Per-User vs. Flat Fee: What is the Best MSP Pricing Model?
One of the most defining decisions a Managed Services Provider (MSP) makes isn't technical—it's financial. How you price your services shapes not only your profitability but also your client relationships, your operational efficiency, and ultimately, your valuation.
Many MSPs still cling to legacy models: hourly billing, flat fees, or per-user pricing. But as client expectations evolve and the demand for transparency and results increases, it's time to rethink your pricing strategy. Should you stick with traditional models, or is it time to move toward value-based or outcome-based pricing?
What Should Be In Your MSP Onboarding Checklist?
Repeatability is the key to growth. If your onboarding process is reinvented for every client, it becomes a bottleneck that drags down your team and increases delivery risk. That’s why your checklist must be:
Standardized: Applied consistently across all new clients
Flexible: Accommodates slight variations without becoming bespoke
Documented: Supported by templates, SOPs, and internal tools
Tracked: Integrated into your PSA for accountability and reporting
This structure allows you to onboard more clients, faster, while maintaining a high standard of delivery. It also gives your operations team confidence that what was sold can actually be fulfilled—without pig tossing or scope confusion.