Business IT support costs are easier to compare when you know what the monthly payment covers. A quote for fixing computer problems can look much cheaper than one that also includes security, updates and ongoing maintenance.
A starting budget
Allow roughly £55 to £85 per person per month, excluding VAT, for Ingenio’s support and device security, assuming one to three managed computers per person. Software licences, backup, hardware and projects are additional. These are illustrative planning figures; your estimate depends on your setup.
Our service is for businesses and charities with seven or more people. If you have your people and computer numbers ready, get an IT support estimate for your business. We’ll reply by email, so you can look at the figures before deciding whether to arrange a call.
How much does IT support cost per user?
Per-user pricing means charging for each person who needs help. Computer security can be a separate charge for each device: someone with a desktop and a laptop has two machines to protect. Count both.
For a straightforward office setup, the examples below combine support for your people with security for the computers listed. They assume remote support during our working hours. The figures are rounded and exclude VAT.
| People | Computers | Monthly budget |
|---|---|---|
| 10 | 10 | £550 |
| 20 | 25 | £1,200 |
| 40 | 50 | £2,400 |
A bigger team increases the number of users, but offices with the same headcount can have different bills. Shared computers, additional laptops, servers and office networks all change the work involved. Our guide to secure hybrid and remote working explains the controls to check when people work in several places.
Use your own numbers to plan the budget. Tell us about your people, computers and any servers or extra sites.
IT support pricing models: what are you buying?
Ad-hoc IT support
You pay by the hour when something breaks. Ad-hoc support can suit an organisation with few systems and someone already responsible for maintenance. Check the minimum charge, travel fees and availability before relying on it. Paying for a repair does not automatically buy monitoring or future updates.
Pre-paid IT support
You buy a block of hours in advance, usually at a discounted rate. Check when unused hours expire and which jobs consume them. This is still reactive support if nobody is checking your systems between requests, and a difficult fault can use up several hours at once.
Fully managed IT support
A fixed monthly fee covers agreed day-to-day help and ongoing care. A managed service should explain who handles proactive monitoring, computer security and patch management: installing software updates and checking that they worked. “Unlimited” describes the support package only within its agreed scope; it does not automatically include every project or purchase.
Some support companies sell a basic helpdesk subscription without the same maintenance or security work. Ask for the list of included services before comparing the total. If a proposal uses unfamiliar terms, our IT support glossary explains them.
Support alongside an in-house IT team
Outsourcing IT support can also fill gaps in your own team, such as specialist security or cover during absence. Compare the agreed responsibilities with the cost of employing, equipping and covering another person. This can make sense as your organisation grows, without replacing the people who already know your business.
What can add to the monthly cost?
Ask for these items separately so that your budget includes the full cost of IT support and the systems it depends on:
- Microsoft 365 and other software licences.
- Backup and recovery, including backup monitoring, retention and test restores.
- Hardware replacement, new equipment and installation.
- Servers, managed firewalls, Wi-Fi and additional office networks.
- On-site support, projects, compliance work and any agreed work outside normal hours.
At Ingenio, these sit outside the illustrative support and device-security budgets above. We identify them in your estimate where relevant. Website maintenance also needs its own scope: hosting, plugin updates and changing page content are different jobs from looking after staff computers.
How to compare quotes and avoid hidden costs
Give each supplier the same numbers and requirements. Then ask them to put these answers in writing:
- What are the support hours and response times? Does a response mean an engineer has reviewed the issue, started work or resolved it?
- Which security controls are included, and who checks alerts outside office hours?
- When does an on-site visit or a new starter cost extra?
- How do charges change when people join or leave, and are there minimum numbers?
- What are the setup fees, annual increases, contract term and notice period?
The National Cyber Security Centre’s guidance on protecting devices, accounts and backups is a useful checklist when asking who will handle those tasks. A proposal should name the responsibilities, including anything you must do yourself.
If you are collecting quotes, request an Ingenio estimate for comparison. We’ll explain what is included and what needs a separate allowance.
How we help
We provide managed IT support from Brighton, with clients across Sussex, Surrey and Kent. We support businesses and charities with seven or more people, including organisations that have grown beyond a small team.
Your estimate combines help for your people with security for your devices. Our service desk is open 08:00 to 18:00, Monday to Friday, excluding public holidays. Huntress provides specialist security monitoring around the clock; that is separate from our helpdesk hours.
We’ll ask by email if we need more detail about your setup, then confirm the scope and price before you sign. You can arrange a call when it would help.
Frequently asked questions
What is the typical cost of outsourcing IT services?
Outsourced IT support costs depend on the services included. Our planning band for support and device security is £55 to £85 per person per month, excluding VAT, assuming one to three managed computers each. Licences, backup, hardware and projects need additional budget.
What is the average hourly rate for IT support in the UK?
There is no single rate that covers remote fixes, specialist work and emergency visits. Ask for the hourly charge, minimum booking, travel costs and VAT treatment together. Our service uses monthly support agreements; the figures above are monthly budgets, rather than hourly charges.
Is Microsoft 365 included in the price?
Microsoft 365 licences and data backup are separate purchases in our estimates. Check this with every supplier: help using the software and a licence to use it are different things.
Does a larger business pay more per person?
A larger team usually has a higher total bill, but the price per person depends on the work involved. Additional sites, servers and specialist requirements can change it. Team size alone does not tell you which level of support you need.
Can I get an estimate without booking a meeting?
Yes. Send your people and computer numbers through our pricing form. We’ll prepare an estimate and reply by email. The service starts at seven people, and phone details are optional.
Before you choose an IT provider
Independent verification
Ingenio is certified by Assurix against security and operational controls. You can check our certificate on the public register.
Our 100-day money-back guarantee
From the day your service goes live, you have 100 days to make sure we’re right for you. If you’re not satisfied, we refund the service fees you’ve paid and release you from the remaining term.
Hardware and third-party licences already committed to on your behalf are not refundable.
Final thought
Before renewing or changing supplier, put the support fee and the separately charged items in the same budget. You can then compare the work each agreement covers.
We can help you put a figure against your own setup. 👉 Get an estimate for your business.
