?
Creative Software Services is headquartered in North Liberty, United States, in the North America region.
How does Creative Software Services make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Custom Software Development Services are the primary driver. The others are network & Desktop Services and managed Services.
Who are Creative Software Services's main competitors?
Others on record are TEKsystems and Datto (Kaseya). Direct peers are Atomic Data, Core BTS, NexGen Networks and Beringer Technology Group. Broad incumbents are Rackspace Technology, CDW, Perficient and Insight Enterprises.
Does Creative Software Services have an API?
No public API is recorded for Creative Software Services.
What industry is Creative Software Services in?
Creative Software Services's product category is IT Consulting and Managed Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAHACAH, Digital & Technology Transformation Consulting, with a secondary code of BPAAACAC, Software/Application Support (SaaS, Enterprise Apps). Its NAICS code is 541511 and its SIC code is 7371.