Should You Outsource IT or Hire In-House?

November 4, 2025

Your laptop crashed. Your website's down. Your team can't access their files. You need IT help, but should you hire someone full-time or call in outside help? For most businesses, the answer is clear.

Why Managed IT Wins for Small and Medium Businesses

You get a whole team, not just one person. When you hire in-house, you get one person with one skill set. They go on vacation, get sick, or quit—and you're stuck. With managed IT, you get an entire team of specialists available whenever you need them.


Your costs stay predictable and low. A full-time IT person costs $70,000-$100,000+ per year when you factor in salary, benefits, taxes, and equipment. Managed IT? You pay a flat monthly fee—often less than half that cost—with no surprises.


You only pay for what you need. A solopreneur doesn't need 40 hours of IT support per week. Even a 50-person company might only need 10-15 hours. Why pay for a full-time salary when you can pay for actual usage?


You get enterprise-level expertise. One person can't know everything about cybersecurity, cloud systems, networks, and software. Our team includes specialists in every area, so you get the right expert for every problem.


We're proactive, not reactive. In-house IT often waits for things to break. We monitor your systems 24/7, catch issues before they become disasters, and keep everything running smoothly.


When Does In-House Make Sense?

Honestly? For most businesses under 100 employees, it doesn't.


In-house IT makes sense if you're a large enterprise with hundreds of employees, you're handling incredibly sensitive data with strict on-site requirements, or your entire business is built on proprietary technology.


Even then, many companies use a hybrid model: one in-house coordinator plus managed IT support.


The Real Cost Breakdown

Let's be honest about what an in-house IT person actually costs:


Salary: $50,000-$80,000

Benefits & taxes: Add 30-40%

Equipment: $2,000-$5,000

Training: $1,000-$3,000/year

Downtime when they're out: Priceless (and painful).

Total: $70,000-$110,000+ per year for one person with limited expertise.


Managed IT: $150-$300/month for solopreneurs, $1,000-$3,000/month for growing businesses. That's $1,800-$36,000 per year for an entire expert team.


The math isn't even close.


What You Get With Managed IT

Immediate support when something breaks

Proactive monitoring to prevent problems

Regular updates and maintenance you don't have to think about

Cybersecurity protection that actually works

Scalability as you grow—no new hires needed

Peace of mind knowing experts have your back


The Bottom Line

Unless you're running a Fortune 500 company, hiring in-house IT is expensive and inefficient. Solopreneurs, small businesses, and even medium-sized companies get better service, better expertise, and better value with managed IT. You wouldn't hire a full-time mechanic just because you drive a car. You go to a shop when you need help. Your IT should work the same way—except we're always watching, always ready, and always one step ahead of problems. Focus on growing your business. Let us handle the tech.

Important Service Update: We're Coming to You

December 1, 2025
We've made an exciting change to how we serve our customers at Top City Tech. We are moving away from walk-in or drop-offs at our shop. Instead, we're bringing our expertise directly to you. We are now picking up devices from you, working on them, and returning them to you! Why This Change Benefits You Your time is valuable. We realized that requiring you to pack up your computer, drive to our shop, wait for service, and make another trip to pick it up was costing you hours of productivity. By coming to you, we're eliminating that hassle entirely. Faster turnaround. Without the overhead of managing a retail storefront, we can focus entirely on solving your technical problems quickly and efficiently. Many issues can be resolved on-site during our first visit, getting you back to work the same day. More personalized service. Seeing your technology in its actual working environment helps us provide better solutions. We can address network issues, printer connectivity, and other problems that only show up in your specific setup. How Our New Process Works 1. We Pick Up . Schedule a convenient time, and we'll come to your location to collect your equipment. No packing, no driving, no waiting in line. 2. We Do the Work . Your device gets our full attention in our workshop. We'll keep you updated on progress and any findings along the way. 3. We Return Everything . Once the work is complete, we deliver your equipment back to you, set it up if needed, and make sure everything is working perfectly before we leave. The Bottom Line This transition allows us to provide you with white-glove service that respects your time and delivers better results. You stay productive while we handle the technical heavy lifting. Ready to schedule a pickup? Send us an email, call, or text to get this started. Note : We no longer offer electronics recycling services. For recycling, please contact Mobile Wave Repair or Shawnee County Hazardous Waste to check on availability and capacity.

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