sync: Auto-sync from Mac at 2026-02-03 06:37:19

MSP Buyers Guide updates:
- Created NoPagination HTML version (continuous scroll)
- Reordered checklist (pricing question first)
- Added GPS acronym explanation (Guru Protection Services)
- Revised Red Flag 2: High-Pressure Sales Tactics
- Added Block Time section with pricing and use cases
- Added cost justification notes for industry ranges
- Updated contact to info@azcomputerguru.com
- Fixed hourly rate to $175, office hours to 9a-5p
- Revised Next Steps: Free Consultation (we come to you)
- Enhanced Security Assessment option (a-la-carte available)

Machine: Mac
Timestamp: 2026-02-03 06:37:19

Co-Authored-By: Claude Opus 4.5 <noreply@anthropic.com>

projects/msp-pricing/marketing/MSP-Buyers-Guide-Content.md

@@ -46,6 +46,7 @@ Inside you'll find:
 
 You should read this guide if:
 
+- [ ] You don't know what you should be paying for IT services
 - [ ] You're comparing MSP quotes and the prices vary wildly
 - [ ] You've been burned by an IT company that over-promised and under-delivered
 - [ ] Your current IT provider keeps hitting you with surprise charges
@@ -53,7 +54,6 @@ You should read this guide if:
 - [ ] You need cyber insurance but your IT setup doesn't meet the requirements
 - [ ] You've been quoted "unlimited support" and wonder what the catch is
 - [ ] You're stuck in a long contract with an MSP you'd like to fire
-- [ ] You don't know what you should be paying for IT services
 
 If you checked ANY of these boxes, keep reading.
 
@@ -101,29 +101,31 @@ An MSP promises "unlimited support" for a flat monthly fee. It sounds great - un
 Transparent pricing with clearly defined service levels. A good MSP will tell you exactly what's included, what the response times are, and what happens when you exceed your plan.
 
 **GPS Example:**
-Our Standard Support Plan includes 4 hours of labor per month at $380 ($95/hour effective rate). You know exactly what you're getting. Need more? You can add non-expiring block time at $100-150/hour. No surprises.
+Our Standard Support Plan includes 4 hours of labor per month at $380 ($95/hour effective rate). You know exactly what you're getting. Need more? Add prepaid block time ($100-150/hour) that never expires. Or skip the monthly plan entirely and just bank hours to use when you need them. No surprises either way.
+
+> **What is GPS?** Throughout this guide, you'll see references to GPS - that's **Guru Protection Services**, the managed IT and security packages we've developed at Arizona Computer Guru. We use GPS examples to show how a transparent MSP handles each situation.
 
 **Key Question:**
 "What happens when I use all my included hours? What's the overage rate and response time?"
 
 ---
 
-### Red Flag 2: Hidden Pricing and "Call for Quote"
+### Red Flag 2: High-Pressure Sales Tactics
 
 **The Problem:**
-The MSP won't publish pricing on their website. Everything is "call for a custom quote." You can't comparison shop because you don't know what anything costs.
+You just want a ballpark price, but the MSP insists you sit through a multi-step sales process first. They push hard to "get you on the calendar," require discovery calls before sharing any numbers, and make you feel like you're being sold to rather than helped.
 
 **Why It Happens:**
-Sales-driven MSPs use pricing opacity to maximize what they can charge each customer. They're betting you won't shop around if the process is painful enough.
+Sales-driven MSPs are trained to control the process. They want you committed before you can comparison shop. If getting basic pricing feels like navigating a used car lot, imagine what getting support will feel like.
 
 **What to Look For Instead:**
-Published pricing or clear pricing structures. You should be able to ballpark your costs before you ever talk to a salesperson.
+An MSP who will give you straight answers. It's fine if they want to meet in person - technology can be complicated, and a good MSP wants to understand your actual needs. But you shouldn't have to endure high-pressure tactics just to learn what you'll pay.
 
