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Managed IT vs. Break-Fix: Which Is Right for Your Business?

Break-fix IT waits for something to go wrong. Managed IT prevents it from happening. Here's how they compare.

TL;DR

Break-fix IT is reactive — you pay by the hour when things break. Managed IT is proactive — you pay a flat monthly rate and problems get caught before they cause downtime. For businesses that depend on technology, managed IT costs less in the long run and eliminates surprise bills.

Side-by-Side Comparison

See exactly how managed IT and break-fix IT stack up across the areas that matter most.

Approach
Break-Fix Reactive — fix after it breaks
Pro Tech Guy Proactive — prevent before it breaks
Pricing
Break-Fix Hourly ($125–$200/hr), unpredictable
Pro Tech Guy Flat rate $219/user/mo + site fee, predictable
Monitoring
Break-Fix None — you discover problems
Pro Tech Guy 24/7 monitoring catches issues early
Security
Break-Fix Basic antivirus (maybe)
Pro Tech Guy Full stack: EDR, MFA, email security, dark web monitoring
Response Time
Break-Fix Hours to days
Pro Tech Guy Fast response, critical issues prioritized
Strategic Planning
Break-Fix None
Pro Tech Guy Quarterly business reviews + IT roadmap
Vendor Management
Break-Fix You handle it
Pro Tech Guy We coordinate all your vendors
Backups
Break-Fix Often forgotten
Pro Tech Guy Automated daily with tested recovery

The Real Cost of Break-Fix

The cheapest option on paper is often the most expensive in practice.

Average downtime costs $5,600/minute for SMBs

A single ransomware recovery averages $150K+

Lost or stolen customer data damages your reputation and trust

Unpredictable bills make budgeting impossible

At $219/user/mo (plus a site fee) with everything included, managed IT is more predictable — and often cheaper — than what businesses spend on break-fix annually.

Who Break-Fix Is For

  • Businesses with minimal technology needs
  • Companies with fewer than 5 employees and simple setups
  • Organizations that can tolerate occasional downtime

Who Managed IT Is For

  • Businesses that depend on technology to operate
  • Companies that handle sensitive customer or financial data
  • Organizations that can't afford unplanned downtime
  • Businesses that want predictable IT costs

Real Results

"We were drowning in IT problems and downtime. Pro Tech Guy not only stabilized everything but built an infrastructure we're genuinely proud of."

David Chen

Managing Partner, Chen & Associates Law

Previously on break-fix IT — downtime dropped 95% after switching to managed services.

Ready to Stop Reacting and Start Preventing?

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