How to choose a FileMaker consultant.
Choose the person who will touch the file, not the size of the proposal. The FileMaker system already runs the business. A good consultant can name the first bottleneck, the backup, and who reviews a production change. iRusty is Russell Haney in Brunswick, Georgia, working remotely. This page does not rank other firms and it does not cite a client.
Ask who does the work
Russell Haney reviews every engagement, price, and production change. If a firm cannot tell you who will open the file, you cannot tell who is responsible when a script changes.
Ask what they will not do first
A consultant who starts by replacing FileMaker has skipped the question. Rescue is the default when the file still holds the work. A rebuild is a separate decision.
Ask how evidence is handled
You should be able to start with redacted screenshots or a sanitized export. A request for passwords or the live file by ordinary email is a reason to stop.
Ask what “done” means
Done is a change you can see on the bottleneck you named, with a note of what was touched. It is not a slide deck and it is not an unattended AI write.
Common questions
Who should actually do the FileMaker work?
Ask who reviews the file and who is allowed to change production. At iRusty, Russell Haney reviews every engagement, price, and production change. A consultant who cannot say who does the work is a harder risk to judge.
What should the first project be?
One bottleneck: a slow report, a fragile script, a confusing layout, a broken import, or a stuck approval. A rebuild of the whole system is not a first project unless the file cannot hold the work.
What should I refuse to send?
Passwords, production files, and protected records do not belong in ordinary email. Redacted screenshots, a sanitized export, or a written description are enough for a first look.
What should you compare?
Use the answers you can check. Ignore claims this site does not make: certifications, review scores, and unnamed client lists.
| Ask | A useful answer | A weak answer |
|---|---|---|
| Who changes production? | A named person reviews the change. | “The team” or a model, with no name. |
| What is the first project? | One report, script, layout, import, or approval. | A full rebuild before anyone has looked. |
| What do you send? | Redacted examples. No passwords in email. | The live file and the admin password up front. |
| What happens to FileMaker? | It stays the system of record unless you decide to leave it. | Replacement is assumed. |
| Where is the work based? | A real place, and an honest statement if the work is remote. | A city that is only a keyword, with an implied office. |
iRusty is based in Brunswick, Georgia, and serves other states remotely. There is no second office. The first paid look at one problem is the $500 Rescue Diagnostic.
Start with the problem in front of you.
Get a fixed-price $500 Rescue Diagnostic, or book a free 20-minute call.
Call (912) 736-3477 · Email russellhaney@irusty.com
Send the problem, not passwords or production files.
After delivery, keep it healthy with a monthly care plan.