How Much Does Managed IT Cost for a Construction Company with 10-25 Employees?

For construction companies with 10-25 employees, managed IT services typically cost between $150 and $225 per user per month, depending on security needs, onsite support, and software integrations like Procore. This usually puts total monthly IT spend between $1,500 and $5,600. Lower-cost providers often exclude cybersecurity, onsite visits, or job-site support, leading to downtime that can cost $500–$2,000 per hour. The right pricing model balances predictable costs with fast response times, security-first protection, and construction-specific support.

What’s Included in Managed IT for Construction

When construction companies ask how much managed IT costs, they’re usually trying to understand what they’re actually paying for. For a construction firm with 10-25 employees, managed IT is less about “computer repair” and more about keeping projects moving, crews connected, and critical systems available wherever the work is happening.

A construction-focused managed IT plan is designed to support both office staff and field teams, recognizing that work doesn’t stop when someone leaves the office or moves between job sites.

One of the core components of managed IT is ongoing helpdesk and remote support. This gives employees a consistent place to go when technology problems interrupt their day. Whether it’s email not syncing on a phone, a laptop refusing to connect, Microsoft 365 acting up, or remote access failing, support is available without worrying about hourly billing. For construction companies, fast response times matter because a stalled laptop or locked-out user can quickly turn into project delays, missed deadlines, or billing slowdowns.

While remote support resolves many issues, construction companies also need reliable onsite assistance. Managed IT typically includes onsite support for office environments and job sites alike. This might involve setting up new employees, resolving network or Wi-Fi issues, troubleshooting internet connections in job trailers, or coordinating with service providers for temporary or permanent connectivity. Because job sites are constantly changing, having an IT provider that understands trailers, temporary offices, and mobile crews makes a noticeable difference.

Device management is another major part of managed IT for construction. Most firms rely on a mix of laptops, tablets, and smartphones that move between the office and the field. Managed IT covers the setup, maintenance, and security of these devices so they remain reliable and protected. This includes keeping systems updated, enforcing basic security standards, and ensuring company data can be secured or wiped if a device is lost or stolen. Proper device management reduces downtime while protecting sensitive project and client information.

Finally, managed IT supports the platforms construction companies depend on every day, especially Microsoft 365 and Procore. Email, Teams, SharePoint, and Procore are central to communication, document sharing, and project management. A managed IT provider handles user access, licensing, permissions, and common issues so employees can stay productive. Instead of contacting multiple vendors when something breaks, the IT provider becomes a single point of contact that keeps these systems running smoothly.

Together, these services form the foundation of managed IT for construction companies in the 10-25 employee range. They’re designed to reduce disruptions, support mobile workforces, and keep technology aligned with the pace and realities of construction work.

Pricing Models Construction Companies See

When construction companies start comparing managed IT costs, they quickly notice that pricing models can look very different from one provider to the next. The most common approach is either per-user pricing or per-device pricing. Per-user pricing typically covers all the technology a single employee uses, such as a laptop, phone, tablet, and software access. This model is often easier for construction companies to budget for because headcount changes are usually more predictable than device counts. Per-device pricing, on the other hand, charges separately for each laptop, tablet, or phone, which can seem less expensive at first but often becomes harder to manage as field crews and job-site equipment grow.

Another major difference construction companies encounter is flat-rate versus tiered service plans. Flat-rate managed IT plans bundle support, monitoring, security, and maintenance into a single monthly cost, which helps eliminate surprise expenses. Tiered plans may offer lower entry pricing but limit response times, onsite support, security features, or coverage hours. For construction firms that rely on fast issue resolution to keep projects moving, these limitations can quickly become a problem when an issue falls outside the lowest tier.

Many construction companies are initially tempted by low-cost or “cheap IT” options, especially when budgets are tight. However, these arrangements often exclude proactive maintenance, security protections, or job-site support, leading to more downtime, higher risk, and unexpected repair costs over time. In construction, where delays directly affect schedules, labor, and billing, the long-term cost of unreliable IT support frequently outweighs the short-term savings. Choosing a pricing model that aligns with how your teams actually work is usually more cost-effective than simply choosing the lowest monthly number.

Security Costs That Affect Pricing

Security is one of the biggest factors that influences the cost of managed IT for construction companies, especially as job sites become more connected and project data moves into cloud platforms. While basic IT support focuses on keeping systems running, security services are designed to prevent downtime, data loss, and financial damage before problems occur.

