The short answer: Most managed IT providers charge per user per month. One 2026 pricing guide puts core managed IT at about $100 to $200 per user a month, and security-focused managed IT at about $200 to $400. KoobrikLabs charges a flat monthly retainer instead: $4,000, $6,000 or $9,000 a month, depending on the hours and scope you need.
What managed IT usually costs
Datapath’s 2026 pricing guide gives these planning ranges:
- Core managed IT (help desk, device management, patching, Microsoft 365 admin, basic security and reporting): about $100 to $200 per user a month.
- Security-focused managed IT (adding threat detection and response, backup checks and stronger identity controls): about $200 to $400 per user a month.
At those rates, a 25-person company would pay roughly $2,500 to $10,000 a month, and a 50-person company roughly $5,000 to $20,000. These are planning figures, not quotes. Your price depends on what you need covered.
What moves the price
- How many people and devices you have, including freelancers who need access.
- How much security you need, and whether clients send you security questionnaires.
- Whether you need someone on site in Los Angeles, or remote support is enough.
- Cloud, storage and backup, which matter more for teams working with large media files.
- Whether you also want AI work: tools, policies and training, not only IT support.
What KoobrikLabs charges
We price by retainer, not per seat, so adding a freelancer for a job does not change your bill. Every tier has a 12-month minimum and is billed monthly.
- Protect, $4,000 a month: help desk, device and identity management, security and governance, a monthly service report. 5 hours a week.
- Build, $6,000 a month: everything in Protect, plus DAM and data infrastructure, AI advisory and integrations, and a 12-month IT roadmap. 10 hours a week.
- Lead, $9,000 a month: everything in Build, plus AI pilots, bespoke tool builds at retainer-only rates and priority support. 15 hours a week.
You can also start with the AI Readiness Sprint: one week, $15,000. If you move to a retainer within 30 days, the full fee comes off your first year. Koobrik, DataPulse and CopySight AI are included with every retainer. See full pricing.
What to ask any provider
- What exactly is included, and what is billed as extra hours?
- Who answers the phone at night or at the weekend?
- Can someone come on site in Los Angeles, and how fast?
- How do you handle freelancers joining and leaving?
- Can you help us answer a client or studio security questionnaire?
- Do you hold SOC 2? (KoobrikLabs is covered by the SOC 2 Type II of its parent company, Koobrik Inc.)
Common questions
Is managed IT cheaper than hiring an IT person?
It can be, because one retainer covers a team with more skills than one hire. We compare the two in detail in Managed IT or an in-house IT person?
Do you charge per user?
No. KoobrikLabs retainers are a flat monthly fee based on hours and scope, so headcount changes do not change your bill.
Related
Sources
- Datapath, “Managed IT Services Pricing, MSP Costs, and IT Support Rates”, updated September 2026
- KoobrikLabs pricing
KoobrikLabs is the AI and managed IT partner for creative companies, in Los Angeles and London.