MSP Pricing Explained
If you’re researching managed IT support in the Northwest, you’ve probably seen a wide range of pricing — typically £20 to £150 per user, per month.
But what does that actually buy you?
And what’s the difference between low, mid, and premium MSP pricing?
This guide explains each pricing tier, what’s included, and when each is appropriate.
Why MSP Pricing Ranges So Widely
Because MSPs package services differently.
Some include:
-
- helpdesk
- cybersecurity
- on-site visits
- backup & disaster recovery
- IT strategy
…while others charge for these separately.
This is why transparency matters — and why many SMEs accidentally buy an “IT support only” package that leaves massive gaps.
The 3 Main MSP Pricing Tiers in the Northwest
Tier 1: £20–£50 Per User (Basic Support)
What’s Included
-
- helpdesk (remote/possibly limited availability and lower SLAs)
- basic monitoring
- antivirus
- Microsoft 365 support
What’s NOT Included
-
- cybersecurity tools (beyond antivirus)
- backups
- disaster recovery
- on-site support
- IT strategy
- compliance
Who This Suits
Very small businesses (under 10 users) with minimal security risk.
Risks
Most data breaches occur in this tier due to lack of layered security.
Many SMEs are surprised to learn that MSPs often charge separately for:
-
- cloud-to-cloud backup
- firewall upgrades
- security consultancy
- cyber insurance paperwork
- penetration testing
- onboarding and remediation work
- legacy system support
Knowing this upfront can save you thousands.
Tier 2: £50–£100 Per User (Standard MSP Package)
This is the most common SME package.
What’s Included
-
- helpdesk (extended hours and improved SLAs)
- proactive monitoring
- patch management
- next-gen antivirus/EDR
- email filtering
- backup solutions
- IT strategy reviews
- basic automation
- device setup
- reporting
What’s NOT Included
-
- advanced cybersecurity
- SOC or 24/7 threat monitoring
- major projects
Who This Suits
Businesses with 15–150 staff wanting predictable, scalable support.
Tier 3: £100–£150 Per User (Fully Managed + Cybersecurity)
This tier includes business-wide protection.
What’s Included
Everything in Tier 2, plus:
-
- MDR/SOC monitoring
- SIEM log analysis
- multi-layer email security
- advanced web filtering
- MFA enforcement
- compliance support
- cyber awareness training
- strategic IT roadmap
- vCIO support
- priority response
Who This Suits
-
- finance
- healthcare
- manufacturing
- agencies handling sensitive client data
Why It Costs More
Security tools and the skills to manage them are significantly more expensive than basic IT support.
Which Tier Should Your Business Choose?
Choose £20–£50 if:
You’re tiny (under 10 users), low-risk, and cost-focused.
Choose £50–£100 if:
You want solid IT support, some security, and predictable billing.
Choose £100–£150 if:
You must be compliant, secure, and ready for cyber insurance audits.
The Real Cost of Choosing the Wrong Tier
If you choose too low a tier, you risk:
-
- downtime
- data loss
- cyber attacks
- slow support
- unsupported projects
If you choose too high a tier, you're simply overpaying.
Find Out If You Have The Right Support At The Right Cost
Want us to benchmark your current MSP pricing against Northwest standards? Just schedule a free consultation with our team today.