IT support pricing guide
How much does IT support cost?
It's one of the questions we're asked most often, and the honest answer is: it depends.
UK businesses can pay anything from as low as £10 to over £100 per user per month, and two quotes that both say "IT support" can describe very different services. This guide explains how IT support is priced, what's usually included (and what isn't), why prices vary so much, and what poor IT support really costs your business. That way, you can compare quotes with confidence.
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What we charge
What does IT support from Your IT Department cost?
Our fully managed IT support, Your Workplace, starts at £600 + VAT a month for businesses with up to 20 users. Pricing is set in fixed monthly bands based on the number of people we support, so you know exactly what you'll pay each month. The more users you have, the less you pay per user.
For larger businesses with complex needs, or an existing IT manager or team, we put together a tailored quote based on what you already have in-house and what you need us to do.
It's important to remember that this is only the IT support element of your bill. Microsoft 365 licences, backups and hardware will add to your monthly IT costs with any provider.
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The UK market
Why do IT support costs vary so much?
IT support in the UK can cost anything from £10 per user per month to well over £100. Those are the extremes, though. Most businesses pay somewhere in the middle, and where you land depends on what's included, not just who's providing it.
Typical UK IT support costs at a glance
| Type of support | Typical cost | What it usually includes |
|---|---|---|
| Basic managed support | £30 to £50 per user per month | Remote helpdesk, software patching and business-hours support. |
| Fully managed support | £50 to £85 per user per month | Proactive network monitoring, security controls, backup management and routine onsite visits. |
| Premium / compliance | £85 to £150+ per user per month | 24/7 cover, compliance work such as Cyber Essentials, and strategic IT planning. |
| Ad-hoc / pay-as-you-go | £100 to £150 per hour | Reactive fixes, billed by time. Rates vary with engineer seniority and travel. |
These are typical ranges, not fixed tiers. Every provider draws the lines in different places, and location makes a big difference too. London prices, for example, are usually much higher than the rest of the UK, so national averages can look higher than what you'd actually pay in other regions. Treat these figures as a guide rather than a price list.
What affects the cost of IT support for your business
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Number of users and devices
The biggest single factor. Most providers price per user or per device.
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Minimum monthly spend
Most providers charge per user but set a minimum monthly fee, often somewhere between £350 and £650. That means very small teams usually pay more per head than larger ones.
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Your locations
How many sites you work from, and how far they are from your provider.
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Complexity
Hybrid working, cloud services, on-premises servers and specialist software all need more expertise.
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Response times
How quickly you need problems picked up and fixed, and whether that's guaranteed.
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How much you rely on IT
If downtime stops you trading, you need a provider set up to support that.
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Cyber security depth
Basic antivirus costs very little. Managed detection and response, 24/7 threat monitoring, email security and Microsoft 365 hardening cost more, and that's often where the biggest gaps between two quotes are hiding.
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Compliance
Standards such as Cyber Essentials, or the requirements of your sector.
Why IT support prices are rising
The biggest factor is people. Providers have to pay competitive wages to attract and keep skilled engineers, and the 2025 rises in National Minimum Wage and employer National Insurance added to that cost across the industry.
Licensing and vendor costs for Microsoft 365, security platforms and monitoring tools also continue to rise. Those costs are usually passed on or built into service pricing.
Expectations have changed too. Businesses now expect proactive monitoring, faster fixes and support across hybrid and cloud set-ups. That means providers are investing more in tools, automation and staff.
Finally, there's positioning. Providers offering account management, strategic IT advice and compliance support will charge more than those focused only on fixing problems as they happen.
The result is an incredibly wide range of pricing and two quotes that both say "IT support" can include very different things.
Ways to pay
Ad-hoc, pre-paid or managed IT support: what's the difference?
Before you compare prices, it helps to know what kind of IT support you're being quoted for. There are three main ways to pay, and they work very differently.
