Pricing Guide
What managed IT actually costs
Most IT providers won't put numbers on a page. We think you deserve to budget before you book a sales call, so here's an honest guide to the going rates: what the market charges, what moves the price, and how to read any quote you're handed, including ours.
The short answer
Across the industry, fully managed IT for small and mid-sized businesses runs about $100 to $250 per person, per month in 2026, and published rates in the Charlotte area cluster in the middle of that range. Hourly break-fix work typically runs $125 to $250 per hour, with big premiums for after-hours and emergencies. So a 25-person company generally budgets somewhere between $2,500 and $6,000 a month for full coverage, depending on the factors below.
$100-$250
per user / month, typical managed IT market range
$125-$250
per hour, typical break-fix market rate
15-25%
typical premium for month-to-month vs. a committed term
Market figures reflect published industry pricing surveys and provider rate guides as of mid-2026, including Charlotte-area rates. They describe the market, not a quote from us.
What the tiers usually look like
Providers package things differently, but most quotes land in one of three shapes. Per-user monthly market ranges:
Basic coverage
$80 - $110 /user/mo
Help desk, remote monitoring, and software updates. Security is usually thin at this level: standard antivirus, little else.
Security-inclusive
$110 - $175 /user/mo
Everything in basic, plus modern device protection (EDR), email security, backups, and multi-factor authentication rollout. Where most growing businesses should be.
Comprehensive & compliance
$150 - $250+ /user/mo
Full security program plus compliance support (HIPAA, PCI DSS, SOC 2 readiness), advanced monitoring, and strategic planning. Typical for regulated industries.
A warning that saves money: the cheapest tier often excludes the security and backups that prevent the expensive disasters. Compare what is included, not just the headline rate.
What moves your number up or down
Headcount and devices
Most pricing is per person per month. Larger teams usually earn a lower per-user rate: a 15-person company often pays more per user than a 100-person one for the same tier.
Security depth
The jump from basic antivirus to real layered security (EDR, email protection, monitoring, training) is the biggest single price factor, and the one least worth skimping on.
Compliance requirements
HIPAA, PCI DSS, CMMC, or client security questionnaires add documentation, controls, and audit work. Regulated businesses sit at the top of the range for good reason.
Servers and infrastructure
On-site servers, complex networks, and multiple locations add cost. Cloud-first businesses with simple setups sit lower in the range.
Support expectations
Faster guaranteed response windows and after-hours human coverage carry premiums across the industry. Be honest about what your business actually needs.
Contract terms
Month-to-month flexibility typically costs 15 to 25 percent more than a committed term. Neither is wrong; just know which one a quote assumes.
Our approach
How we price at Cohesive
We don't publish a rate card, for the same reason a good builder doesn't quote your house over the phone: an honest number requires seeing what you actually have. Here's what we do promise.
Flat monthly rate, $0 hidden fees
Managed plans are one predictable monthly number based on your headcount and scope. Security is built into every plan, not sold back to you as add-ons. What we quote is what you pay.
Assessment before quote
The free assessment comes first: we review your systems and risks, then quote against what you actually need. No pressure, and the findings are yours to keep either way.
Break-fix with no long-term contract
Not ready for a managed plan? Hourly and per-project help with no monthly commitment. If that model genuinely fits you better, we'll say so.
Terms in plain sight
Our standard agreement terms are published on our legal page before you ever talk to us. We walk through them with you in plain English, commitments included, before anything is signed.
How to read any MSP quote
Whoever you end up choosing, these five questions expose the real price behind any headline rate:
Ask exactly what is included and what bills as "out of scope" hourly work. Two quotes with the same headline rate can differ by thousands once projects, after-hours, and on-site visits are counted.
Ask whether security is included or an add-on. A cheap base rate that charges extra for EDR, email protection, and backups usually ends up costing more than an honest bundled rate.
Ask about onboarding fees. Many providers charge a one-time setup cost (often equal to one month of service); some waive it with a term commitment.
Ask what happens when you leave. Good providers document your systems and hand over credentials cleanly; bad ones make leaving expensive on purpose.
Be suspicious of the cheapest quote. If a rate is far below market, something on this page is missing from it, and you will find out which part mid-crisis.
Weighing managed against hourly? Our managed vs. break-fix breakdown runs the math honestly, and the downtime cost calculator will tell you what an outage costs your specific business, which is the number that makes any IT budget make sense.
FAQ
Pricing questions, answered straight
Why don't you publish your exact prices?
Because an honest number requires knowing your business first. Two 20-person companies can need very different things depending on their industry, systems, and risks. We quote a flat monthly rate after a free assessment, and the market ranges on this page are a fair preview of the neighborhood that quote will live in.
What pricing model do you use?
Managed plans are a flat monthly rate based on your headcount and the scope of what we cover, so your IT cost is predictable and there are no hidden fees. We also offer break-fix and on-demand work billed hourly or per project, with no monthly commitment.
Do I have to sign a long-term contract?
Break-fix and on-demand work involves no long-term contract: you pay hourly or per project, as you go. Managed plans are formal agreements, and some include a term commitment depending on the services involved. We walk you through the terms before you sign anything, and our standard terms are published on our legal page.
Is managed IT worth it compared to paying hourly?
For most growing businesses, yes. Hourly support looks cheaper until something breaks, and a single serious outage or security incident can cost more than a year of a managed plan. If your business truly just needs occasional help, we will tell you that and suggest break-fix instead.
How does an in-house IT hire compare?
A full-time IT employee in the Carolinas typically costs well into six figures once salary, benefits, tools, and training are counted, covers one person's working hours, and still needs specialist help for security and compliance. A managed plan usually delivers broader coverage for a fraction of that, which is why many businesses with an internal IT person pair them with an MSP rather than replace them.
Want your real number?
Book the free assessment. We'll review your setup, flag your biggest risks, and quote you a flat monthly rate with nothing hidden in it.