IT Cost Calculator

How much should IT support cost your business? Compare managed IT, break-fix, and in-house hiring side by side. Based on real Raleigh-Durham market rates.

Number of employees

How often do your team have IT issues?

Your needs

Advanced cybersecurityEDR, email filtering, security training, dark web monitoring

Compliance requirementsHIPAA, PCI-DSS, SOC 2, or other regulatory needs

Understanding IT Costs for Small Businesses (2026)

IT is one of the most misunderstood line items in a small business budget. Some owners spend too little and pay for it in downtime and security incidents. Others overspend on in-house hires when outsourcing would give them more coverage for less money.

Here's how the three main models compare:

Break-Fix: Pay Per Problem

You call someone when something breaks. Typical rates in the Triangle area are $125-$175/hour with a 1-hour minimum. No monitoring, no prevention, no guaranteed response time. Costs are unpredictable — a quiet month might cost nothing, but a server failure could run $5,000+.

Managed IT: Flat Monthly Fee

A managed service provider (MSP) handles everything for a per-user-per-month fee. This includes 24/7 monitoring, help desk, patching, backups, antivirus, and typically some level of cybersecurity. Pricing in the Triangle ranges from $99-$199/user/month. The key benefit: predictable costs and proactive support that prevents problems.

In-House IT Hire

Hiring a full-time IT person makes sense at 75+ employees, but even then, one person can't cover 24/7 support, cybersecurity, networking, cloud, and help desk. Average salary for an IT generalist in Raleigh-Durham is $55,000-$85,000 plus ~30% for benefits. Most businesses under 75 employees get better value from managed IT.

The Hybrid Model

Larger SMBs (75-200 employees) often benefit from a hybrid approach: an in-house IT manager for day-to-day oversight, plus a managed IT partner for 24/7 monitoring, security operations, and specialized projects. This gives you local presence and expert backup without the cost of a full internal IT department.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does managed IT cost per employee?+

In the Raleigh-Durham area, managed IT services typically cost $99-$199 per user per month depending on the level of service. Basic plans (monitoring, help desk, patching) start around $99/user. Plans with advanced security and compliance support run $149-$199/user.

Is managed IT cheaper than hiring an IT person?+

Almost always for businesses under 75 employees. A single in-house IT hire costs $55,000-$85,000+ in salary plus 30% for benefits, tools, and training — roughly $6,000-$9,500/month. Managed IT for a 20-person company runs $2,000-$4,000/month and you get a full team, not just one person.

What's included in managed IT pricing?+

At Triangle Tech, our pricing includes 24/7 monitoring, patch management, antivirus, help desk support, and monthly reporting. Professional plans add security training, extended hours, and on-site visits. Enterprise plans include 24/7 support, compliance assistance, and a dedicated account manager.

Are there hidden fees with managed IT?+

With a good MSP, no. Watch out for providers who exclude things like after-hours support, on-site visits, or new employee setup. At Triangle Tech, our per-user price covers everything — no surprise bills.

What's the difference between managed IT and break-fix?+

Break-fix means you call someone when something breaks. You pay by the hour and there's no monitoring or prevention. Managed IT is proactive — we monitor your systems 24/7, apply patches, manage security, and fix issues before they cause downtime. It's a flat monthly fee vs unpredictable bills.