The price ranges provided are industry averages based on a recent IT industry survey conducted by a well-known and trusted independent consulting firm, Service Leadership, that collects, analyzes, and reports on the financial metrics of IT services firms from around the country.

We are providing this information to give you a general idea of what most MSPs and IT services charge and to help you understand the VAST DIFFERENCES in service contracts that you must know before signing on the dotted line. Please note that the actual price is not what’s most important but what you get for your money. There are many ways “cheaper” IT firms hide the true cost of their fees, and the lowest bidder might end up costing you a lot more than you bargained for.

With that in mind, here are the fee ranges for IT services and IT support for small businesses in Venice:

Hourly Break-Fix Fees: Most IT services companies selling break-fix services charge between $30 and $100 per hour, with a one-hour minimum. In some cases, they will give you a discount on their hourly rates if you purchase and pay for a block of hours in advance.

As we discussed, this approach works best for micro businesses not hosting or processing client data considered “sensitive,” such as health records, financial information like credit cards, Social Security numbers, etc., and that have very simple IT. This is not the approach a growing business with five-plus employees would want to choose.

Project Fees: If you are getting an IT firm to quote you for a one-time project, the fees range widely based on the scope of work outlined and the project's complexity. If you are hiring an IT consulting firm for a project, I suggest you demand the following:

• A detailed scope of work that specifies what “success” is. Ensure you document your expectations in performance, workflow, costs, security, access, etc. The more detailed you can be, the better. Clarifying your expectations upfront will go a long way toward avoiding miscommunications and additional fees, later, to give you what you REALLY want.
   
  
• A fixed budget and time frame for completion. Agreeing to this upfront aligns both your agenda and the consultants. Be very wary of hourly estimates that allow the consulting firm to bill you for “unforeseen” circumstances. The bottom line is this: it is your IT consulting firm’s responsibility to be able to accurately assess your situation and quote a project based on their experience. It would be best if you did not have to pick up the tab for a consultant underestimating a job or for their inefficiencies. A true professional knows how to consider those contingencies and bill accordingly.
  

Managed IT Services: Most managed IT services firms will quote you a MONTHLY fee based on the number of devices, users, and locations they need to maintain. The average cost per user (employee) ranges from $ 96.0 per month to $249.73 per month – and those fees are expected to rise due to constant inflation and a tight IT talent labor market.

Obviously, as with all services, you get what you pay for. “Operationally mature” MSPs typically charge more because they are far more disciplined and capable of delivering cyber security and compliance services than smaller, cheaper-priced MSPs.

They also include CIO (chief information officer) services and dedicated account management, have better financial controls (so they aren’t running so lean that they are in danger of closing their doors), and can afford to hire and keep knowledgeable, qualified techs vs. junior engineers or cheap, outsourced labor.

To be clear, I’m not suggesting you pay top dollar to get competent IT services, nor does paying “a lot of money” guarantee you’ll get accurate advice and responsive, customer-centric services.

Are you done with ongoing IT problems, downtime, and ineffective systems? Then it’s time you gave us a call and let us deliver the responsive, quality IT support you want with friendly, US-based techs who are knowledgeable and easy to work with.

Schedule your free initial consultation with one of our senior advisors by calling us at 941-493-5126 or clicking here.

On this call, we can discuss your unique situation and any concerns you have and, of course, answer any questions you have about our services and how we might be able to help you. We are also happy to provide you with a competitive bid.