Business owners wrestle with the same question all the time: Should we just hire our own IT person, or work with an outside IT support company?
On paper, hiring in-house can look cheaper. In practice, it’s rarely that simple. Let’s break down what you really get on both sides of the deal.
The Real Cost of Hiring In-House
Yes, you can post an ad and get someone for $40–50k. But be honest: at that rate, you’re getting a junior help desk person — someone who can reset passwords and maybe swap out a printer.
If you want someone who can handle strategy, security, and keep your systems up to date? You’re talking closer to (or past) six figures once salary, taxes, and benefits are in the mix.
And remember:
- Coverage gaps. Vacations, sick days, and eventually… they quit. Then you’re back to square one.
- Skill gaps. One person can’t cover cloud, security, compliance, networking, and long-term planning. It’s not realistic.
- Firefighting. We often see internal IT people running from fire to fire, never putting anything fully out. Not because they’re lazy — because they’re outnumbered and outgunned.
- Stagnation. Small environments rarely attract people who want to stay cutting-edge. Many get stuck doing the same things for years.
At the end of the day, one person is a single point of failure.
What You Get With Outsourced IT Support
Outsourcing doesn’t always mean cheaper. But it almost always means more stable. Here’s why:
- Depth of bench. You get an entire team instead of one overworked person.
- Broader experience. These folks see dozens of environments, which means they’ve solved your problem before.
- Continuity. If one tech leaves, your service doesn’t evaporate.
- Liability transfer. If an internal IT person makes a catastrophic mistake, you eat the cost. With an outsourced provider, there’s accountability and potential recourse.
- Scalability. Need more support during growth or a big project? Easy to scale without re-hiring.
The Security & Strategy Angle
Outsourced providers aren’t perfect, but they do tend to stay more current. Their job depends on being aware of new threats, tools, and solutions across multiple industries. That kind of exposure is hard to match when you’re the lone IT person in a 40-person office.
Which Model Fits Best?
For most businesses, outsourcing is the safer bet. Not always cheaper month to month — but safer, more scalable, and more reliable long-term.
Hiring in-house makes sense once you’re large enough to afford an actual team. Until then, one person with duct tape and bailing wire is rarely enough.
Takeaway
One IT person can be a hero — but they’ll also be overmatched, undersupported, and one sick day away from leaving you stranded.
Outsourcing gives you depth, continuity, and stability. It’s not about being cheaper — it’s about being safer. And for most businesses, safe beats duct tape every time.