How much does managed IT cost compared to hiring in Calgary?

Managed IT typically costs $100-$200 per user per month ($1,200-$2,400/year per user). A single full-time IT professional in Calgary costs $70,000-$120,000/year in salary plus 20-30% for benefits, training, and tools. For a 25-person company, managed IT costs roughly $30,000-$60,000/year vs $90,000-$150,000+ for one in-house hire.

What happens if we outgrow our managed IT provider?

A good MSP scales with you. As your business grows, your plan adjusts accordingly. If you eventually need in-house IT, a quality MSP will help transition knowledge and can continue providing supplemental support.

Can we switch from in-house to managed IT?

Yes. We help Calgary businesses transition from in-house to managed IT regularly. The process includes documentation of your current environment, knowledge transfer, and a phased transition plan that maintains service continuity throughout.

Managed IT vs In-House IT: Which is Right for Your Calgary Business?

Compare managed IT services vs hiring in-house IT staff for your Calgary business. Detailed cost analysis, pros and cons, and guidance on making the right choice.

Get Expert Advice

Side-by-Side Comparison

See how each option stacks up across key factors.

Feature	Managed IT Services Outsourced IT support from a managed service provider (MSP) for a predictable monthly fee.	In-House IT Team Full-time IT employees on your payroll handling all technology needs internally.
Annual Cost (10-50 employees)	$12,000 - $120,000/year	$80,000 - $200,000/year (salary + benefits)
Availability	24/7/365 coverage included	Business hours; overtime for after-hours
Expertise Breadth	Team of specialists across many technologies	Limited to hired individuals' skills
Scalability	Scales instantly with your business	Requires hiring; 2-3 month ramp-up
Institutional Knowledge	Documented in shared knowledge base	Deep but often in one person's head
Strategic Planning	Included as part of service (QBRs, roadmaps)	Depends on hire's seniority and bandwidth

Annual Cost (10-50 employees)

Managed IT Services$12,000 - $120,000/year

In-House IT Team$80,000 - $200,000/year (salary + benefits)

Availability

Managed IT Services24/7/365 coverage included

In-House IT TeamBusiness hours; overtime for after-hours

Expertise Breadth

Managed IT ServicesTeam of specialists across many technologies

In-House IT TeamLimited to hired individuals' skills

Scalability

Managed IT ServicesScales instantly with your business

In-House IT TeamRequires hiring; 2-3 month ramp-up

Institutional Knowledge

Managed IT ServicesDocumented in shared knowledge base

In-House IT TeamDeep but often in one person's head

Strategic Planning

Managed IT ServicesIncluded as part of service (QBRs, roadmaps)

In-House IT TeamDepends on hire's seniority and bandwidth

Our Analysis

Insights to help you make the right decision for your business.

When Managed IT Makes Sense

Managed IT is the better choice for most Calgary businesses with 10-200 employees. You get access to a full team of specialists, 24/7 coverage, and predictable costs—all for less than hiring a single senior IT professional. It's especially valuable for businesses in regulated industries that need compliance expertise without the overhead.

When In-House IT Makes Sense

In-house IT makes sense for larger organizations (200+ employees) with complex, unique technology environments that require dedicated daily attention. Companies with proprietary software, strict security requirements, or specialized industry platforms may benefit from having IT staff who are 100% focused on their systems.

The Hybrid Approach

Many Calgary businesses use a hybrid model: a small internal IT team (1-2 people) for day-to-day needs and strategic projects, supplemented by a managed service provider for 24/7 monitoring, specialized expertise, and overflow support. This gives you the best of both worlds.

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about this comparison.

Ready to get started?

Let's Build Something Amazing Together

Have a project in mind? We'd love to hear about it. Get in touch with us and let's discuss how we can help bring your ideas to life.

Start a Project