Break-fix: what it is and who it suits
You call when something breaks. A technician fixes it. You pay for the time. Simple, no commitment, and for a very small operation — one or two people, no sensitive data, no dependence on being online — it's genuinely the right choice. You're paying only for what you use, and what you use isn't much.
The hidden costs of break-fix
The invoice is the visible cost. The invisible ones: staff idle while they wait for a fix, the owner's time spent triaging and chasing, the updates that never got applied because nobody was responsible for them, the backup that nobody checked until it was needed, and the security gap that stayed open because closing it wasn't anyone's job. Break-fix providers aren't negligent — they're just only there when called. Nobody is watching in between.
Managed IT: what it is and who it suits
An ongoing arrangement where a provider monitors, maintains, secures and supports your systems continuously. Problems are caught early or prevented. Staff have a helpdesk. Security is enforced. Backups are tested. It suits businesses where downtime has a real cost, where there's data that must be protected, and where the owner's time is worth more than being the IT department.
The crossover point
Somewhere between five and fifteen staff, break-fix stops being cheaper. It's rarely a single event — it's the accumulation: three call-outs in a month, a scam email that nearly worked, a laptop that died with the only copy of something, a client asking about your security. When you find yourself thinking 'we really should sort out our IT' more than once a quarter, you've crossed it.
A side-by-side comparison
Response: break-fix reacts to calls; managed often fixes before you call. Updates and patches: break-fix, whenever someone remembers; managed, automatic and scheduled. Security: break-fix, whatever was set up originally; managed, enforced and monitored. Backup: break-fix, hopefully; managed, automated and tested. Cost: break-fix, unpredictable; managed, consistent. Owner's involvement: break-fix, high; managed, a periodic review. Documentation: break-fix, usually none; managed, complete.
Can you do both?
Yes, and it's common. Some businesses start with managed security and backup only — the two things that can't wait — and keep break-fix for the rest. Others go fully managed. A good provider will scope what you actually need rather than sell you the biggest package.
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Frequently asked questions
Is managed IT more expensive than break-fix?
Per month, managed IT is a consistent amount where break-fix might be zero. Per year, once you add up call-outs, lost productivity and the cost of incidents that better maintenance would have prevented, managed IT is usually cheaper for businesses above about five staff — and dramatically cheaper if you have a serious incident.
Can I trial managed IT without a long contract?
With TechFix Pro Managed, yes — agreements are month-to-month with 30 days notice. Start with a free IT health check to see what you'd be addressing.
What if I'm happy with my current break-fix technician?
Keep them if they're good. But ask what's happening between your calls. If the answer is 'nothing', consider adding managed monitoring, security and backup alongside them.
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