How much does IT support cost per user?
Most managed IT support providers in the UK now charge a fixed monthly fee per user. Industry guides for 2026 put typical prices at £40 to £150 per user per month, with most small businesses paying somewhere in the middle for a standard package. Premium packages with 24/7 cover or specialist compliance sit at the top of that range.
Here’s how our own pricing works, so you have a real example to compare against. All prices are per user, per month, plus VAT:
| Team size | AVAIO price per user |
|---|---|
| 1–10 users | £40 |
| 11–25 users | £35 |
| 26–50 users | £30 |
| 51–75 users | £27 |
| 76–100 users | £19.99 |
| 100+ users | Tailored quote |
Every band includes the same service. The only thing that changes is the price per user.
What should be included in IT support?
A good managed IT support plan should cover the day-to-day running of your IT, not just fixing things when they break. As a minimum, look for:
- Unlimited helpdesk support by phone, email and remote session - with no per-ticket charges.
- Remote monitoring and maintenance to catch failing disks, full drives and missed updates before they cause problems.
- Microsoft 365 management - users, licences, mailboxes and security settings.
- Anti-virus and backup management, checked and reported on.
- Regular reporting and reviews, so you can see what’s been done and plan ahead.
Our plan includes all of the above, plus third-party software support, a quarterly IT review meeting and 20% off on-site and off-site repairs.
What affects the price of IT support?
- Number of users. Bigger teams usually get a lower price per user.
- What’s included. Some “cheap” plans leave out backups, security or Microsoft 365, then charge extra for them.
- Response times. Faster guaranteed responses and 24/7 cover cost more.
- Servers and specialist systems. Some providers charge separately for each server or line-of-business application.
- Contract length. Many providers offer a discount for a 24- or 36-month contract - but you lose the freedom to leave.
How much does pay-as-you-go IT support cost?
If you don’t want a monthly plan, most UK providers charge £75 to £150 an hour for reactive, pay-as-you-go work. Our pay-as-you-go rates are £50 an hour for remote support and £80 an hour on site. For most businesses with more than a handful of staff, a monthly plan works out cheaper and far more predictable. Compare managed and pay-as-you-go support →
Hidden costs to look out for
- Set-up or onboarding fees. These can run to hundreds of pounds. We don’t charge them.
- Long minimum terms. A three-year contract makes it hard to leave if the service slips. Our IT support has no contract.
- On-site visits charged at full rate. Check the hourly rate and whether travel is included.
- Per-device charges. Pricing per device can quickly add up when staff have a laptop, phone and tablet each.
Is managed IT support worth it for a small business?
For most businesses with five or more staff, yes. A fixed monthly fee turns unpredictable IT bills into a known cost, problems get fixed faster, and preventative maintenance stops many issues happening at all. Businesses that switch their IT support to us save 59% on average.