Your complete IT department, for one predictable monthly investment.
Technology is essential to running your business, but managing it should not distract you from running your company. Hiring and maintaining a full-time IT department is not practical for many small and mid-sized businesses. That is where FD Consulting comes in.
We become an extension of your team, providing proactive IT support, cybersecurity protection, strategic guidance, and responsive service whenever you need it. Your systems stay monitored, maintained, and protected, all for one predictable monthly investment.
of all downtime incidents involve human error, most of them stemming from staff not following procedures. Managed IT exists to close that gap before it costs you.
The Network Installers, Cost of IT Downtime: Data & Trends 2026
Three tiers. One team. Choose the managed IT plan that's right for your business.
Every business has different technology needs. That is why we offer three service levels designed to fit your business, your security requirements, and your budget. Our team will help you determine which level is the best fit, without paying for services you do not need.
Bronze
A solid foundation for reliable day-to-day IT support: help desk services, remote monitoring and management, system maintenance, operating system and application patching, and ongoing technology support.
Get startedSilver
Best valueEverything included in Bronze, plus enhanced endpoint detection and response, employee cybersecurity awareness training, hardware and software audits, and expanded security monitoring to help protect your business from today's evolving threats.
Get startedGold
Our most comprehensive level of protection. Everything in Bronze and Silver, plus dark web monitoring, Microsoft 365 and Google Workspace backup protection, advanced email security, cloud detection and response, and extra layers of defense against phishing and emerging threats.
Get startedNot sure which level of support is right for your business? We will take the time to understand your business, discuss your current technology, and recommend the level of service that gives you the protection you need, without paying for services you do not. Call (269) 339-3165; the first conversation is free.
Many businesses are still using break-fix IT. Here's why that's costing them.
Break-fix support is the default: you work until something breaks, then you call someone, pay their hourly rate, and they fix it. No monitoring, no prevention, no plan. Break-fix labor averages $150 to $250 per hour, because it is urgent and reactive. And that is before the losses from downtime.
Break-fix: reactive
- You pay every time something breaks, with no predictability
- No one is watching your systems between service calls
- No preventive maintenance; small issues grow quietly
- Premium rates for emergencies and after-hours calls
- No IT strategy; techs fix the problem in front of them
- Security gaps go undetected, with no one responsible for closing them
Managed IT: proactive
- One predictable monthly cost, no surprise invoices
- Continuous monitoring catches issues before they cost you
- Scheduled maintenance keeps systems current and stable
- A helpdesk your team can actually reach
- A partner planning your technology alongside your business
- Documented security practices your insurer can review
What FD Consulting's managed IT services include.
Hardware & software management
End-to-end management of your business's technology.
Network creation & management
Building and maintaining the network your business runs on: reliable, secure, and designed to grow with you.
Cloud & off-site backups
Automated, verified backups stored off-site so your data survives hardware failure, ransomware, or anything else that goes wrong on-site.
Regular scheduled maintenance
Proactive patching, updates, and maintenance on a schedule, catching problems before they create unplanned downtime.
Help desk for your team
A real help desk your employees can actually reach for IT problems and questions.
Hardware & software installation
New device setup, software deployment, and hardware installation handled cleanly, so your team is productive from day one.
Custom technology planning
A plan for your future technology needs, built around where you are and where you plan to go.
Custom security plans
Security protocols built specifically for your business, to minimize risk and satisfy your cyber insurance requirements.
On-site IT services
When remote support is not enough, we come to you.
Built for two kinds of businesses.
Whether you have no IT staff at all, or one person stretched too thin to handle everything, our managed IT service fills the gap without the cost of a full-time hire.
No internal IT staff
Technology decisions are landing on the owner's desk, or getting made reactively when something breaks. FD Consulting becomes your IT department: the team your employees call, the people responsible for your systems, and the partner planning your technology alongside you.
IT needs that come in waves
Your IT staff are good at what they do, but a surge of help desk tickets, maintenance, and user support can leave no time for monitoring, patching, and planning. We extend your team's capacity and take the pressure off during peak periods.
FD Consulting is a technology business, but our real job is helping people get the most out of their technology. Partnering with us gives you 30+ years of IT experience and a custom plan built for your business. We pride ourselves on long-term partnerships.
What happens when you make the switch.
The transition to managed IT takes two to four weeks and is designed to cause zero disruption to your team.
Week 1: we learn your setup
We audit every device, system, and license, identify what needs immediate attention, and set clear expectations.
Weeks 1–2: monitoring begins
Monitoring starts on your most critical systems. Urgent issues are addressed first, with no interruption to operations.
Weeks 2–4: full onboarding
Your team learns how to reach us. We establish your service baseline and confirm backup and security protocols.
Ongoing: your IT runs
Regular check-ins, proactive maintenance on schedule, and a helpdesk without the wait. No surprises, no emergency bills.
A local partner, not an overseas help line.
FD Consulting, Inc. has been providing IT support to small and midsize businesses for over 30 years, and started in Battle Creek in 2009. When something goes wrong, you are not opening a ticket with a national call center. You are calling a team that knows your systems, knows your business, and responds accordingly.
- 30+ years of experience with the technology challenges business owners actually face.
- Custom plans built around your business's specific needs, size, and risk profile.
- Long-term partnerships. Many FD Consulting clients have been with us for years.
Common questions about managed IT.
What does managed IT services include?
Helpdesk support, remote monitoring, hardware and software management, network management, cloud and off-site backups, scheduled maintenance, security planning, installation, and on-site services as needed. The exact scope is built around your size, environment, and risk profile.
What's the difference between managed IT and break-fix?
Break-fix is reactive: you call when something breaks, pay an hourly rate ($150 to $250), and there is no monitoring between calls. Managed IT is proactive: your systems are monitored, issues are caught early, and you pay a predictable flat monthly fee. One incident can exceed years of managed IT fees.
How much does managed IT cost per month?
We price in three tiers: Bronze, Silver (best value), and Gold. A free risk assessment will tell you which tier makes sense for your business and what it costs.
How quickly do you respond when something breaks?
Response commitments are defined in your service agreement and vary by priority. A system-down emergency is treated differently from a routine question. Call us and we will give you specifics for your situation.
Do we still need our own IT person?
Not necessarily, but if you have one, FD Consulting works alongside them rather than replacing them.
What's the difference between managed IT and a virtual CIO?
Managed IT covers the operational layer: day-to-day support, monitoring, maintenance, security, and backups. A virtual CIO covers the strategic layer: roadmap, budgeting, and long-term planning. They complement each other, and many clients use both.
Does managed IT help with cyber insurance?
Yes, sometimes significantly. Carriers increasingly require documented evidence of monitoring, verified backups, active security controls, and incident response. Our managed IT service produces that documentation as a natural output of the work, so you can qualify for better coverage and lower premiums. Companies that partner with FD Consulting can save an average of $15,000 a year on cyber insurance.
Managed IT works best alongside
Virtual CIO Services
Managed IT keeps your technology running. A vCIO decides where it needs to go. Both layers, same team.
Cybersecurity Consulting
A security assessment identifies your gaps. Managed IT closes them, and keeps them closed through monitoring and patching.
Disaster Recovery Planning
Managed IT includes verified backups. A DR/BC plan documents exactly what happens if those backups ever need to be used.
Ready to stop reacting and start planning?
Get a free risk assessment. We will look at your current setup, identify what is at risk, and show you which tier makes sense for your business. No commitment required.