Many small businesses still handle IT the break-fix way: call someone when something breaks, pay by the hour. It feels economical. Here is why it usually isn't.
How break-fix works
You pay only when there is a problem. That means your IT provider earns more when your systems fail, and nobody is paid to prevent problems, keep software patched, or watch for threats.
How managed IT works
You pay a flat monthly fee per user. Your provider monitors, patches, and secures your systems and gives you unlimited support. They make money when things run smoothly, so prevention is in everyone's interest.
The costs that don't show up on a break-fix invoice
- Downtime. When ten employees can't work for half a day, that costs far more than the technician's bill.
- Emergencies. Ransomware recovery or a failed server is billed at emergency rates, often in the thousands.
- Security gaps. Unpatched computers and missing MFA are invisible until there is a breach.
- Owner time. Someone in the office becomes the accidental IT person, at the expense of their real job.
Which is right for you?
If you have one or two computers and rarely need help, on-demand support can work. Once you have a team that depends on email, shared files, and line-of-business software every day, a flat monthly plan almost always costs less over a year and carries far less risk.
Use our pricing estimator to see what managed IT would cost for your team.
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Book a free 30-minute IT and security assessment. You'll get a written report with your top risks, whether or not you hire us.