With 50 employees, your business has most likely moved past the stage where basic tech help is enough. You now have more devices, users, data, and security requirements than a small office. Growth creates new responsibilities for your IT environment, and support needs become more complex.
Most businesses reach a turning point between 40 and 60 employees. Internal staff often become overwhelmed, and outsourced providers must deliver more than break-and-fix help. You may need full managed IT support, advanced cybersecurity, backup planning, cloud management, and strategic guidance.
The result is that IT support for a 50-employee business costs more than it does for a business with ten or twenty users. The good news is that pricing is predictable if you know what to expect and what should be included in a complete IT package.
Typical IT Support Pricing Models
Most IT companies use one of three pricing models. Your cost depends on which model you choose.
1. Per User Pricing
This is the most common model. You pay a set monthly price for each employee who uses company devices and systems.
For a 50-employee business, this model is easy to forecast and scale as your team grows.
2. Per Device Pricing
Some providers charge for each workstation, server, laptop, or mobile device. This model can work, but it is less predictable if employees use multiple devices.
3. Flat Monthly Pricing
This includes unlimited support for your entire environment. It is usually reserved for fully managed clients that have more complex needs.
Most 50-employee businesses choose per-user pricing because it aligns with hiring and staffing changes.
How Much Does IT Support Usually Cost for 50 Employees?
Here are the typical cost ranges you will see from reputable managed IT service providers.
Basic IT Support
50 to 90 dollars per user per month
For 50 employees: 2,500 to 4,500 dollars per month
This tier usually includes:
- Help desk support
- Basic monitoring
- Simple antivirus
- Limited maintenance
This is enough for very small companies, but too limited for a 50-person team. Security gaps and downtime are common at this level.
Standard Managed IT Support
100 to 175 dollars per user per month
For 50 employees: 5,000 to 8,750 dollars per month
This tier includes:
- Unlimited remote support
- Patch management
- Network monitoring
- Endpoint protection
- Backup services
- Basic cloud support
This level works well for businesses with stable environments and no strict compliance needs.
Managed IT with Advanced Cybersecurity
175 to 250 dollars per user per month
For 50 employees: 8,750 to 12,500 dollars per month
Includes everything above, plus:
- Multi-factor authentication
- Endpoint detection and response
- Dark web monitoring
- Email security filtering
- Web filtering
- Security reporting
- Employee cybersecurity training
This level is recommended for most 50-employee businesses because it protects against modern threats and reduces risk.
Managed IT with Compliance Support
225 to 325 dollars per user per month
For 50 employees: 11,250 to 16,250 dollars per month
Includes all managed support and advanced security, plus:
- Compliance documentation
- Audit assistance
- Security policies
- Logging and reporting requirements
- Encryption management
- User access reviews
This level is required for businesses in healthcare, financial services, insurance, government, legal, and other regulated industries.
Why Costs Increase As Your Business Grows
A 50-employee business requires more than basic IT assistance. Growth introduces new risk, more devices, deeper cloud usage, and higher support needs.
Common drivers of increased cost include:
1. More Devices and Applications
Each user likely has:
- A workstation or a laptop
- A mobile device
- Cloud applications
- Email accounts
- Shared drives
- Software licenses
Every device requires monitoring, updates, and security.
2. Stronger Cybersecurity Requirements
Modern threats target small businesses aggressively. Protection requires more than antivirus software. You need multiple layers of security to keep your data safe.
3. More Complex Networks
A growing business has switches, access points, VPNs, routers, and cloud platforms that need management and maintenance.
4. The Need for Reliable Backup and Recovery
As your data grows, so does the risk. A complete backup plan is no longer optional.
5. Compliance Requirements
Businesses with sensitive data face strict regulations. Compliance adds cost due to documentation, monitoring, and reporting.
What You Should Expect in a Complete IT Support Package
A strong managed IT service package for a 50-employee business should include:
Support
- Unlimited help desk
- Fast response times
- Remote and on-site support
- User onboarding and offboarding
- Device setup and configuration
Security
- Endpoint protection
- Network monitoring
- Multi-factor authentication
- Email security
- Data loss prevention
- Employee training
Maintenance
- Patch management
- Software updates
- Performance tuning
- Device health checks
Backup and Recovery
- Local and cloud backups
- Encrypted storage
- Automated scheduling
- Regular testing
- Full restoration plans
Strategic Planning
- Quarterly reviews
- Technology roadmaps
- Budget forecasting
- Lifecycle planning
If a package leaves out any of these areas, it may create hidden costs or security gaps.
What Affects IT Support Pricing for Your Business
Several factors influence your final cost.
1. Number of Users and Devices
More users mean more support and more monitoring.
2. Security Requirements
Businesses with higher risk need stronger protection.
3. Cloud Usage
Microsoft 365, VoIP systems, and cloud storage add management tasks.
4. Remote or Hybrid Teams
Remote access, VPN support, and cloud tools add complexity.
5. Compliance Needs
Healthcare, financial, and government requirements increase service scope.
6. Current System Health
Older environments require more work and more upgrades.
Common Mistakes Businesses Make When Budgeting for IT
Avoid these costly errors:
Mistake 1: Choosing the Cheapest Option
Cheap plans skip key security layers. This increases the chance of downtime or data loss.
Mistake 2: Not Asking What Is Included
Some providers charge extra for on-site visits, security tools, or backup storage.
Mistake 3: Ignoring Cybersecurity
Modern threats can shut down a business in minutes. Protection must be part of your budget.
Mistake 4: Waiting Until Something Breaks
Reactive support is more expensive than proactive management.
Next Steps: Request a Detailed IT Support Estimate
If you want a clear understanding of what your 50-employee business should budget, start with an IT Support Assessment.
AIS reviews your systems, identifies gaps, and creates a plan with transparent pricing based on your needs and growth goals.
