What does it cost to add one person?

Worth separating, because people quote each other a single number and then are surprised.

• Monthly managed service, per user. Our agreements are priced per person, so adding one adds one increment. It covers their support, their device management, security, and the backup included in the per user model for Microsoft 365 or Google Workspace.
• Their software license. Microsoft 365 or Google Workspace, billed per user per month, and the cost depends on which plan you are on. If your line of business software is also per seat, that is a third line and it is frequently the largest of the three.
• One time: the computer and setup. A business class laptop or desktop, plus configuration, plus whatever peripherals the role needs. We keep a standard build so new machines are consistent and quick to deploy.

Our published pricing is in ranges rather than exact figures, because what a user costs genuinely depends on the mix of workstations and servers, what security level you are at, and whether there is anything unusual in the environment. For a real number, tell us the role and we will price it properly, and it takes a few minutes.

Two things that save money and are worth knowing:

Licenses do not have to be bought forever. On monthly terms you can drop one when someone leaves. We see businesses paying for licenses belonging to people who left two years ago more often than we would like, which is one of the reasons we review license counts rather than letting them drift.

Buying computers one at a time is more expensive than planning. Not dramatically, but a standard model bought in a small batch, with a spare on the shelf, gets a new hire working the same day and avoids the rush order premium. If you know you are hiring three people this year, tell us in advance.