 **GPS Example:**
-Our pricing is published: $19-39/endpoint depending on the protection tier, $200-850/month for support plans based on hours included. You can calculate your costs before you call us.
+We like meeting clients in person when possible - not for sales pressure, but because it's easier to understand your setup when we can see it. When you point at a box and call it a router (but it's actually an access point), we can translate that in real-time. We'll share our pricing upfront, explain things in plain English, and never make you feel stupid for asking questions. Many IT people are dismissive or condescending - that's never tolerated here. We're kind, direct, and honest.
 
 **Key Question:**
-"Can you send me a rate sheet or pricing guide before we schedule a sales call?"
+"Can you give me a general idea of pricing before we meet? How does your sales process work?"
 
 ---
 
@@ -238,6 +240,8 @@ Let's talk numbers. Here are industry benchmarks for MSP services:
 - GPS-Pro: $26/endpoint (business protection - MOST POPULAR)
 - GPS-Advanced: $39/endpoint (maximum protection, compliance tools)
 
+*How we determined these ranges:* These figures reflect pricing we've observed from competing MSPs in the Arizona market, industry surveys from MSP trade organizations, and vendor pricing for the underlying security tools. Ranges vary based on what's included - lower-priced tiers typically include basic RMM and antivirus, while higher tiers bundle advanced EDR, email security, dark web monitoring, and compliance tools. Our GPS pricing includes more features at each tier than the industry average.
+
 **Support Plans (monthly labor included):**
 - 2-4 hours/month: $200-400/month ($85-100/hour effective)
 - 6-10 hours/month: $540-850/month ($85-90/hour effective)
@@ -300,6 +304,8 @@ You hire a local tech who charges $65/hour and promises to "only charge when you
 
 Compare that to a GPS-Pro plan ($665/month = $7,980/year) that would have prevented both incidents through monitoring and patching.
 
+*About these estimates:* The $65/hour rate reflects typical break-fix technician pricing in the Tucson market. Productivity loss is calculated at $50/hour per employee (conservative for professional services). Ransomware recovery costs ($8,500) reflect data recovery services and emergency labor - actual ransoms average $50,000-200,000 for small businesses according to Sophos research. The $10,000 cyber insurance deductible is typical for small business policies. These are conservative estimates based on incidents we've helped clients recover from.
+
 ---
 
 ### The True Cost of Downtime
@@ -513,24 +519,38 @@ We never want to be the company someone is trapped with.
 | Premium | $540 | 6 hours | $90/hour | 4 hours |
 | Priority | $850 | 10 hours | $85/hour | 2 hours, 24/7 |
 
-Compare to our full hourly rate: $150-165/hour for non-plan clients.
+Compare to our full hourly rate: $175/hour for non-plan clients.
+
+**Note:** Support plan hours are use-it-or-lose-it each month - they do not roll over.
 
 **Real Example:**
 - Client on Standard Support ($380/month) used 3.5 hours in a typical month
-- Value: 3.5 × $165 = $577.50
+- Value: 3.5 × $175 = $612.50
 - They paid: $380
-- Savings: $197.50/month ($2,370/year)
+- Savings: $232.50/month ($2,790/year)
 
 **What Happens If You Go Over?**
 1. Support plan hours used first (included in your monthly fee)
 2. Prepaid block time used next (if you've purchased any)
 3. Overage billed at $175/hour (still better than emergency rates elsewhere)
 
