How Much Does It Cost to Get IT Support?

One of the main business expenses that companies cannot really do without is IT support.

Technology is infused with just about every part of business operations, from creating a document to business email to keeping track of customers and orders. Without smoothly running IT processes, a company can suffer productivity losses, downtime costs, and lost business.

In fact, companies that are “digitally advanced” and make good use of technology do better in multiple areas than those that aren’t. According to a study by Deloitte:

• 38% of small businesses have seen an increase in revenue due to digital tools.
• Digitally advanced small businesses experience sales growth nearly 4x as high as less advanced companies.
• Small businesses that are digitally engaged earn 2x as much revenue per employee.

Gaining all those benefits means you need IT support to keep equipment running smoothly and help you take advantage of cloud and other digital tools for more productive workflows.

How much can you expect to pay for IT support? We’ll go through several estimates below, based upon the types of services you use.

Budgeting for IT Support in Chicago for 2021

The type of IT support costs you can expect differ according to your business approach. Some companies just get things fixed when they break – this is known as “break/fix” support.

Other Chicago area businesses take a more proactive approach to help reduce downtime and keep systems running efficiently. This is done through an ongoing monthly managed IT services plan.

A third type of IT support is on a project-by-project basis. Such as a company doing a major migration from on-premises equipment to a cloud-based environment.

Here are some of the services that go along with each type of IT support and what you can expect to pay for it in the Chicago area.

Break/Fix Support

Break/fix support is just as it sounds. When a computer or technology system goes down, you call for IT help to get it fixed.

This is a reactive IT support approach and may mean you don’t have a monthly service cost. However, being reactive instead of proactive can end up costing you more because breakdowns can happen out of the blue and need emergency response in many cases.

Taking a break/fix approach to your business IT management also can result in problems that could’ve been avoided with ongoing maintenance. You may also end up paying more by running outdated equipment.

You’re generally paying by the hour for break/fix support, and the cost of any parts is in addition to the hourly price. The hourly rate ranges between $125 to $ 250.

Monthly Managed Services

Monthly managed services include multiple support features that proactively keep your technology running smoothly. This type of support also includes a cybersecurity component that reduces vulnerabilities to data breaches and malware infections.

You get a predictable monthly cost with managed IT support, so you’re not hit out of left field with an unexpected technology expense.

Some of the many services that are included with a managed IT support plan are:

• Patch & update management
• Device maintenance
• Regular device tune-ups for performance
• Remote & helpdesk support
• 24/7/365 system monitoring
• Cloud backup
• Real-time threat hunting
• Dark web monitoring
• Cybersecurity package
• And much more

Basically, a managed IT support plan is designed to handle all your technology needs for one flat monthly price.

Managed services plans are flexible to business needs and range from $79 to $200 per user/device per month.

Project Work

There are times when you need IT help for a specific project. This might be a move to another office, where you need all technology expertly and securely moved and set back up.

Or it might be an expansion to remote workers, where you need to have remote security and support systems put in place along with user training.

Another common IT project is the need for custom application development to improve a company’s business processes and efficiency.

Because IT needs for projects can vary widely, the range that you can expect to pay will also have a wide range.

Most project work is typically quoted on a full project basis, rather than by the hour, although you may have to pay hourly for additional add-ons outside the project scope. IT providers will provide you with a full quote and then either ask for full pre-payment or have payment milestones, such as a portion up front and a portion mid-way through the project.

Pre-Paid IT project work can range from $1500 to $4500 or more, depending upon the scope of the project.

Get Flexible Managed Service Pricing to Meet Your Needs

ProdigyTeks offers three different levels of managed IT support plans to meet every company’s needs. We also offer competitive quotes for break/fix services and project work quotes.

Schedule a free phone consultation today! Call 312-600-8357 or reach us online.