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Ad-hoc IT support (break-fix)
How you payBy the hour when something goes wrong, typically £100 to £150 an hour
You call when something breaks, it gets fixed and you get a bill. It can look cost-effective because you only pay when there's a problem. But with no monitoring or maintenance, things break more often, and the provider has little reason to stop that happening. There's no account management, no planning and no advice. Ad-hoc support is dying out because it doesn't give clients real value, or providers a stable business.
We don't offer ad-hoc support.
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Pre-paid IT support
How you payA block of hours up front, typically £85 to £120 an hour
This is still reactive, but you buy your hours in advance, often a minimum of 10 or 20. Depending on the provider, unused hours may carry over or expire at the end of the month, quarter or year. The provider makes more when you use fewer hours, so there's some incentive to fix things properly, but they share none of the risk. If a problem takes longer than expected, or more goes wrong, you buy another block.
We don't offer pre-paid support either.
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Managed IT support
How you payA fixed monthly fee
A partnership between your business and your IT provider, with one predictable price each month. Monitoring, maintenance and support are included, so your provider has every reason to stop problems before they happen. It's the only type of support we offer, because we believe in prevention rather than cure, and in sharing the risk.
This is what we offer.
But even "managed IT support" can mean very different things, and some providers offer several versions of it.
Comparing packages
Gold, silver, bronze: how managed IT support packages work
Under the heading of managed IT support, you'll find a huge range of offerings, sometimes several from the same provider.
Good, better, best
Many providers offer three packages. They might be called Gold, Silver and Bronze, or something more original, but they usually follow the same pattern: good, better, best.
There's some clever psychology behind it. Three options from one supplier can feel like three quotes, so you're less likely to look elsewhere. Typically there's a cheap option, the option the provider wants you to choose, and an expensive option with every extra you can think of, most of which you won't need.
How we do it
We take a different approach. Our complete service gives you everything you need, then we add other services only when you actually need them.
Notice the word "need". Not the latest shiny gadget, but things that help your business reach its goals and stay safe.
As businesses change so does our service. We add things as they become the standard you need, and we swap tools when better ones come along. You get what you need, not what we want to sell you.
What's included
What does managed IT support typically include?
Two managed IT support quotes can look similar on price but include very different things. Here's what to look for.
Included in almost every package
- Unlimited remote helpdesk support
- Remote monitoring and maintenance
- Some level of account management
- Some form of reporting
Often extra, so check the small print
- Onsite support
- Windows and software updates (patching)
- Microsoft 365 administration
- Support for business applications such as Sage, Xero or HubSpot
- Setting up starters and closing down leavers
- Technology reviews and IT strategy
- Minor installs and repairs
Generally, the less in the package, the cheaper it will be. If onsite support isn't included and an engineer needs to visit, expect to pay around £100 to £150 an hour. If new starters or Microsoft 365 changes aren't included, they'll be billed as extra work. That's how the lowest-priced quotes keep their "basic" price low.
What's included with us?
Our service, Your Workplace, includes remote and onsite support, patching, Microsoft 365 administration, business application support, starters and leavers, and regular reviews, all for one fixed monthly fee.
Quality and value
Cheap or good value? How to judge the quality of IT support
Price alone tells you very little about the quality of IT support. To put it plainly, very cheap support usually means fewer people solving your problems, and they may not be as experienced. But a higher price doesn't guarantee a better service either. What matters is what you get for your money, and how well it's delivered.
When cheap is enough
Affordability is part of every business decision. If your IT is very simple and you just want someone to call when something goes wrong, a sole trader or small provider may be all you need. If it takes a day to get back to you, or they're away for a fortnight, it doesn't matter, because nothing IT-related is critical to how you trade. In that case, paying £10 to £15 per user is perfectly reasonable. The risk is low, so the cost matches the value.
If your business relies on IT, ask any provider these six questions
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What are your guaranteed response times, and how often do you hit them?
Anyone can promise a fast response. Ask what percentage of the time they actually deliver it.
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How many issues do you fix first time?
Problems fixed first time mean less disruption, and fewer repeat calls for your team.