-**Block Time Option:**
-- Purchase 10, 20, or 30 hours at $100-150/hour
-- Never expires
-- Great for projects or seasonal businesses
-- Available to anyone (you don't need a support plan)
+### Prepaid Block Time: Hours That Never Expire
+
+Many clients prefer prepaid block time over monthly support plans. Here's why:
+
+| Block Size | Price | Effective Rate |
+|------------|-------|----------------|
+| 10 Hours | $1,500 | $150/hour |
+| 20 Hours | $2,600 | $130/hour |
+| 30 Hours | $3,000 | $100/hour |
+
+**Key difference:** Block time never expires. Support plan hours reset monthly. If you don't use your 4 hours this month, they're gone. Block time stays in your account until you use it - whether that's next month or next year.
+
+**Two ways to use block time:**
+- **Standalone:** Skip the monthly plan entirely. Bank hours and use them when you need them. Great for businesses with unpredictable IT needs or seasonal fluctuations.
+- **Supplement:** Pair with a support plan. Your monthly hours cover routine needs, and block time handles overflow or special projects without surprise overage rates.
+
+Many of our clients prefer the flexibility of block time - they pay once, use hours as needed, and never worry about "wasting" unused monthly hours.
 
 ---
 
@@ -670,7 +690,7 @@ Reactive break-fix means they profit when you have problems. Proactive monitorin
 - "If you exceed your plan hours, we bill additional time at $X/hour. Or you can purchase prepaid block time at a discounted rate."
 
 **GPS Answer:**
-- "Your plan hours are used first. If you go over, we use any prepaid block time you've purchased ($100-150/hour). If you don't have block time, we bill overages at $175/hour. Most months, clients stay within their plan."
+- "Plan hours are used first, but they don't roll over month-to-month. If you go over, we draw from any prepaid block time you've banked ($100-150/hour depending on block size). Block time never expires, so many clients keep a reserve. No block time? Overages bill at $175/hour. Some clients skip monthly plans entirely and just use block time - it's more flexible if your IT needs are unpredictable."
 
 ---
 
@@ -844,18 +864,14 @@ EDR, email security, dark web monitoring, security training, compliance tools. E
 
 ### Next Steps: Three No-Pressure Options
 
-**Option 1: Get a Custom Quote (15 minutes)**
+**Option 1: Free Consultation**
 
-Tell us about your business:
-- How many computers/servers?
-- What industries/compliance needs?
-- Current IT pain points?
+Let's have a conversation about your IT needs - no pitch, no pressure. We offer free consultations for prospective clients, and we prefer to come to you. It's more convenient for you, and it gives you the chance to show us the pain points firsthand - the server closet that runs hot, the printer that jams every Tuesday, the workflow that takes too many clicks.
 
-We'll send you a detailed quote with our recommendations. No sales pressure. No follow-up calls unless you ask.
+We'll give you honest feedback and recommendations, whether that leads to working with us or not. Sometimes the best advice we give is "your current IT team is doing fine - here's one thing they could improve."
 
 **Call:** 520.304.8300
-**Email:** mike@azcomputerguru.com
-**Web:** azcomputerguru.com/quote
+**Email:** info@azcomputerguru.com
 
 ---
 
@@ -867,9 +883,12 @@ We'll scan your network for vulnerabilities:
 - Phishing susceptibility
 - Cyber insurance readiness
 
-You get a detailed report with prioritized fixes. No obligation to use us for remediation.
+You get a detailed report with prioritized fixes. No obligation to use us afterward.
 
-**Schedule:** azcomputerguru.com/security-assessment
+This is also a great way to validate that your current IT team is doing well. If everything checks out, you'll have peace of mind. If there are gaps, you'll know exactly what to address.
+
+**Initial scan:** Free for prospective clients
+**Recurring penetration tests and security scans:** Available a-la-carte, even if you don't use us as your primary IT provider
 
 ---
 
@@ -888,11 +907,11 @@ If you end up choosing us, great. If you choose someone else but make a better d
 Tucson, AZ 85710
 
 **Phone:** 520.304.8300
-**Email:** mike@azcomputerguru.com
+**Email:** info@azcomputerguru.com
 **Web:** azcomputerguru.com
 
 **Office Hours:**
-Monday-Friday: 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
+Monday-Friday: 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
 Emergency Support: 24/7 for Priority Support clients
 
 ---