Resources · Compare
Managed IT vs. break/fix: paying to fix vs. paying to prevent.
How the two IT support models work, what they really cost and which one fits your team
Break/fix IT is simple: something breaks, you call, you get a bill. Managed IT flips that around: you pay a flat monthly fee and your provider works to keep things from breaking in the first place. We've done both for hundreds of clients since 2020, so here's the honest take.
$ breakfix --bill
> varies. every. month.
$ managed --bill
> same number, every month
✓ incentives aligned with uptime
When your provider earns more from problems, you get more problems.
Side by side
The quick comparison.
> pay per incident
Break/fix IT
- Billed hourly when something goes wrong
- No cost when nothing breaks
- Reactive: problems are found after they hurt
- Patching, backups and security often fall through the cracks
- Hard to budget, especially in a bad month
> pay to prevent
Managed IT
- One flat monthly fee per user
- Your provider is paid for uptime, not downtime
- Proactive monitoring catches issues early
- Patching, backups and security handled on schedule
- Easy to budget, no surprise bills
The math
Run the numbers.
Where the real cost hides
The hourly rate is the visible part of break/fix. The bigger cost is downtime: staff who can't work, customers who can't be served and data that might not come back.
Plug your own numbers into our downtime cost calculator and compare it with a predictable managed IT range of $130 to $230 per user, per month.
If a single bad day costs more than a month of managed IT, prevention usually wins.
Finding your fit
Which one is right for you?
> break/fix
When break/fix can work
- You're a very small office with a handful of devices.
- Your systems are simple and nothing is mission critical.
- You're comfortable handling updates and backups yourself.
> managed
When managed IT makes sense
- Downtime costs you real money or customers.
- You handle sensitive data or have compliance rules to meet.
- You want IT handled so you can run the business.
> next step
Not sure yet?
- Start with our free cyber scorecard to see where you stand.
- Read the switching IT providers guide.
- Or book a 15-minute call and ask us straight.
FAQ
Common questions.
Keep reading
What is break/fix IT support?
Break/fix is a pay-as-you-go model. You call an IT company when something stops working and pay for the time and parts it takes to fix it.
What is managed IT?
Managed IT is a monthly service where a provider monitors, maintains, secures and supports your technology for a flat fee, usually priced per user or per device.
Is break/fix cheaper than managed IT?
In a quiet month, often yes. Over a full year, break/fix usually costs more once you count downtime, emergency rates and problems that prevention would have caught.
Does Golden Hills IT do one-time projects?
Yes. Beyond monthly managed IT we take on projects like cloud migrations, network upgrades and legacy system moves. Ask us on a quick call.
How do I switch from break/fix to managed IT?
It starts with an assessment and documentation of what you have today. Our free switching IT providers guide walks through every step.
$ schedule --call --15min
Get a straight answer for your business.
Book a 15-minute call. We'll look at your setup and tell you honestly which option makes sense, even if it isn't us.