Pricing Models
Per-Device Pricing
Monthly fee per managed device (computer, server, network device). Typically $75–$200/device/month for comprehensive management.
Best for: Most businesses — aligns MSP cost directly with your IT footprint size.
Per-User Pricing
Monthly fee per user, covering all their devices and accounts. Typically $100–$250/user/month for full management.
Best for: User-centric IT environments where employee experience is the primary measure.
All-Inclusive Flat Rate
Fixed monthly fee covering all IT support for a defined user/device count. Predictable budgeting; common for 10–100 employee companies.
Best for: Small and mid-size businesses wanting a single monthly IT invoice with no surprises.
Monitoring Only
Remote monitoring and alerting at $15–$50/device/month without full management. You handle remediation.
Best for: Businesses with some in-house IT who need 24/7 monitoring without full outsourcing.
Service Tiers
Basic (1–25 employees)
$500–$3,000/mo
Endpoint management, patch management, backup monitoring, and helpdesk for small businesses.
- 24/7 endpoint monitoring
- Automated patch management
- Managed antivirus and EDR
- Helpdesk support (business hours)
- Monthly security and performance reports
Growth (25–100 employees)
$3,000–$10,000/mo
Full IT management with network management, server administration, cloud management, and extended helpdesk.
- Server and network management
- Cloud infrastructure monitoring
- Extended helpdesk (8am–8pm)
- Quarterly IT strategy reviews
- Vendor management and procurement
Enterprise (100+ employees)
$10,000–$20,000+/mo
Comprehensive IT management with vCIO services, 24/7 NOC, on-site support, and strategic IT planning.
- 24/7 NOC monitoring
- Dedicated account manager and vCIO
- On-site support (scheduled + emergency)
- Compliance management (HIPAA, PCI, etc.)
- Technology roadmap and annual planning
What Drives the Cost?
Device Count
More devices = higher monthly cost. MSPs typically count all managed endpoints: workstations, servers, network devices, and mobile devices.
Service Scope
Basic monitoring (patching + antivirus) vs. full management (helpdesk + vendor management + vCIO) can differ by 3–5× in cost.
Helpdesk Hours
24/7 vs. business-hours helpdesk can add 30–50% to base managed services costs due to after-hours staffing.
Compliance Requirements
HIPAA, PCI-DSS, or CMMC compliance management adds $200–$1,000/month in additional documentation, auditing, and control management.
On-Site Support
Remote-only MSP services cost less; on-site visits for hardware issues add $150–$250/hour or a monthly on-site visit allotment.
Cloud Platforms Managed
Managing Microsoft 365, Azure, AWS, or Google Workspace alongside on-premise adds to the overall managed services scope and cost.
Rates by Location
| Region | Rate |
|---|---|
| 🇺🇸United States | $75–$200/hr |
| 🇵🇭Philippines | $15–$40/hr |
| 🇮🇳India | $15–$35/hr |
| 🇵🇱Eastern Europe | $30–$70/hr |
| 🇨🇦Canada | $65–$160/hr |
Pricing FAQ
What is included in a typical managed services agreement?
A comprehensive MSP agreement includes: 24/7 remote monitoring and alerting, automated patch management, managed antivirus/EDR, backup monitoring and testing, helpdesk support, vendor management, and monthly reporting. Ask specifically what is included vs. billed as T&M — many MSPs charge extra for on-site work, major projects, and after-hours emergencies.
How do I know if my MSP is performing well?
Key metrics: mean time to response (MTTR) for tickets, patch compliance rate (should be 95%+), backup success rate (should be 99%+), and uptime for managed servers and network devices. Quarterly business reviews with SLA compliance reporting should be standard in any quality MSP relationship.
Should I have an in-house IT person or use an MSP?
For under 30 employees, an MSP almost always delivers better coverage at lower cost than a full-time IT employee ($60,000–$90,000/year salary + benefits). At 50–100 employees, a hybrid model works well: one in-house IT coordinator + MSP for monitoring and helpdesk. Above 150 employees, building an in-house team becomes more cost-competitive.
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