Geek Monkey

Break-fix computer repair runs $75-$150/hour. Managed IT services for small businesses cost $100-$250 per user per month, which includes monitoring, helpdesk, backups, and security. One-time projects (network setup, migration) are quoted per project. Get 2-3 quotes for any engagement over $5,000.

Break-fix means you call when something breaks and pay per incident. Managed IT is a monthly subscription where a provider proactively monitors, maintains, and supports your systems 24/7. Managed IT prevents problems before they happen and includes helpdesk support. Most businesses over 10 employees benefit from managed services.

If you have more than 5 computers, handle sensitive customer data, or rely on technology to operate, professional IT support is worth it. The cost of downtime, data loss, or a security breach far exceeds the cost of proactive IT management. Even a part-time managed service plan helps.

Check for relevant certifications (CompTIA, Microsoft Partner, Cisco). Ask about response time guarantees (SLA). Verify they have experience with your industry. Ask about their backup and disaster recovery process. Check reviews and ask for references from similar-sized businesses.

A Managed Service Provider (MSP) provides ongoing daily IT operations — helpdesk, monitoring, maintenance, security. An IT consultant advises on strategy, architecture, and one-time projects. Many businesses use an MSP for daily operations and a consultant for major decisions like cloud migration or system overhauls.

If your business stores customer data, processes payments, or would suffer significant loss from a cyberattack, yes. Cyber insurance covers breach response costs, legal fees, notification expenses, and business interruption. Many MSPs require or strongly recommend it. Premiums are $1,000-$5,000/year for small businesses.