"How much is this going to cost me?" is the first question every business owner wants answered — and the one most IT companies are strangely cagey about. So let's be straight about it. This guide breaks down how small business IT support is actually priced in the UK in 2026, what's reasonable, and how to avoid paying for things you don't need.
The two ways IT support is priced
Break-fix (pay-as-you-go)
You call someone only when something breaks, and pay by the hour. Hourly rates for SME IT support in the UK typically land somewhere in the region of £60–£120 per hour, plus parts. It feels cheap because there's no monthly bill — until you have a bad month with three call-outs and an emergency, and the invoice makes your eyes water. Worse, there's no one watching your systems, so problems are only caught after they've already cost you downtime.
Managed support (a monthly plan)
You pay a predictable monthly fee and get proactive monitoring, maintenance and support included. This is where the industry has moved, because it aligns everyone's interests: your IT provider is paid to stop problems, not just to turn up after they happen. Pricing is usually either per-device or per-user, or a flat rate for very small teams.
What you should actually be getting for the money
Whatever the pricing model, a decent plan should include backups, security and antivirus, software and security updates, proactive monitoring, and responsive support when you need a human. If a quote doesn't spell these out, ask. Be especially wary of cheap headline prices that exclude the things that actually matter — backups and security are not optional extras.
Our approach: flat-rate, no surprises
For the 1–10 person businesses we work with, per-device pricing can get fiddly and unpredictable. So our Safety Net plan is a flat £100 per month for small teams: daily backups to our own Cramlington servers, silent updates, health monitoring and everyday remote support, with no long-term tie-ins. Bigger projects — a new server, an office move, a full Wi-Fi overhaul — get a clear, upfront quote before we touch anything. No billable-hour games, no surprise invoices.
How to compare quotes fairly
When you're weighing up providers, look past the headline number. Ask what's included versus extra, how quickly they respond, whether they're genuinely local (and can come on-site), and whether they tie you into a long contract. The cheapest quote that excludes backups and leaves you on hold to a national call centre is rarely the best value. For more on that trade-off, see our piece on managed IT support.