Getting an IT Support Quote: What Does An IT Outsourcing Quote Involve?

We receive calls daily from business leaders asking for a quote for IT support services. Those calls generally sound something like this -- “We’re considering changing IT providers, and I’d like to get a quote for your IT services.”

When we ask a few questions, we find that those business leaders are usually frustrated due to one of four things:

1. They think they’re paying too much for IT
2. Their IT person or outsourced vendor takes too long to resolve problems
3. They have trouble getting ahold of their current vendor
4. Their IT person or outsourced vendor isn’t capable of handling all of their IT needs

As you know, IT affects all areas of business performance, so choosing an IT support services vendor for your company should not be taken lightly.

What A Typical IT Support Quote Process Looks Like

There are many different ways that IT support providers quote their services.

For IT companies that offer services beyond “Call me when it breaks, and I’ll troubleshoot at an hourly rate” (known as break/fix in the IT industry), you’ll typically start the IT support quote process by calling their office or filling out a form on their website. 

After you speak and determine that the IT company could be the right fit to help you, you’ll usually schedule a time to sit down together. This is typically done at your office or over video chat, but you can certainly ask to meet at their office if you want to see their team in action.

These meetings usually take about an hour or so. The purpose is to gather high-level information and see if the two organizations might be a fit for each other.

The IT provider will ask questions like:

• What are your company’s goals? What role does IT play in helping achieve them?
• What are your expectations from IT?
• What are your current frustrations?
• How does IT impact your operations?
• How many employees interact with technology? Are they all full users, or do some just interact with email?
• How do your employees use technology?
• What types of critical applications do you use to run your business?
• Do you have any regulatory compliance considerations?

Once the IT vendor understands your business objectives, they can strategize about which IT services would be best for your situation and provide a quote.

Every business is different, so it’s important for the IT company you’re speaking with to have a solid understanding of how your business operates and what type of IT results could be possible before giving a quote for how they would make your IT headaches go away.

Keep in mind that devising an IT support plan that aligns with your company’s goals is nearly impossible without learning about them. So be wary of managed IT services providers that provide quotes without learning about your business first.

🔎 Related: Common Outsourced IT Contracts Decoded

Things To Consider For Your IT Support Quote

There are several factors that go into providing an accurate IT support quote.

• What type of IT support services are you looking for?
• Do you want to outsource all areas of IT, or do you have an internal IT person who will stay on staff?
• Are you looking for a company that you only call when you have a problem, or do you want a proactive company that will reduce the number of problems you have?
• What kind of results do you want from IT? Do you want IT to “just work,” or do you want it to help you achieve your business objectives?
• What service level do you expect? Do you want to pick up the phone and talk to an IT technician in a matter of minutes, or would waiting a few days for support be okay?

🔎 Related: Top 10 Tips to Choose the Best IT Support Company for Your Businesses

🔎 Related: Trying to figure out how much IT support contracts cost? Check out this managed IT services cost guide

Some IT Companies Want To Do An IT Audit – Do I Really Need One To Get A Quote?

One of the main issues with a technical IT audit is that every IT company has different technology standards. As a result, an IT audit performed by another company would likely find technical problems with how your current vendor is handling things.

It depends on the specific situation, but a technical IT audit is usually not necessary to reveal the gaps in the IT management process.

Spending an hour or two with an IT consultant who asks the right questions will reveal the higher-level issues going on with the IT function in your company. No technical audit or “geek-speak” required.

If you’re tired of being frustrated by IT and you’re ready to aim higher, give us a call or schedule a free IT support consultation. We’ll chat for a few minutes over the phone, set up a time to get together, and see if we’re the right fit to help you turn IT into an enabler instead of a thorn in your side.