How Managed IT Pricing Actually Works
Most MSPs hide their pricing because every business is genuinely different. We won’t pretend there’s a sticker price — but we will tell you exactly how managed IT pricing works, what affects your cost, and how we customize plans so you only pay for what you actually need.
Why We Don’t Publish Sticker Pricing
A 25-user law firm with sensitive client data, compliance requirements, and after-hours work doesn’t need the same IT services as a 25-user landscaping company. Same user count, completely different needs.
That’s why we don’t publish a flat “$X per user” number on our website. It would either be too high (and scare off businesses that genuinely don’t need everything) or too low (and not include things your business actually needs).
Instead, we offer a free assessment, build a custom proposal based on what you really need, and price it transparently. No bait-and-switch. No surprise invoices. You see exactly what you’re paying for.
What Drives Your Price
- Number of usersHow many people we support
- Servers & network gearPhysical and virtual infrastructure
- Service levelCoverage hours, response times
- Security requirementsIndustry, compliance, cyber insurance
- LocationsSingle site or multi-location
- What’s already in placeExisting IT person, current tools, infrastructure
The Common Ways MSPs Charge for IT Services
Different businesses fit different models. Here’s how to know what’s right for you.
Per-User Pricing
Flat fee per person, regardless of how many devices they use. Easy to budget. Good fit for businesses where each person has a phone, laptop, and desktop. Most common model for modern MSPs.
Per-Device Pricing
Flat fee per workstation, server, switch, etc. Better for businesses with shared devices (shop floors, schools, kiosks) or where users have fewer devices than the per-user model assumes.
Hourly & Block Time
Pay-as-you-go support. Best for very small businesses or those who need occasional help. No predictability and no proactive monitoring — more like “available” IT than “managed” IT.
All-Inclusive
Higher per-user price, but includes unlimited support, all the security tools, M365 management, backup, and projects. No surprise bills. Encourages calling early instead of waiting for emergencies.
Tiered Plans
Bronze, Silver, Gold style plans. Each tier includes more features. Be careful — sometimes the cheap tier is missing things you actually need (like cybersecurity or backup).
Project Pricing
One-time work like server replacement, network rewiring, or M365 migration. Fixed-fee, quoted upfront, separate from any ongoing monthly support cost. Always priced before work begins.
Customized to Your Business — Not a Cookie-Cutter Quote
When we put together a managed IT proposal for your business, we don’t just take a number off a price sheet. We talk to you about your real needs, look at your existing IT setup, identify what’s working and what isn’t, and design coverage that matches your reality.
Some businesses need everything — full helpdesk, cybersecurity stack, M365 management, backup, after-hours coverage. Others just need monitoring and occasional support. Some have an internal IT person we’ll work alongside instead of replace. Whatever fits, we customize.
How We Come Up With Your Number
Discovery Call
15-minute call about your business — users, locations, current IT setup, biggest pain points. No sales pressure.
Free IT Assessment
We visit your office (or do it remotely), look at your servers, network, workstations, and security posture.
Written Proposal
Itemized monthly pricing. What’s included, what’s separate, total monthly cost. No surprises later.
Compare & Decide
Compare with other MSPs. We’ll point out any gotchas to watch for. Pressure-free decision.
Common Pricing Questions
QWhy won’t you just give me a ballpark number?
Because “ballpark” numbers are often misleading and we’d rather be straight with you. A 15-minute discovery call gets you a real range that actually applies to your business. That’s faster than reading any article about MSP pricing.
QAre there startup costs?
Usually yes — a one-time onboarding fee that covers documenting your environment, deploying our monitoring tools, configuring security baselines, and migrating you off your previous provider (if applicable). Amount depends on complexity; we quote upfront.
QIs there a long-term contract?
Typical agreements are month-to-month after an initial commitment period. We have to invest significant work upfront to onboard a client properly — the initial commitment ensures we recoup that investment. After that, you can leave with reasonable notice.
QWhat if our user count changes?
Pricing adjusts month-to-month based on actual user count. Add a few employees, your bill goes up accordingly. Remove people, it goes down. We bill in arrears for the previous month’s actual users — no guessing.
QWhat’s NOT included in managed IT?
Hardware purchases (servers, workstations, switches), Microsoft 365 licensing (typically sold separately), large one-off projects (those are project-priced), and third-party software subscriptions. We can broker hardware and licensing for you, but it’s billed separately so you see actual cost.
QCan I get just cybersecurity, not full managed IT?
Yes — see our cybersecurity services page. We offer standalone cybersecurity for businesses that already have IT support but need security expertise. Other à la carte options are available too.
QWhat if we already have an IT person?
That changes the pricing significantly — usually for the better. Co-managed IT is a different (and typically less expensive) model where we augment your existing person rather than replace them. We’ll tell you which approach fits during the discovery call.
Want an Exact Quote for Your Business?
Free 15-minute discovery call. We’ll tell you what your business actually needs.