Managed IT Support vs Break-Fix: What's the Difference?
Break-fix IT sounds cheaper on paper. But for most businesses, the hidden costs — downtime, breaches, lost productivity — make it far more expensive in reality. Here is the straight comparison.
Side-by-side comparison
A straight look at how the two models stack up across the things that matter most.
What does IT downtime actually cost you?
Based on average UK salaries of £30,000 per year (£75/hr per employee), here is what a single outage costs at different business sizes.
Estimates based on average UK salary of £30,000/year. Actual costs vary by sector, billable rates, and nature of the outage.
Which model is right for your business?
Use these scenarios to help decide.
You have 5+ employees relying on IT
Managed ITAt this scale, downtime costs more than a managed contract. One outage can cost more than months of support fees.
You store or process customer data
Managed ITGDPR obligations make proactive security and backups essential. Break-fix leaves you exposed.
Your business operates outside 9-5
Managed ITBreak-fix engineers typically work office hours. Managed support covers you around the clock.
IT downtime directly impacts revenue
Managed ITIf your team cannot work, you are losing money. A predictable monthly fee is far cheaper than lost productivity.
You are a sole trader with minimal IT
Break-FixIf you have one device and basic needs, occasional ad hoc support may be sufficient.
You have in-house IT expertise
Break-FixIf you have dedicated IT staff, you may only need specialist help for specific projects.
Ready to move to managed IT support?
We offer a smooth, no-downtime switch from break-fix or your current provider. Most businesses see a return on investment within the first three months.