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Two Ways to Pay for IT Support

Break-fix IT support means calling a technician when something stops working and paying for the time and parts to fix it. Managed IT services mean a provider takes ongoing responsibility for your systems, monitoring, maintaining, securing and supporting them for a predictable monthly fee.

Both models fix problems. The difference is when the work happens and who is responsible in between. This guide compares them on cost, response, security, downtime and planning. For the bigger picture, see what managed IT services are.

The Short Version

  • Break-fix: pay per incident, after something breaks
  • Managed IT: a monthly fee for ongoing care
  • Break-fix: no one watching your systems between calls
  • Managed IT: monitoring, patching and security included
  • Managed IT: one provider accountable for your systems

How the Two Models Compare

Break-fix pays for repairs. Managed IT pays for the ongoing work that keeps systems running and secure.

Break-Fix IT Support

  • You call when something breaks
  • Billed by the hour or per incident
  • Costs rise when problems pile up
  • No monitoring between calls
  • Updates and security depend on someone asking for them

Managed IT Services

  • Systems monitored around the clock
  • A predictable monthly fee based on the devices managed
  • Security patching and endpoint protection included
  • A help desk your employees can call
  • Regular reviews and planning

Why Break-Fix Can Cost More Than It Looks

Break-fix looks inexpensive in a quiet month. The real cost shows up when something fails: the repair bill, the hours employees cannot work and the rush to restore data. Because a break-fix provider is paid per problem, it has little reason to prevent problems, and routine work such as updates and backup checks often slips.

Failures also tend to happen at bad times, such as a deadline, a busy season or the end of the month. To see what an hour without your systems costs, use our guide to the cost of IT downtime.

What Managed IT Adds

A managed IT provider monitors your devices around the clock, applies security patches on a schedule, manages endpoint protection and gives employees a help desk to call. See remote monitoring and management and our 24/7 help desk.

Because the monthly fee covers the ongoing work, the provider has every reason to keep your systems stable. TechStarters prices managed IT per device, with an annual or month-to-month agreement; see how managed IT pricing works.

Which Model Fits Your Business?

Break-Fix May Be Enough

  • A very small office with only a few devices
  • No sensitive data or compliance requirements
  • Little day-to-day dependence on technology
  • Someone on staff who handles basic IT tasks

Managed IT Usually Fits Better

  • Employees who cannot work when systems are down
  • Sensitive data, compliance or cyber insurance requirements
  • Several locations or remote employees
  • Growth, new hires or new systems on the way
  • A need for predictable IT costs

Moving From Break-Fix to Managed IT

The move usually starts with an assessment of your current systems, security and backups, followed by a written proposal. Onboarding then documents your environment, connects monitoring and security tools and introduces employees to the help desk.

If you are comparing providers, read the questions to ask a managed IT provider. If you already have one, see how to switch managed IT providers. Still deciding? See the signs your business needs managed IT.

Break-Fix vs. Managed IT FAQs

Is break-fix IT support cheaper than managed IT?

In a month with no problems, it can be. Over a year, repairs, emergency work and downtime add up, and break-fix pricing is hard to budget. Compare a full year of break-fix costs with a written managed IT proposal. Our IT budget planning guide shows what else to include.

What does managed IT include that break-fix does not?

Ongoing monitoring, scheduled security patching, endpoint protection, a help desk and regular planning. Break-fix covers the repair itself.

Do we have to sign a long-term contract for managed IT?

Not with TechStarters. You can choose an annual agreement or a month-to-month agreement.

What if we already have an IT person?

Co-managed IT lets your IT person keep the work they want to own while our team adds monitoring, security tools and help desk coverage.

How do we move from break-fix to managed IT?

Request a quote. We start with a free IT assessment and send a written proposal with per-device monthly pricing.

Explore Our Managed IT Services

Request a Managed IT Services Quote

Tell us about your business, your locations and your devices, and we will send a written proposal with per-device monthly pricing. Prefer to talk? Call (877) 932-0040.

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