Most small and medium-sized business owners understand how to reap the benefits of outsourced IT services from a managed service provider (MSP).
However, one significant challenge that prevents some companies from outsourcing their IT is the belief that the cost of IT support for a small business can be relatively high and prohibitive.
If costs are a concern, the only way to find out how affordable outsourced IT services are is by taking a closer look at the numbers.
Business owners who properly compare the cost of IT support versus in-house IT management may be surprised by the savings generated from relying on third-party support.
Let’s take a closer look at the average cost of IT support services to give you an idea of what you should expect to pay.
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The Benefits of IT Support
For small and medium-sized businesses, IT support is vital to the success of any company. Here are some reasons IT support is a good idea from a business standpoint.
Improved Efficiency
Having a professionally-managed IT system allows you to focus on your day-to-day tasks. Engineers can fine-tune the system to get maximum network speed and ensure any maintenance gets done. Faster networks enable employees to complete their work without issue and accomplish more during the working day.
Fewer Disruptions
Unmanaged or unmonitored networks are prone to outages that often go unresolved. These outages can directly impact your productivity. With dedicated IT support, you always have a team providing an immediate response to the disruption so you can get back to work.
Data Protection
Data has never been more critical to today’s businesses. That is why robust protection is a must. IT support staff keep your network safe from hacks and data loss due to significant outages. As network threats increase, your IT support team should stay updated on the latest threats and the tools to prevent them from impacting your business.
Cost Control
Networks require ongoing maintenance to function as intended. The question is if you will overspend on piecemeal IT services that sporadically fix problems as they appear or save money by having dedicated IT support that ardently prevents issues and rapidly resolves them.
The Average IT Support Cost for Small Business
The average cost for IT support for a small-to-medium-sized business of five to 20 users is between $500 and $3,000 per month (usually $125 to $175 per user).
However, that figure can be much higher or lower depending on your needs and a number of factors.
Some companies may spend as little as $250 per month on surface-level IT support services, while others have unique security needs or want strategic IT support planning services. These extras can bring your total up to $5,000 or more per month.
Factors That Impact the Average Cost of IT Support Services
Here are some factors that will affect the IT support cost for small businesses.
In-House vs. Outsourced IT Support
If you hire an in-house IT support staff, the costs can be as much as:
- $60,000 annually per employee
- $75,000 for a network administrator
- $80,000 for a business analyst
- $100,000 or more for an IT consultant or manager
These costs are why outsourcing to an IT support services firm may be a better solution for your business. Outsourcing gives you all of the benefits of a dedicated staff without the costs and hassle of hiring and organizing an internal team.
One-Time Support vs. Complete Managed Services
A more comprehensive managed service will cost more than hiring a technician to make a one-time appearance to resolve a single issue.
However, if your business heavily relies on your network for your workforce to be productive, a managed technical support service will save you a lot of money in the long run.
Cost Structure
The way that the company structures its IT service fees also matters. Some companies charge a monthly fee for the service, while others sell a block of hours or charge on a user-per-month basis.
For example, if you choose a monthly fee when you only need a few hours of service each month, you might pay more for the same level of service.
Let’s explore some of the most common cost structures that affect what you can expect to pay.
Flat-Rate
The flat-rate model typically includes a list of services for a set fee. The fee may differ depending on the services you need.
Break-Fix
Under this model, an IT provider performs services as requested and then bills the customer after completing the work.
Full-Time
Some businesses hire their own IT support rather than outsourcing it to third-party providers. Full-time support tends to be more expensive, which is why larger enterprises favor it.
Hourly Rate
Some firms choose to hire IT support at an hourly rate. For example, they may find they need 20 hours of IT support per week to manage ongoing IT needs.
Interested in learning more about IT support for small businesses? Check out these blogs: |
Get Insight Into the Cost of IT Support With The Isidore Group
Now that you understand the cost of IT support for small business and the advantage of outsourcing versus hiring an internal team, you need a technology partner that offers reliable IT support services.
As a leading managed service provider, The Isidore Group provides dependable technical support for small businesses in the greater Chicagoland area.
Bring superior IT support to your organization today by contacting us for more information.
