The 4 Main IT Service Pricing Models

By Chad No comments

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Today, information technology has to do with a lot more than just making sure the computers turn on and the software is up to date. Better technology is offering businesses — small and medium-sized businesses, in particular — more and more options when it comes to network setup services, cloud computing, VOIP solutions (voice over Internet protocol), and numerous other IT-related issues. But with IT becoming so complex, its often best now to outsource IT services, rather than maintaining an entire in-house team.

If you’re considering outsourcing your IT, you’ll likely want to compare multiple quotes. But in order to do that, you’ll need to understand the most common IT service pricing models so that you’re comparing apples to apples. There are four very common IT service pricing models you should be aware of; they’re mostly self-explanatory, but here’s a brief description of each one.

  1. Per Device

    Per-device pricing allows you to get a quote based on the number of servers, workstations, and network locations you’ll be dealing with. The upside of this model is that it’s quite transparent. The downside, however, is that it’s based on commodities and not the actual service you receive.

  2. Per Ticket

    Per-ticket pricing allows you to open up to a certain number of service tickets per month (or an average) for a flat rate. You’ll want to pay close attention to how much your service provider will charge you per ticket if you go over; these models work similarly to old cell phone plans in that the bit you go over can end up costing you quite a lot more per unit than what you were allotted in the first place.

  3. Per User

    Per-user pricing, as the name suggests, is based on how many users you have in your organization. The main downside to this model is that it can be problematic if you have multiple users on one device (like a point-of-sale system in a retail environment, for example).

  4. Comprehensive

    This is the all-you-can-eat buffet of IT support. This flat rate is usually based roughly on the size of your organization, though other factors may be weighed as well. The major appeal of this model is its simplicity and the fact that you never need to worry about how much help you’ll be able to get.

Do you have some insight to add regarding IT service pricing? Share your thoughts in the comments.

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