Growth and capturing net new business are high on the agenda for Boring Business Systems’ second hundred years.
Above: The Boring Business Systems team and guests pose for a photo to celebrate the dealership’s 100th
anniversary.
Few office technology dealers can match the legacy of Boring Business Systems, headquartered in Lakeland, Florida. Founded by Frank W. Myers in 1924 as a typewriter company, the dealership entered a new era in 1952 when Allan D. Boring joined as sales manager. Boring purchased the company in 1960, renamed it Boring Business Equipment, and later changed it to Boring Business Systems in 1980. With those changes came an evolution from a typewriter company to an office technology company.
Boring Business Systems started 100 years ago as a typewriter company.
Recently, I spoke with Par Sahota, the company’s president since 2020, to learn more about the dealership’s history and current initiatives. He succeeded Dean Boring, Allan’s son, who had been with the company full-time since 1967. Sahota, who has been in the office technology industry since 2004, joined the dealership in 2016 as vice president of sales, following stints at Ricoh and Zeno Office Solutions. His background on both sides of the aisle—OEM and dealer—provides him with a well-rounded industry perspective.
Par Sahota, president of Boring Business Systems, with Teresa V. Martinez, Polk State College District Board of Trustees,
and Dr. Angela Garcia Falconetti, president of Polk State College, during the 100th anniversary celebration.
Employee Commitment
Boring Business Systems’ transformation into an ESOP (employee stock ownership plan) in 2019 is central to its growth strategy. “That change will support the growth we want to see moving forward,” noted Sahota. “Employees are our shareholders, so we can’t stay where we are because it doesn’t help anybody. At the end of the day, you can only see the true impact of an ESOP when it grows, and it has to grow for our people to benefit.”
Although the company hasn’t acquired another business in over a decade, acquisitions remain a key part of its strategy. In today’s landscape, where private equity–owned mega dealers are overpaying for dealerships, Dean Boring’s decision to transition to an ESOP rather than sell to one of these mega dealers, potentially even one in his own backyard, was significant. “It’s a healthy business, and he chose to support his employees by saying, ‘You all can take it on and grow it,”‘ Sahota added.
With around 62 employees, Boring Business Systems strongly emphasizes talent retention, although retention challenges still exist. Sahota meets annually with each employee to review their ESOP statements and discuss how it helps secure a stable future by fostering a culture of shared responsibility, commitment, and financial growth.
Survivor, Innovator, and Family
Amy Wiggins, president of the Lakeland Chamber of Commerce, and Amanda Sikora Walls, board chair, present Sahota with a painting of Boring Business Systems’ building painted by a local artist.
During its September 100th anniversary celebration, a local paper described Boring Business Systems in three words: “survivor, innovator, and family.” Those words resonated with Sahota. “They summed it up so well,” he said. “Without our employees, without our family, I call it our Boring family, that’s the legacy. That’s who we’ve been as a company for 100 years. A lot of companies can’t survive. Survivor is key, and you have to keep changing to survive. You must innovate, make changes, and use different ways to support and grow that business. None of that is possible without family—it’s not just our people; it’s their families. That’s the glue that keeps the whole thing together. Hopefully, many people find their motivation because they’re supporting their families.”
Jon Boring, Dean Boring’s brother, spoke on behalf of the Boring family at the celebration.
Community Involvement
Sahota and Vincent King, Sr., chief development officer for Central Florida Healthcare, a long-time Boring Business
Systems client.
Boring Business Systems has a proven track record of competing effectively against larger competitors and various OEMs’ direct operations. “How we differentiate is our community involvement,” Sahota said, adding that this was something he learned from Dean Boring. “It’s not the product, it’s not just the service. It’s how well we are ingrained in this community.” Sahota serves on multiple boards, including a local hospital, and employees are heavily involved with organizations and nonprofits like the Chamber of Commerce and Rotary Club.
IT Services Excellence
IT services has been a bright spot for Boring Business Systems, which entered the market by acquiring a local IT company in 2012. Chris Hart, the former owner of that company, has since been key to expanding this segment. Boring’s copier reps also contribute by identifying leads and supporting the IT side. “Servicing [the] managed network services client base requires a different skill set than copier sales,” acknowledged Sahota. “We’re learning something new every day.”
The dealership aims to generate one-third of its revenue from IT, copiers, and service—and they’re close to reaching that milestone in IT. COVID-19 marked a turning point, with network management monthly recurring revenue nearly doubling since 2019, driven by remote and hybrid work. “People are also looking at cloud options much more,” Sahota added. “Cloud is no longer just a buzzword—it’s a real need that many businesses are fully leveraging now.”
Vendor Appreciation
Konica Minolta’s Laura Blackmer congratulates the company’s employees for achieving 100 years of excellence.
Boring Business Systems partners with multiple imaging hardware vendors, including Konica Minolta, Canon, HP, Lexmark, KIP, Brother, and Toshiba. Sahota highlighted the strength of its relationship with Konica Minolta, which spans over 40+ years. “Their people and relationships are even better than their products,” said Sahota, singling out Laura Blackmer, Konica Minolta’s president of dealer sales, for her leadership. “They are so good at understanding their dealers and getting in front of things and challenges to help us.”
The other imaging vendors also play an essential role for the dealership, depending on the market and the customer. (Boring Business Systems also has a presence in the Tampa market.) “There’s a place for each of these manufacturers,” said Sahota. “We’re looking at the right mix. The good thing about dealers is that we can mix and match instead of just sticking with one brand. We can make decisions to make it work for our customers.”
Phone systems represent another growing business segment. The dealership partners with Zultys VoIP phone systems. Its document management vendors include Square 9, Canon’s Therefore, and DocuWare. Another product segment that could play an expanded role in its offerings is mailing solutions. Currently, it partners with a third party for these products. “We’ve looked at potentially acquiring one of those companies and their customers,” revealed Sahota.
Again, it’s more about the service than the product when it comes to Boring Business Systems’ partners. “All these products do the same things in terms of functionality,” observed Sahota. “It’s not crazy different, but overall, it’s how well they service you. Our clients love that about us. We want the same thing from our vendors.”
What’s Next for Boring Business Systems?
Over the next decade, growth remains a top priority for Boring Business Systems. “We’ve maintained a team of 40 to 60 employees for the past ten years, but now is the time to expand,” Sahota explained. While acquisitions are part of the plan, he acknowledged that not every potential target is ready to sell on the same timeline as the acquirer. In the meantime, the company is focused on growing its net new business.
Whatever comes next, Boring Business Systems is well-positioned for the future with a solid foundation, savvy growth strategy, employee ownership, and strong community ties.
