If you’re a business owner in Westlake Village or Thousand Oaks exploring managed IT services, one of the first questions you’re likely asking is: how much should hiring outsourced IT support cost me? The answer depends on your business size, complexity, support needs, and compliance requirements — but this post will walk you through real-world pricing, what’s included, and what to look out for.
Let’s break it down so you can make an informed decision and avoid being overcharged or underserved.
What Are Managed IT Services?
Before we talk numbers, let’s quickly define what you’re paying for. Managed IT services means outsourcing your technology support, cybersecurity, and IT operations to a third-party provider like Urban IT. Instead of hiring full-time IT staff (which is expensive and hard to manage), a managed service provider (MSP) gives you a team of professionals on a flat monthly basis.
Services typically include:
- Helpdesk and remote support
- Cybersecurity tools and monitoring
- Network and device management
- Backup and disaster recovery
- Microsoft 365 or Google Workspace support
- Software patching and updates
It’s proactive, predictable, and scales with your business.
Common Pricing Models for Managed IT Services
There are a few ways MSPs structure their pricing:
1. Per-User Per Month
This is the most common model. You’re billed based on the number of users (employees), regardless of how many devices each user has. It’s simple and scalable.
- Entry-level support: $75–$100/user/month (usually monitoring only)
- Standard coverage: $150–$200/user/month
- Full-service & compliance-ready plans: $250–$400/user/month
At Urban IT, we fall right in line with this model. Our monthly plans are designed to offer true value at each tier, starting with essential support and scaling up to full-service IT management, advanced security, and compliance capabilities.
2. Per-Device Per Month
This model is based on how many desktops, laptops, servers, and networking devices you have. It’s less common today because user-based pricing tends to be easier to predict.
- Desktops/Laptops: $50–$125/month
- Servers: $150–$500/month
- Firewalls/Switches: $25–$75/month
Per-device pricing is sometimes used for hybrid or legacy environments, or if you’re only partially outsourcing your IT (such as co-managed IT).
3. Hourly / Break-Fix Pricing
If you don’t want an ongoing plan, many MSPs offer hourly support. This is often called “break-fix” — you call when something breaks, and pay per hour.
- Typical hourly rates in the Los Angeles/Westlake Village area: $150–$250/hour
This model can work for very small businesses with minimal tech reliance, but it quickly becomes unpredictable (and expensive) when problems pile up or urgent support is needed.
What Influences the Cost of Managed IT Services?
Number of Users
The biggest factor is how many employees need support. This affects licensing, security, backups, and how much day-to-day helpdesk activity is expected.
Type of Business
Law firms, dental practices, CPA firms, and other professional services often have higher compliance, security, and uptime needs — which means a more robust (and pricier) service plan. Retail, e-commerce, or construction companies may have simpler setups and different risk profiles.
Cybersecurity Needs
Businesses that need endpoint detection and response (EDR), threat monitoring, multi-factor authentication (MFA), and security awareness training should expect to pay more — but these protections are non-negotiable in today’s threat landscape.
Onsite vs. Remote Support
Most MSPs offer remote-first support. But if you want onsite visits or are located in a multi-office environment, your plan will need to reflect the additional time and logistics. Fortunately, in Westlake Village, onsite support is still very accessible.
Compliance Requirements
If your business must comply with HIPAA, SOC 2, PCI, or state-specific data regulations, you’ll need regular audits, security documentation, and systems monitoring — all of which raise the cost, but are required to stay compliant.
Infrastructure and Age of Systems
Older or inconsistent IT environments often require more upfront remediation and ongoing support, which adds to your total cost. If your computers are over 5 years old and you’re still running Windows 10, you’ll also need to budget for upgrades before Windows 10’s end of life in October 2025.
Real-World Examples
Let’s say you run a 15-person law firm in Westlake Village. You need secure file sharing, Microsoft 365 management, endpoint security, cloud backups, and someone to call when things go wrong. Here’s a rough idea of what that might cost monthly:
- Basic/Entry-Level Plan: ~$1,500–2,000/month
(Not likely sufficient if you need compliance and proactive security) - Mid-Tier Plan: ~$2,500–3,750/month
(Includes helpdesk, monitoring, backups, patching, and some security) - Premium/Full-Service Plan: $4,000–6,000/month
(Ideal if you need full compliance, cybersecurity stack, and vCIO services)
At Urban IT, our pricing fits right within these ranges and our pricing is transparent and matched to your actual business needs. You can view our pricing tiers at urbanit.com/pricing.
How to Budget for IT Services
Here’s a quick formula to start with:
- <10 employees: ~$1,000–2,000/month
- 10–20 employees: ~$2,000–4,000/month
- 20–50 employees: ~$4,000–8,000+/month
Add ~$1,000–$3,000 in one-time onboarding costs depending on the complexity of your environment.
For hourly/ad-hoc support, set aside at least $500–1,000/month in your budget for occasional troubleshooting. If you’re calling more than once or twice a month, a managed plan is usually the more cost-effective route.
Conclusion: What Should You Expect to Pay?
If your business is located in Westlake Village, Thousand Oaks, Agoura Hills, or anywhere else in the Conejo Valley, managed IT services typically range from:
- $150–200 per user per month for solid support, monitoring, security, and backups
- $250–400 per user per month for full-service IT with compliance and advanced cybersecurity
While you’ll find cheaper options, beware of barebones providers who nickel-and-dime you for essentials. Look for transparent pricing, fast response times, local support, and a team that understands your industry.
If you’re ready to get a quote tailored to your business, or just want to talk through options, feel free to reach out to us at Urban IT.
We serve Westlake Village and the surrounding area with honest, experienced, and security-minded IT support — and we’ll meet you where you are.