Are IT Projects Included in Managed IT?
For a Las Vegas business, the important thing is to understand what happens when something needs to change, not just what is covered during normal day-to-day support.
Do Managed IT Services Include IT Projects?
Not always. Whether IT projects are included in managed IT services depends on how the MSP agreement is structured.
Some providers include project labor in the monthly fee. Others charge separately for migrations, infrastructure upgrades, office moves, and larger technology changes. Some use a combination of both. That is why it is worth looking beyond the advertised monthly price when comparing managed IT services.
That difference matters when comparing MSP proposals. Two providers can offer similar monthly pricing but handle the next major technology project very differently.
For a Las Vegas business, the important thing is to understand what happens when something needs to change, not just what is covered during normal day-to-day support.
What Happens When Your Business Needs a Technology Change?
This is where managed IT agreements can differ considerably.
Routine support is generally part of the recurring service. Larger changes may not be. A network upgrade, Microsoft 365 migration, office move, server replacement, or technology deployment for a new location can require additional planning and implementation.
Some MSPs include that labor as part of the managed service. Others scope it as a separate project. A hybrid agreement may include smaller changes while treating larger initiatives separately.
There is no single standard that applies across every MSP agreement. The important part is knowing where that line sits before you need the work.
For example, a business opening a second location may need new connectivity, network equipment, Wi-Fi, security configuration, and user setup. Whether that work is included in the monthly managed IT fee or handled as a separate project comes down to the agreement.
How MSP Project Pricing Is Usually Structured
There are three arrangements you will commonly encounter.
Included Project Labor
Some MSPs include qualifying project work within the recurring service. This can make costs easier to budget, but the agreement should still define what counts as an included project and whether there are limits.
Separate Project Pricing
The monthly fee covers ongoing managed services, while larger initiatives are scoped and priced separately. This gives the business a defined cost for a specific project rather than combining it with the recurring service.
Hybrid Pricing
Routine changes may be included, while larger migrations, infrastructure work, or other significant initiatives are billed separately.
The terminology matters less than the details. Before comparing monthly fees, compare what each provider considers managed services and what becomes project work.
Does "All-Inclusive" Mean Projects Are Included?
Not necessarily.
“All-inclusive” is not a universal definition in the MSP industry. One provider may use the term to describe support and project labor, while another may still charge separately for larger projects, hardware, software, licensing, or third-party services.
That is why an MSP proposal should be specific about both labor and technology costs.
A firewall replacement, for example, may involve engineering and installation labor as well as the firewall itself, licensing, and related services. An MSP may include one part of that cost while charging separately for the others.
When an MSP says its service is all-inclusive, ask what is actually included rather than relying on the label.
What Should Be Clear in Your MSP Agreement?
Before signing, make sure you can get straightforward answers to a few questions:
- Is project labor included in the monthly fee?
- Which types of projects are included?
- Are there limits on project size or scope?
- Are office moves and migrations treated as projects?
- Are hardware, software, licensing, and cloud services separate?
- How are project costs approved?
- What happens if the scope changes after work begins?
These details can make a bigger difference to the long-term cost of an MSP relationship than the monthly service price alone.
How RedPanda Approaches Managed IT and Projects
RedPanda Systems provides managed IT services as well as dedicated IT project support for businesses in Las Vegas and throughout Southern Nevada. Its project services cover larger technology initiatives such as infrastructure upgrades, migrations, and other planned changes that require dedicated implementation.
This also fits with The Butler Standard, RedPanda’s approach to anticipating technology needs instead of waiting for them to become disruptions. When a business is planning a move, upgrade, expansion, or migration, the scope and responsibilities should be understood before implementation starts.
RedPanda defines the scope, responsibilities, and costs before implementation begins so the client understands what is included in the managed agreement and what will be handled as a separate project. The objective is to prevent surprises and give the business a clear understanding of what to expect.
- Fill in our quick form
- We’ll schedule an introductory phone call
- We’ll take the time to listen and plan the next steps
Enter your name and email to get started today.
Frequently Asked Questions About Switching IT Providers
Do managed IT services include IT projects?
Not necessarily. Some MSPs include certain project labor within the monthly managed IT fee, while others charge separately for IT projects. Some use a hybrid model. The specific managed IT agreement determines what is included.
Are IT projects included in an all-inclusive managed IT agreement?
They can be, but “all-inclusive” does not have a standard definition. An agreement may include project labor while charging separately for hardware, software licenses, cloud subscriptions, or other third-party costs. Ask the MSP to define exactly what the monthly fee covers.
What is considered an IT project by an MSP?
It depends on the agreement, but projects commonly include office moves, infrastructure upgrades, server replacements, major hardware deployments, cloud migrations, network redesigns, and other defined changes that require planning and implementation beyond routine support.
Are hardware and software included in managed IT services?
Not necessarily. The managed IT fee generally covers the services provided by the MSP, while hardware, software licenses, cloud subscriptions, connectivity, and other third-party technology costs may be separate. The agreement should state how these costs are handled.
Does RedPanda Systems handle IT projects in Las Vegas?
Yes. RedPanda Systems provides IT project support for Las Vegas and Southern Nevada businesses, including infrastructure upgrades, migrations, and other planned technology changes.
What should I compare when reviewing MSP project fees?
Compare more than the project price. Look at whether labor is included, which technology costs are separate, what qualifies as a project, how scope changes are handled, and how project approvals work. This gives you a more accurate picture of the total cost of the MSP relationship.
Compare the Agreement, Not Just the Monthly Fee
Looking at other MSP questions? Explore the IT Support Buying Guides & Comparisons to compare managed IT services, pricing, projects, and other considerations before choosing a provider. The monthly managed IT price is only one part of the proposal.
If your business expects to move offices, add locations, replace infrastructure, migrate systems, or make other significant technology changes, understand how the MSP will handle that work before signing.
A clear agreement should tell you what is included, what becomes a project, and which costs remain separate.
Talk With RedPanda Systems About Managed IT and Project Costs
If you are comparing managed IT agreements or planning a technology project, talk with RedPanda Systems about what your business needs and how the work can be structured.