When businesses are looking for IT support, one of the first things they ask is, “How much do managed IT services cost?” A fair question—and one that isn’t always easy to answer because the prices can vary widely based on your business’s needs and the complexity of the services needed.
Anyway, if you are not sure about the prices of IT services or want to reevaluate your current provider, this article will get you through it. Below you’ll find an in-depth guide with a pricing calculator and a checklist to help you estimate costs and choose the right provider.
What Does the Price of Managed IT Services Depend On?
Gaining an understanding of what influences pricing is the first step toward making an informed decision. Following are some of the key drivers of managed IT service costs:
1. Network Complexity
The more devices, locations, and servers you have in your business, the more complex it is to manage them. Larger, more complicated networks take more administration, time, and attention, which increases cost.
2. Support Needs
Do you need support 24/7? Is on-site support necessary, or will remote support suffice? Managed IT services that can offer you both will be more expensive but give flexibility should you need immediate assistance.
3. Cybersecurity Requirements
Advanced cybersecurity to protect your business from hackers, ransomware, and data breaches are more essential but at a cost. The firms with sensitive information, like healthcare or financial firms, need stronger security measures.
4. Backup and Disaster Recovery
You cannot afford to compromise one fact: your data should be backed up and recoverable in case of any disaster. The quantity of data to be stored and the speed required for recovery are factors that will affect your pricing.
Common Managed IT Services Pricing Models
The managed IT services come with a number of different pricing models, and understanding those will help you select which one works best for your business.
1. Per User Pricing
This is the most frequent pricing model, wherein you pay a flat rate per user or per device. It is simple: your IT support costs scale in direct relation to the growth of your business.
2. Flat-Rate Pricing
A predictable monthly fee that covers all your IT services. This model makes budgeting more predictable, but you must make sure that what you get with the flat rate will cover your business needs.
3. Tiered Pricing
Most MSPs have tiered services where higher-priced tiers offer fuller support or value-added services like disaster recovery or advanced cybersecurity.
4. Pay-As-You-Go
Some businesses prefer to pay based on consumption-that is, you pay for IT support as it is actually needed. While this may be feasible for a small business with very simple IT needs, it often becomes really expensive when actual emergencies arise.
Introducing the Managed IT Services Pricing Calculator
To help you understand what managed IT services will cost for your business, we’ve included a pricing calculator in our guide. This tool makes it that much easier to estimate costs based on your particular needs in a proposed solution.
Why Use the Pricing Calculator?
- Estimate Monthly Costs: Enter in the number of users, devices, and services required, and you will get a very clear estimate of what the IT service costs will be each month.
- Compare Pricing Models: Using the calculator, you will be able to contrast the costs of different pricing models, such as per-user versus flat-rate pricing.
The pricing calculator will provide you with a customized quote to match the needs of your business, be it a small startup or a developing enterprise.
How to Evaluate Your Current IT Provider
If you’re already working with an IT provider, this is a great time to see if you are getting the best value for your dollar. Businesses way too often waste money on services that they do not need or get very important services that are leaving a big gap in the operation.
We have enclosed a step-by-step checklist that will enable you to understand your current provider or compare a prospective one in great detail.
Key Areas to Evaluate:
- Support Quality: Does your provider provide fast response times? Are they there when you call?
- Service Customization: Is your provider tailoring their services to what your business will need?
- Security Expertise: Is your provider offering the level of cybersecurity protection your business requires?
- Pricing Transparency: Are you sure about what you’re paying for, and is the price reasonable for what’s being delivered?
Real, Actual Pricing for IT Services (Examples-Available in the Guide)
How much do managed IT services cost for businesses like yours? This guide uses real-world examples to show how to price different business sizes and industries for IT services. Whether it be a small accounting firm or a midsized engineering firm, you can get an idea about how services such as remote support, cybersecurity, and disaster recovery drive costs.
By using our pricing calculator, you can enter your own specific details to get an estimate more tailored to your needs.
Choosing the Right Provider—Pricing and Beyond
Understanding pricing is important, but it is not the only consideration when identifying the right IT provider. Here are a number of other considerations:
Support Quality
The speed and agility with which your provider supports you when problems arise can mean the difference between business continuity and downtown time that costs money and productivity.
Scalability
As your business grows, you will get an IT service provider to grow with you, adding services as you grow.
Security Expertise
Cybersecurity is more crucial than ever. Ensure your provider has relevant certifications and experience necessary in safeguarding your business.
Conclusion: Take Control of Your IT Costs
Understand, pricing for managed IT services does not have to be confusing. Applying our pricing calculator and checklist, you will be able to determine the cost, assess your current provider, and make an educated decision when selecting a new one.
[Download the Free Guide Now]
(Access the pricing calculator and checklist in order to start evaluating your options for IT service today!)
How i.t.NOW Can Help
With transparent pricing, i.t.NOW is committed to providing tailored IT solutions to fit the needs of any company, from the small to the large. With over 30 years of experience, we’d be delighted to help guide you in picking the right pricing model for your best-suited needs and services.
