Many small business owners are not aware of the average cost of IT support services. The reason is because many organizations spread their IT support costs across departments.
For example, most business owners know how much their company spends on shipping. Yet, their shipping budgets may include tech support costs. Someone needs to maintain and troubleshoot tracking, inventory and logistics software tools. That work is an IT support cost.
As a result, companies frequently spend more than they realize on IT support services. So, let’s take a closer look at the average cost of IT support for small business owners and how you can save money.
Get all the Details on IT Support Costs From a Tech Support Leader
Why Is IT Support for Small Businesses Essential?
It should be no secret that small- and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) need IT support. Firstly, executives don’t have time to troubleshoot IT problems while leading the business. Secondly, IT helps employees access computers and networks necessary for work.
Support costs money, but not having it costs more in the long run. Consistent IT monitoring increases your network’s uptime. This benefit is important when you realize the minimum cost of downtime is $593 per minute.
Furthermore, small businesses are at a higher cybersecurity risk than large ones. Cybercriminals exploit the fact that smaller businesses usually have less protection measures. IT experts help you mitigate this risk while they support your users.
While IT support is essential and reduces overall IT costs, the average cost of IT support services varies.
Why Does the Average Cost of IT Support Services Vary?
IT support pricing can vary based on needs and service types. Paying the salaries of an in-house department will have a different price tag than purchasing service packages from a managed services provider (MSP). Your needs determine the size of your in-house IT department or the level of support you need.
Some independent IT consultants charge an hourly rate for their services. This can be a cost-effective option for businesses with low IT needs. In this case, the average cost of IT support per hour can be anywhere from $25 to $250 and complexity may alter this price.
This might work for a business that only needs periodic IT support. However, most companies prefer predictable IT support contract prices. IT consulting companies often work within service level agreements (SLAs) that clearly showcase the cost of IT support services the MSP offers.
Several factors determine your annual IT cost. Although, you can use this equation to get a ballpark estimate.
(Number of devices + Number of servers) × 25 hours of support each year × $100/hour
For example, a company with 8 devices and 1 server (9 supported devices) could predict an average annual IT operations cost of $22,500 (9 × 25 × 100).
Remember, this is a rough estimate. SLAs, salaries, and IT support contract pricing, if you decide to work with an MSP, will affect your bottom line.
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How to Save on the Cost of IT Support for Small Business Owners
1. Opt for Subscriptions
Software tools are constantly updating. This is a good thing. Frequent updates make these tools more secure and user-friendly. Yet, it can be a problem for people who bought software tools for a one-time cost. A new update might mean a new purchase.
Subscription models generally cover all future updates. Therefore, unexpected software updates won’t alter your annual budget. This means that even subscribing to infrequently used applications can reduce costs.
2. Utilize the Cloud
Cloud storage is trending in the business world for a good reason. Migrating your data to a cloud server saves storage space, utility costs and IT maintenance time. In fact, you can save approximately 15% on your annual IT budget by using cloud storage.
Cloud servers also protect you from data loss and increase your disaster recovery speed. If your local server is compromised, your cloud-based data isn’t significantly affected.
Considering each lost record costs approximately $141, data protection can lead to substantial savings.
3. Practice Proactive Maintenance
Proactive maintenance is more affordable than break-fix solutions. Encourage your IT support team to keep an eye out for potential and recurring issues. Let them bring these issues to your attention so you can collaboratively prioritize patches.
Initially, extra patching may seem like an unnecessary added cost. However, it comparatively costs much less than recovering from unexpected issues.
If you’re in the market for an IT partner, ask them how they approach proactive maintenance as it’s critical in today’s tech landscape.
4. Outsource IT Support
Generally, outsourced IT services cost less than an in-house department for SMBs. These services can provide remote monitoring, data migration, end-user support and more. Hybrid support is an option if you want to keep an in-house team.
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Get More Control Over Your IT Support Costs With Managed IT Support
A CompTIA survey reports that 46% of businesses who hire managed IT services enjoy a 25% cost reduction on their annual IT budget. This result makes sense. Managed service providers typically charge a predictable monthly fee to supervise a wide range of operations.
NetGain Technologies offers expert managed support for your small business. Our certified technicians can provide ongoing remote support across multiple departments.
All services come at a predictable monthly IT support contract pricing, making it easier for you to track the average cost of your IT.
Request a consultation to see how you can benefit from proactive managed services.
Featured Image Credit: Anna Tarazevich
