Bay Geeks Guide · Service Models Compare Honestly

Managed IT Services vs. Break-Fix: The Real Cost

Both models work. The question is which one actually fits how your business runs — and what each one costs once you count everything.

What Each Model Actually Means

Reactive

Break-Fix

You call when something breaks, we fix it, you're billed for that job. No ongoing relationship required — pay only when you need us.

$175/hr commercial rate, 1-hour on-site minimum.

Proactive

Managed / Maintenance Plan

Ongoing monitoring, patching, and managed antivirus that catch problems before they become outages. One predictable monthly cost.

$75/mo per computer, 1-year commitment.

Managed IT Services vs. Break-FixBreak-FixManaged / Maintenance Plan
Cost structure$175/hr commercial rate, billed per visit$75/mo per computer, flat
CommitmentNone — pay only when you need us1-year commitment
Monitoring & patchingNot includedIncluded, ongoing
Managed antivirusNot includedIncluded
Best forFew devices, infrequent issues, new systemsDowntime-sensitive, repeat emergencies, security/compliance needs

Where Break-Fix Makes Sense

Where Managed Service Makes Sense

The Real Cost Comparison

A business with 5 computers on the Automated Maintenance Plan pays $375/month — $4,500/year — for daily scans, patching, managed antivirus, and proactive monitoring across all five machines.

A single emergency break-fix visit, at the 1-hour commercial minimum, runs $175. It doesn't take many surprise visits in a year to approach — or exceed — what a full year of managed coverage would have cost, and that's before counting the downtime while you waited for the fix.

The trade-off isn't just about total dollars. It's about whether that cost is predictable or not.

Not an All-or-Nothing Decision

Plenty of businesses run a hybrid: managed maintenance on the systems that matter most, break-fix for the rest. We can help figure out where that line makes sense for your setup.

FIXED ✓

Not Sure Which Fits Your Business?

Tell us how your business runs and we'll tell you honestly which model — or mix — makes sense.

Common Computer Problems

The issues we see most often in Tampa Bay homes — and what to try first.

Remote vs. On-Site Repair

How to know which type of service gets you fixed faster.

Maintenance Plan ROI

How a monthly maintenance plan pays for itself in prevented downtime.

Ransomware Checklist

The proactive steps that keep your business off the list of ransomware victims.

Signs You Need a SOC

How to tell when antivirus alone isn't covering you anymore.

MDR vs. Antivirus

What managed detection & response catches that antivirus can't.

Identity Threats 101

Why a stolen password is now the most common way in — and how it's stopped.

One-Click Compliance

What HIPAA, PCI DSS and NIST reporting should actually look like.

IT Spend Audit

A quick check on whether your current IT setup is costing more than it should.

How Remote Support Works

What actually happens during a remote session, step by step.

Pricing

Real, upfront rates for computer repair and managed IT services — no hidden fees.

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