One of the most common security requirements included in managed IT is MFA, or multi-factor authentication. MFA adds an extra layer of protection to logins by requiring users to verify their identity in more than one way. In addition to a password, employees might need to approve a login from their phone or enter a temporary code. For construction companies using Microsoft 365, email, or Procore, MFA significantly reduces the risk of account takeovers, wire fraud, and unauthorized access. While MFA itself is not expensive, implementing and managing it across all users adds to the overall cost of a managed IT plan.

Endpoint protection and backups are also core security components that affect pricing. Endpoint protection monitors laptops, tablets, and desktops for malware, ransomware, and other threats, including devices used in the field. Backups ensure that project files, emails, and business data can be restored quickly if systems are compromised or fail. For construction firms, backups are especially critical because losing drawings, schedules, or accounting data can halt operations and delay projects. More advanced monitoring, faster recovery options, and secure cloud backups typically increase monthly IT costs but reduce risk significantly.

Email security and phishing protection are another major cost driver. Construction companies are frequent targets for phishing attacks, fake invoices, and vendor impersonation scams. Managed IT providers often include advanced email filtering, threat detection, and user protection tools to reduce these risks. Stronger email security lowers the chance of financial loss and data breaches but adds to the overall service price compared to basic spam filtering alone.

Finally, many construction companies face security requirements driven by compliance standards or cyber insurance policies. Insurers increasingly require specific protections such as MFA, regular backups, endpoint monitoring, and documented security practices before issuing or renewing coverage. Meeting these requirements can raise managed IT costs, but failing to do so can result in denied claims or higher insurance premiums. In this context, security spending becomes less of an optional upgrade and more of a necessary part of doing business.

Together, these security measures play a major role in determining how much managed IT costs for construction companies with 10-25 employees. While they add to the monthly investment, they also protect against the much higher costs associated with breaches, downtime, and insurance complications.

Onsite vs. Remote Support Cost Differences

One of the biggest factors that affects managed IT pricing for construction companies is the balance between remote and onsite support. Many day-to-day issues can be resolved remotely, such as email problems, software errors, or user access issues. Remote support is efficient and cost-effective, which is why it’s often included as an unlimited service in managed IT plans. However, construction environments frequently require onsite assistance, and that’s where costs can begin to vary.

Onsite support becomes necessary when issues involve physical equipment, networks, or job-site infrastructure. This includes setting up new offices or trailers, troubleshooting internet connectivity, configuring firewalls or Wi-Fi equipment, deploying new laptops or tablets, or resolving problems that can’t be fixed without being physically present. In construction, job sites are often temporary, spread out, or reliant on unstable internet connections, making onsite expertise especially valuable.

Job-site networking and emergency visits are another area that impacts pricing. Internet outages at a job trailer, failed routers, or damaged cabling can bring field operations to a standstill. Emergency onsite visits, particularly outside normal business hours, may be billed differently depending on the managed IT agreement. Some plans include a set number of onsite visits per month, while others charge separately for emergency or after-hours support. The more job sites a company operates at one time, the more important it becomes to understand how onsite support is priced.

Local managed IT providers often help reduce these costs by responding faster and minimizing downtime. An MSP that understands local job sites, service providers, and permitting environments can resolve issues more quickly than a distant or purely remote provider. Faster response means fewer lost labor hours, fewer scheduling delays, and less disruption to project timelines. For construction companies, this difference can have a direct impact on overall operating costs, making local onsite support an important consideration when evaluating managed IT pricing.

How to Budget IT Without Surprises

Budgeting for managed IT without unexpected costs starts with understanding exactly what should be included in your contract. For construction companies, this means confirming that helpdesk support, security services, device management, and support for tools like Microsoft 365 and Procore are clearly defined. It’s also important to understand how onsite support is handled, whether job-site networking is included, and how after-hours or emergency situations are billed. A clear contract sets expectations upfront and prevents confusion when issues arise.

There are also common red flags in MSP pricing that can lead to surprise expenses later. Very low monthly pricing often signals limited coverage, slow response times, or critical services being excluded. Vague language around “best effort” support, extra fees for onsite visits, or security services listed as optional add-ons can quickly increase costs once the contract begins. Construction companies should be cautious of pricing that looks too good to be true, as it often shifts risk back onto the business.

Before signing with a managed IT provider, asking the right questions can make all the difference. Construction companies should ask how quickly support requests are answered, what happens when a job site loses internet, how security incidents are handled, and whether the provider has experience supporting construction workflows. Clarifying these points in advance helps ensure IT costs remain predictable and aligned with how the business actually operates, reducing surprises and keeping projects on track.

A 15-employee construction company paying $165 per user/month reduced emergency IT costs by 35% and avoided job-site downtime that previously caused $20,000+ annually in delays.