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How do you measure customer satisfaction?
A good provider tracks it on every job and is happy to tell you the score.
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Who covers when my engineer is on holiday or off sick?
A team with shared knowledge means you're never left waiting for one person to come back.
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What happens overnight?
Monitoring, maintenance and updates should carry on while your team is offline, so problems are spotted before the morning.
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How often will we review our IT and plan ahead?
Regular reviews mean your IT keeps pace with your business, rather than just being fixed when it breaks.
Whichever provider you choose, the cheapest quote isn't always the lowest cost.
The hidden cost
What is the real cost of poor IT support?
The cost of IT support is easy to see. It's on an invoice every month. The cost of poor IT support is harder to spot, because it's spread across your whole business: in lost time, frustrated staff and problems that keep coming back.
Work out your cost of inaction
Change the figures below to match your business. Your result updates instantly.
Everyone who uses IT in their day-to-day work.
We've used £20.81, the median hourly pay for full-time employees in the UK (Office for National Statistics, April 2026). That's pay only, before employer National Insurance and pension contributions, so your true cost is likely to be higher.
Think slow laptops, login problems, recurring faults and waiting for help.
Poor IT could be costing you
£10,821
a year
Based on 52 working weeks. And that's before you count missed calls, delayed orders or unhappy customers.
Where poor IT support costs you
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Lost productivity
Slow devices, recurring faults and time spent waiting for help, every day.
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Downtime
When email, files or key systems go down, your team stops and customers can't reach you.
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Lost data
Failed backups and accidental deletions can wipe out hours, or weeks, of work.
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Security incidents
Missed updates and poor housekeeping leave the door open to fraud and attacks.
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Unplanned bills
Call-out charges, emergency rates and extra blocks of hours quickly wipe out any saving.
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Wasted licences
Leavers' accounts left open and licences no one uses, still on your bill every month.
Signs your IT support is costing you more than it should
- The same problems keep coming back
- You wait hours, or days, for a response
- Your team has found workarounds, or asks a colleague instead of logging a ticket
- New starters wait for laptops or accounts
- No one has reviewed your IT with you in the last year
- Your IT bill changes from month to month and you're not sure why
That's why it matters who carries the risk when things go wrong.
Sharing risk
Why a fixed monthly fee works in your favour
Paying the same every month, whether you need much help or not, can feel odd at first. But think about who carries the risk when something goes wrong.
An example: the laptops that kept freezing
A handful of laptops in your office keep freezing, and Outlook crashes most mornings.
With break-fix support
You call your provider. An engineer connects, restarts a few things and clears some space. It works again, and you get a bill for an hour or two at £100 to £150 an hour. A few weeks later, it happens again on a different laptop. Then again. Nobody asks why, because every call-out is paid work.
With managed support
Monitoring has already flagged that the same laptops have failed their last few Windows updates. An engineer finds the cause, a stuck software update blocking everything behind it, fixes it and brings every device up to date. The problem doesn't come back. Because those laptops are over five years old, they're added to your replacement plan at your next review. There's no extra bill, because it's covered by your monthly fee.
The difference is incentive. A managed provider is paid the same each month. If your IT runs smoothly, their costs stay low. If things keep going wrong, their time and their margin disappear, so they're motivated to fix problems for good.
Put simply: a break-fix provider makes money when your IT fails. A managed service provider makes money when your IT works.
That's why we always say "We exist to make our clients' lives easier". It makes our lives easier too.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
How Much Does IT Support Cost?
How much does IT support cost in the UK?
UK businesses typically pay anywhere from around £10 to over £100 per user per month for IT support. Basic managed support usually costs £30 to £50 per user, fully managed support £50 to £85, and premium or compliance-level support £85 to £150 or more. Prices in London are usually higher than in the rest of the UK.
Where does Your IT Department sit on these price ranges?
