IT support for a UK small business typically costs between £150 and £3,000 a month, depending on team size and the level of service. Fully managed packages usually work out at £25 to £75 per user, per month.
What Does IT Support Cost for a UK Small Business?
The honest answer is: it depends on how many people you support and how much is included. But most small businesses land in a predictable range once you know which pricing model you're comparing.
As a ballpark: a micro business with 1 to 5 users typically pays £150 to £500 a month. A small business with 6 to 20 users typically pays £300 to £1,200 a month. A medium business with 21 to 50 users typically pays £800 to £3,000 a month.
These figures vary with the complexity of your setup and the services included, but they give you a starting point for comparing quotes.
What's the Difference Between Break/Fix and Managed IT Support Pricing?
Break/fix support (pay-as-you-go) charges you only when something breaks, like calling a plumber when a pipe bursts. Hourly rates typically run £75 to £125 an hour, plus call-out charges, with no ongoing monitoring included.
Managed IT support charges a fixed monthly fee per user or device, usually £25 to £75 per user, in exchange for proactive monitoring, maintenance and support. Costs are predictable, and problems tend to get caught before they become expensive.
A hybrid model blends the two: a smaller base monthly fee plus hourly rates for extras, which suits businesses with simple IT and occasional additional needs.
What's Included in a Managed IT Support Fee?
A managed IT fee typically covers: 24/7 monitoring of your systems, helpdesk support for everyday issues, regular updates and patching, cybersecurity protection (antivirus, firewalls, backups), strategic advice as you grow, and vendor management so you're not dealing with Microsoft or your broadband provider directly.
Seen that way, the monthly fee often works out cheaper than a single day of serious downtime.
What Does It Really Cost to Have No IT Support at All?
Trying to "make do" without professional support has its own costs: staff downtime fixing their own problems, an average cost of around £4,200 per cyber-attack for a UK small business, customers quietly moving elsewhere after unreliable service, and emergency call-outs that are almost always pricier than proactive support would have been.
How Do I Know Which IT Support Model Is Right for My Business?
Ask yourself: how many staff need support, do you handle sensitive customer data, how much downtime can you realistically afford, and do you prefer predictable monthly costs over occasional large bills?
For most small businesses with 5 to 50 staff, a fully managed package gives the best balance of cost, security and peace of mind.
How Do I Spot a Good IT Support Deal?
Look for clear pricing with no hidden extras, unlimited remote support, proactive monitoring included as standard, flexible contracts without long lock-ins, and a provider who understands UK business realities.
Most small UK businesses pay between £150 and £1,200 a month for outsourced IT support, depending on team size and service level. A micro business with 1 to 5 users typically pays £150 to £500 a month, rising to £300 to £1,200 for 6 to 20 users.
Usually, yes, over the course of a year. Break/fix rates run £75 to £125 an hour plus call-out charges, and costs spike unpredictably whenever something breaks, whereas managed IT smooths spend into one fixed monthly fee.
A managed IT fee typically covers 24/7 monitoring, helpdesk support, patching and updates, cybersecurity tools such as antivirus and firewalls, backups, and vendor management, all for one predictable monthly price.
Quick Recap
- Break/fix support costs £75 to £125 an hour plus call-outs, with no monitoring included.
- Managed IT support runs £25 to £75 per user, per month, with monitoring, security and helpdesk bundled in.
- Typical monthly spend: £150 to £500 (micro), £300 to £1,200 (small), £800 to £3,000 (medium).
- The average UK small business cyber-attack costs around £4,200, often more than a year of managed support.
- Harmony IT runs true rolling monthly contracts with no minimum term; the setup fee is £47 to £77.
Need Support? Want a clear, no-obligation quote for your business? Get in touch with the Harmony IT team and we'll tell you exactly what good support should cost, no jargon, no hidden fees.