Quick answer
For most small businesses, an outsourced IT partner works out better — broader expertise than a single employee, usually at a lower cost than a full-time salary.
Hiring an in-house technician seems like the logical move as a business grows — but for most small and mid-sized businesses, the cost-benefit doesn’t work out the way you’d expect.
The limit of one person’s expertise
An in-house technician, however good, can’t be an expert in networking, cybersecurity, cloud, and hardware all at once. An outsourced partner brings an entire team with different specialties.
When an in-house technician makes sense
For very large businesses with continuous, daily IT demand (50+ people), one in-house person for day-to-day needs, combined with an outsourced partner for specialized matters, is often the ideal setup.
- Outsourced partner: broader expertise, lower cost
- In-house technician: immediate physical presence, but limited expertise
- Combining both fits larger teams