The average cost of IT support services varies. It often depends on whether you opt for managed IT services or hire your own in-house team.
Regardless of which route you choose, your business needs reliable IT support to ensure its entire technology stack is running smoothly.
Having professional IT support prevents service interruptions and guarantees an excellent customer experience. Given the importance of IT support, it’s no wonder more businesses are making it a pivotal part of their operations.
In 2020, the global IT service market was valued at $715.93 billion, with over 77% of the market attributed to outsourcing. Between 2022 and 2030, the global IT support services market is expected to grow at a rate of 11.2% annually.
If your organization is considering investing in IT support, use our guide to compare service plans and gain a better understanding of the average cost of IT support for small businesses.
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What Is the Average Cost of IT Support Services?
For the average business, IT support costs vary drastically depending on several factors. Even among small- to medium-sized businesses, IT support depends on the industry, business model, and the number of assets to manage.
The top factors that determine IT support pricing are:
- Service level
- Contract type and length
- Individual provider costs
- Per user or per server pricing
The largest cost factor to consider is the extent of your support needs. IT support services can include some or all of the following:
- IT network setup
- Software updates
- Technical issue response
- System backups
- Threat monitoring
- Cyber security
- Website or portal maintenance
Managed IT support service providers structure service plans differently from business to business. Often, MSPs charge for their services based on the number of users per month or the number of servers.
Depending on the size of your business and the number of employees, your support costs may be billed either way.
In addition to deciding on the level of IT support needed, businesses must also consider how to retain IT services. In general, there are three IT support contract pricing options: recurring, one-time, or self-managed support.
Below we compare the three types of small business IT support pricing contracts.
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1. Recurring Monthly IT Support Contract Pricing
For businesses with ongoing IT support needs, recurring managed IT support contracts can give you the peace of mind that your support needs will always be covered.
Recurring contracts include high availability of full-time support throughout the contract duration, meaning your business never has to worry about costly downtime.
These contracts are billed at a flat rate, and businesses pay a monthly fee to retain IT support services. Though businesses can expect to pay more for this contract option, it’s also usually the most comprehensive choice, often involving preventive strategies and risk assessments.
2. One-Time IT Support Contract Pricing
If your business only needs supplemental or temporary IT support, your time and money may be better spent on a break/fix IT support contract.
Break/fix or one-time IT support allows small businesses to pay for only the services they need when they need them.
Going this route allows you to select how minimal or comprehensive you need your support to be. This is often beneficial if you have an in-house tech team but want a backup option or more in-depth support that can’t be delivered internally.
Businesses can purchase a block of hours from a provider to use over a fixed period. Alternatively, you can retain a provider’s services at an hourly rate or on a day-to-day basis.
3. Self-Managed IT Support Contract Pricing
Rather than outsourcing your IT needs to a managed service provider, your business can hire an in-house IT manager or team to take care of all or most of your support needs.
As with recurring IT support from a provider, an in-house IT support team guarantees your needs will always be taken care of.
Additionally, with an in-house team, you can rely on experts familiar with your business and who have a stake in its success. On the downside, the total cost of employment for an IT support team can be costly long term.
According to Built In, a leading resource for tech companies, the average US salary for an IT tech is $69,667. Factoring in related expenses, like insurance, paid time off, and other benefits, the cost to retain self-managed IT support can quickly add up.
It’s important to compare the total cost of retaining tech employees to the total cost of an MSP contract to know which option is best for your bottom line.
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The Average Cost for IT Support Per Hour
You can calculate an average hourly or monthly cost for each of the three IT support contract options. Below we compare the average cost for IT support per hour of each contract type.
- Managed service provider: To retain an MSP on a recurring or monthly basis, the average cost may start at around $1,000 per month with the ability to purchase additional blocks of hours for up to $250 per hour.
- One-time service: Since IT support contract prices vary, the monthly or hourly cost of a one-time service depends on how long you require support. In general, you can expect to pay $125 to $250 per hour or more for one-off support needs.
- Self-managed support: Given the national average salary of around $65,000 annually, an in-house team of IT techs could cost $31.25 per hour plus employment expenses, multiplied by the number of positions needed.
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Keep Your IT Support Costs Under Control With Steady Networks
Outsourcing your IT support services offers flexibility, reassurance, and the expertise you need to manage your small business with confidence.
Now that you understand the cost of IT support for your small business, it’s time to find a trustworthy partner that covers all of your technical support needs under one roof.
At Steady Networks, we provide optimal support for your small business through our proactive IT support services. You’ll benefit from rapid support that unburdens your workday while knowing what you’ll expect to pay with our predictable monthly fee.
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For more information on what our IT support can do for your business, contact us today to schedule a consultation and receive a free quote.
