IT Support Companies in Bristol: Five Questions to Ask

 

Investing in IT as a small business seems an unjustified expense to many. With the cost of hardware on a steep rise due to memory costs and AI data centres, it seems like now is perhaps the worst time to research Managed Service Providers (MSPs), however, with no end in sight to the increased costs, today is as good as any day to start researching. In today’s blog, we look at 5 questions you can ask any managed service provider to get a better understanding of their services and how they may fit.

What Experience do you Have Supporting the IT of Businesses Like Ours?

Perhaps the most important question is understanding what experience the MSP has in supporting similar businesses to yourself. This is where you can gain knowledge and case studies from the IT company demonstrating their expertise. Pay very close attention to the sizes of business they support, how many users are in the organisation, what software they may use which overlaps with your business. Draw on any similarities you can find and if something you want to know isn’t mentioned, ask!

At Three Cherries, we make sure every stone doesn’t go unturned. Signing a contract with an MSP is a big stage for many businesses and we want to make sure we are the right fit for your organisation.

Are you a Proactive IT Support Company or a Reactive IT Support Company?

A good question to ask early on in conversations with any MSP is whether they are proactive or reactive when it comes to an IT issue. From our experience, we always suggest looking for a proactive IT support company. This is because it creates a much smoother path to growth than a reactive support company. Proactive MSPs will find where issues may come from, monitor those areas and react at the first signs of problem whereas with a reactive MSP, the issue will have well and truly set in before its noticed. It’s worth noting though, you may pay more for a proactive IT support company though.

Are You Able to Give us a Breakdown of Costs?

Absolutely, any good IT company should be able to give you a clear breakdown of costs if asked. Typically, if they wont, then they are probably hiding something or ripping you off. Transparency in IT is vital due to the sensitive nature of what is involved. We see it as a massive red flag if a provider is trying to redact information from anyone who asks.

Typically, expect to pay around £20/30 per user for IT support. Licences typically reflect the costs found online so its worth double checking to ensure you aren’t dropping valuable pennies here and there.

Do you Offer Waste Electronic Equipment Recycling?

Perhaps the most relevant topic in 2026 is waste electronics recycling. In our opinion, any decent MSP will offer WEE (Waste Electronic Equipment) recycling. Although this will come at a cost to rid your organisation of waste tech, it is imperative it is being done correctly and being recycled wherever possible to ensure it isn’t harming the environment and gets given a second chance.

If your organisation is aiming to go for B Corp or similar environmental certification, recycling of technology forms a cornerstone which must be adhered to. Most businesses with ethics in mind will opt for recycling. it is a good idea therefore to9 ensure the MSP you decide to use has this service on offer.

What is your Onboarding and Offboarding Process Like?

Finally, one important question to ask surrounds onboarding and offboarding. Understanding the process which the MSP takes is valuable and a question worth asking. Some IT support companies may require more involvement than others and depending on your availability, it is worth understanding how much of your time will be required.

Inevitably, there will be some requirement of your time to do these processes, however, getting clarification so you can choose the right time to begin a contract or cease a contract is good information.

Three Cherries: Helping Your Bristol Business Understand IT

At Three Cherries, we want every SMB to understand IT and the part it plays in their business. We understand not everyone has the appetite to learn technical areas; therefore, it is vital MSPs use as little jargon and techy terms as possible. If your business is struggling to understand IT, get in touch! We have been helping small to medium sized businesses in Bristol for over 26 years now across nearly every sector possible.