Budgeting for IT services is never easy for a small business. It is easy to assume that an IT department is made up of a team of nerds who answer all computer-related questions. IT services and systems are different, and a small business IT support does not have to be about a department.
IT services are all about providing the technical support that a business needs for devices like laptops, smartphones, desktop computers, IT systems support, secure data management, and storage. It also helps in maintaining servers, monitoring security threats, implementing new software, upgrading devices, and more.
IT Support Services Available and Their Costs
The level of IT support that a business needs will depend on the amount of data it handles, the number of devices, number of employees, and the need for software upgrades. The good news is that some IT services can be provided remotely or outsourced, and this negates the need for having an in house IT team.
One of the significant challenges that small businesses face is choosing the right IT support provider. To know more about this, you can read more tips on how to choose the best provider.
When it comes to small business IT support and their costs, here are some choices that such businesses can consider.
1. Outsourced IT Support
Outsourcing is the new way of handling different business functions, and IT support is not left behind. Though it might seem extravagant, outsourcing your IT needs is quite cost-effective because you will get expertise and experience that your business needs for less.
Small business owners can easily budget for the monthly expenses that the IT company will recommend for you. This is because the company will assess your information system and advise you on the kind of support your business needs according to your nature of business.
A good outsourced IT support company has well trained IT experts and always stays updated on the latest trends and systems as far as the tech industry is concerned.
Your business will enjoy the best IT support that will handle your needs more efficiently. The best thing is that, you will not have to pay for their training, your monthly budget remains the same.
IT support companies also assign specific technicians to specific accounts. This means the technician will, in time, become familiar with you and your IT needs, and this will give them the opportunity to offer customized services. You will also have somebody you can trust.
The cost of outsourced IT support varies depending on your IT needs, including the number of desktops and servers that your business uses. Small businesses can budget for between $1000 and $2500 per month. This is much cheaper than having an in-house tech team.
2. Self-managed IT Support
On average, according to payscale.com, the income that should be paid to an in house IT specialist is about $49,000.
This can even run a little over $50,000 per year or as far as $60,000 per year. If you want to hire a more experienced technician, you should be ready to part with at least $65,000 yearly. Should you choose to hire a support staff per hour, the pay can vary from $85 to $125 or more hourly.
These yearly payments go up when you include bonuses and allowances. If, for example, you pay your IT staff $45,000 yearly, add benefits that maybe total to approximately $13,000 a year. This is a total of $58, 000 annually or more.
Remember, with self-managed IT support, you should also budget for annual staff training because the IT industry is always changing, and for you to have the best support, your staff need to stay updated on the latest trends and technology. This can be very costly for small businesses.
3. Managed Services IT Support
Small businesses can also consider having their IT support monitored remotely. This kind of support is today available throughout the year at any time of the day or night. Managed services IT support is cost-effective and the right choice for small businesses.
These services charge a flat rate fee and provide active monitoring of your IT needs and maintenance of servers, remote machines, and desktops that a business uses. The best thing about this service is that companies can subscribe to only the services they need at the moment then gradually add to it as it grows.
This kind of service allows a small business to get excellent IT services within its budget because of the flat-rate subscription fee that is paid monthly. Another benefit of this service is that it is completely automated and will keep working 24/7, 365.
The system will monitor and maintain your IT system as you sleep and give you notifications on upcoming problems in good time so that you can fix them. The cost, just like the other services, will depend on your software, the number of users and machines.
The cost can be as little as $2-$15 per month per machine or more. Your monthly expenses, therefore, can range between $500 and $2000 per month, and this is quietly affordable for small businesses.
Rather than small businesses struggling to pay for costly IT support and getting overwhelmed in the end, they can choose a good plan that will give them the right IT services that they need within their budget.
Small Business IT Support Does Not Have To Be Costly
Whether you decide to have an in house IT team, outsource, or use managed services, your decision will be based on how IT affects your core ability and your bottom line too. Small business IT support services are today very affordable, and you will be able to find the perfect plan that suits your business IT needs and budget.
If you find this information helpful and would like to know more about IT services for your business, we have more for you. Explore our website for a chance to read and learn more.
Leave a Reply