MSP stands for Managed Service Provider. The textbook definition of an MSP is, "An information technology services provider that manages and assumes responsibility for providing a defined set of services to its clients either proactively or as the MSP (not the client) determines that services are needed.”

The short answer is “whatever they choose” and there is no perfect answer in the MSP industry. The unfortunate truth is that it’s up to you, as the consumer, to be aware of what you need and don’t need, and to make the best choice based upon the best information you can obtain.

I don't want to leave you with just this though! Many MSPs plans (if they are worth their salt) should have Technical Support, Monitoring & Alerts, Patching & Updating, Security, and a Business Continuity & Disaster Recovery plan. Check out our blog post for more information.

It's difficult to narrow down the whole MSPs pricing model to a single number, as there are many qualifiers that determine price in our world. So instead, I’ll give you some ballpark numbers. As of the time of this writing, under the per-user pricing model, top MSPs charge around $150-$175 per user. If you would like more information on pricing, please read our full article on how MSPs create contracts and determine price.