Our core IT support is priced at the basic end of the market, but it includes things you’d normally expect from fully managed support, such as unlimited remote support, onsite visits, network monitoring and quarterly reviews. Support runs from 07:00 to 18:30, and 24/7 cover is available, priced to suit your business. Adding our managed security service, which provides 24×7 threat detection and response plus email security, takes you into fully managed. Adding Microsoft 365 security management, which covers settings such as multi-factor authentication and access controls, puts you firmly in that range. For compliance-level protection, we add Cyber Essentials support, vulnerability scanning, dark web monitoring and penetration testing, typically for less than the premium tier. Backups are a separate service, priced on what you need to protect. Our calculator quotes core IT support; security and compliance services are quoted separately.
How much does IT support cost per user?
Most providers price per user, per month. At the lowest end, around £10 to £15 per user usually buys basic, reactive help from a sole trader or small provider. Many providers also set a minimum monthly spend, often £350 to £650, so very small teams tend to pay more per head. Always compare what’s included rather than the headline figure.
What affects the cost of IT support?
The main factors are the number of users and devices, how many locations you have, the complexity of your systems, the response times you need, how much your business relies on IT, and any compliance requirements. The type of service (break-fix, pre-paid hours or managed) also makes a big difference.
Is managed IT support more cost-effective than pay-as-you-go?
For most businesses, yes. Pay-as-you-go support charges for every problem, so costs are unpredictable and the provider has little reason to prevent issues. Managed support gives you a fixed monthly cost, proactive monitoring and a provider who is motivated to fix problems for good.
What is the cost of poor IT support?
Mostly lost time. If 20 staff each lose 30 minutes a week to IT problems, at the UK median full-time hourly pay of £20.81, that’s around £10,800 a year. And that’s before downtime, lost data, unplanned bills or unhappy customers. Use our calculator above to work out your own figure.
Are there hidden costs with IT support?
Headline monthly prices rarely cover everything. Items that usually sit outside a support agreement include hardware, larger projects such as migrations, third-party software licences such as Microsoft 365 or Google Workspace, and onboarding or setup fees. With some providers, onsite visits or emergency call-outs are extra too. Ask for a clear list before you sign.
Is onsite support included in IT support?
It depends on the provider. Many lower-priced packages are remote only, and charge for onsite visits separately, typically £100 to £150 an hour. If your business may need an engineer on site, check whether visits are included before comparing prices.
How long are IT support contracts?
Most managed IT support agreements run for at least 12 months, and many businesses choose longer terms, such as 36 months, for stability. Ad-hoc and pre-paid support usually has no long-term contract, but you pay more per hour and get no proactive maintenance.
Can I reduce IT support costs without reducing quality?
Yes. Choose a package that matches what your business needs, rather than the biggest tier. Remove licences you no longer use, keep devices updated and replace them on a plan, and compare providers on what’s included, not just price. Proactive support also reduces costly problems in the first place.
How do I choose the right IT support provider?
Look beyond price. Ask about guaranteed response times and how often they’re met, first-time fix rates, customer satisfaction scores, who covers holidays and sickness, and how often they’ll review your IT with you. Genuine reviews and experience with businesses like yours matter too.
Is IT support worth it for a small business?
If your business relies on technology day to day, yes. Reliable IT support reduces downtime, keeps your team productive and protects your data. For very small businesses with simple IT, basic reactive support can be enough. As you grow, the cost of poor IT quickly outweighs the cost of good support.
Ready when you are
Let's talk about what you need.
Whether you're comparing quotes, reviewing your current contract or budgeting for IT support for the first time, we'll give you a straight answer on what your business needs and what it should cost.
- A no-obligation conversation about your IT and what you're paying now
- An honest view of what your business actually needs, and what it doesn't
- A Your IT 360° Assessment and Technology Roadmap as part of onboarding
- Our 90-day money-back guarantee on the promised onboarding, communication and service experience
Or call us on 0115 822 0200
Have a chat
I would definitely recommend spending some time with Your IT, having a chat, and considering whether they might be a good fit for your business. They've definitely been a very good fit for mine.