When a small business gets IT help, it usually comes in one of two flavors. You can pay a predictable monthly fee to have someone watch over your technology and head off problems — that's 'managed IT.' Or you can call someone when something breaks and pay them to fix it — that's 'break-fix.' Both are legitimate. They're just suited to different businesses, and picking the wrong one gets expensive.
Break-fix, in plain terms
Break-fix is exactly what it sounds like: something breaks, you call, they fix it, you pay for the time. No monthly commitment. It's simple and, when nothing's wrong, cheap.
- Good when: your setup is simple, downtime isn't a crisis, and problems are genuinely rare.
- The catch: you only get help after something's already gone wrong — usually the worst and most expensive moment to start.
- The mindset: reactive. You're putting out fires, not preventing them.
Managed IT, in plain terms
With managed IT, you pay a set monthly fee and, in return, someone keeps an eye on your systems, applies updates, manages backups and security, and is there when you need them — often catching problems before you even notice. It's the difference between a mechanic you call when the engine dies and one who keeps the car from dying in the first place.
- Good when: you rely on your technology daily, downtime costs you real money, or you simply don't want to think about it.
- The catch: you pay even in the quiet months — but that's rather the point. You're buying prevention and peace of mind, not just repairs.
- The mindset: proactive. Fewer fires, because someone's watching the stove.
So which one?
A rough rule: the more your business depends on its technology working, the more managed IT earns its keep. If a morning of downtime means a morning of lost customers, paying to prevent that is cheaper than paying to recover from it. If your tech is simple and a hiccup is just an annoyance, break-fix may be all you need for now.
If you're not sure which camp you're in, that's a five-minute conversation. We'll ask how you work, what would hurt if it stopped, and point you to the option that fits — not the one with the bigger invoice.