HOW TO HIRE · MARKETING, DESIGN & TECH

How to hire IT support in the UK
The checks, the questions and the paperwork.

No licence applies to IT support. Here is how to check rates, share access safely and protect your data.

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THE 60-SECOND VERSION

Hiring IT support in five steps

  1. Describe the faultWhat happens, since when, on which devices, and any error messages, with screenshots.
  2. Ask for the rate and minimumHourly rate, minimum charge, call-out fee and out-of-hours rates in writing.
  3. Share access safelyA separate account or a temporary remote session, never your passwords by email.
  4. Ask about their securityWhether the IT support firm holds Cyber Essentials certification, and how it protects client data.
  5. Get job notesA short record of what was done, for your own files.

BEFORE YOU BOOK

Check before you book

No register applies

No law licenses IT support technicians or firms in England, Wales, Scotland or Northern Ireland. Look at reviews from booked jobs, the written rates and how the technician will access your systems.

Ask for the rates, minimum charge and access method in writing.

Cyber Essentials certification

Cyber Essentials is the government-backed scheme, developed by the National Cyber Security Centre, that sets a minimum standard of five technical controls against common attacks. It is voluntary, but a growing number of organisations ask suppliers to hold it.

Ask whether the IT support firm is certified and when the certificate was issued. ncsc.gov.uk →

Your data and the ICO

A technician working on your systems can see personal data about your customers and staff. Data protection rules require it to be kept secure, and most businesses processing personal data must pay the ICO fee.

Ask how the IT support technician handles data they see and whether they are on the ICO register. gov.uk →

Reasonable care and skill (Consumer Rights Act 2015)

For a household, a trader's IT support must be carried out with reasonable care and skill; if it is not, you can ask for the work to be redone or a price reduction.

Keep the quote and the job notes. legislation.gov.uk →

VAT

IT support is standard-rated, so a registered IT support firm adds 20% to the hourly rate, the call-out fee and any out-of-hours rate. Registration becomes compulsory once an IT support firm has VAT-taxable turnover over £90,000 in any rolling 12 months; from then VAT must be charged and shown as a separate line on the invoice.

Ask the IT support firm for the VAT number when you sign up and for labour, call-out and VAT listed one by one. gov.uk →

“What is your IT support hourly rate and minimum charge?”

A good answer: A stated rate, minimum, any call-out fee and out-of-hours uplift.

“Will you fix it remotely or on site?”

A good answer: A recommendation; remote IT support is usually cheaper.

“How should I give you access?”

A good answer: A separate account or a remote session you start, removed when the job is done.

“Are you certified to Cyber Essentials?”

A good answer: Yes with a date, or an honest no and how they protect client systems.

“Will you stop and ask before going over an hour or two?”

A good answer: Yes; a technician should check before running up the bill.

“What will you do to stop the problem coming back?”

A good answer: Advice in plain words and a note of what was changed.

“Will I get notes of what IT support did?”

A good answer: A short written record for your files.

Getting the quote right

  • Hourly rate, minimum charge and call-out fee
  • Who actually attends on site or connects remotely: the IT support firm's employed engineers or a subcontracted engineer
  • Remote or on-site, with travel charges
  • Out-of-hours and urgent rates
  • Hardware and licences listed separately
  • How access is given and removed
  • The VAT number, with VAT at 20% on labour and the call-out fee

Walk away if

  • Asks for your passwords by email or phone
  • No stated rate or minimum before starting
  • Leaves remote access software running after the job
  • Cold calls offering to fix your computer
  • Installs software you did not agree to
  • No record of what was done
LOW
£75
TYPICAL
£120
HIGH
£150

What IT support costs: £75–£150 per hour

IT support is charged by the hour, usually with a minimum charge or call-out fee; businesses on a contract often pay less per hour. IT Support price guide →

Guide prices compiled by the Locufy team from published Irish and UK provider price lists and 2026/27 cost guides. Updated 2026.

KNOW WHAT TO LOOK FOR? NOW FIND ONE

IT support technicians near you, with the badges that matter shown

ID checked, trader status and one score from every review — on the card, before you message anyone. Nearest first. No account needed to look.

Or post the job free and let them come to you, or book by the hour.

  1. ReportThe fault described and the rate agreed.
  2. AccessRemote session or site visit arranged safely.
  3. DiagnosisThe cause found.
  4. FixThe problem fixed or a safe workaround put in place.
  5. NotesJob notes and advice, and access removed.

Remote support
A technician working on your computer over the internet with your permission.
Call-out fee
A charge for a technician to visit.
Minimum charge
The least you pay for any job, often an hour.
Cyber Essentials
The government-backed baseline cyber security certification.
Multi-factor authentication
A login that needs a second step, such as a code.
Patch
A software update that fixes a fault or security hole.

AFTER

When the job is done

Remove accessEnd remote sessions and delete any account created for the technician.
Change shared passwordsIf you shared a password, change it now.
File the job notesWith the invoice, so the next technician knows the history.
Share how it wentA few honest lines about the IT support technician help other people decide. If you are unhappy, start the make-it-right step and give them the chance to fix it.

STEP 1Put it to the IT support technician in writingWrite down what you expected from the IT support technician and what you actually received, and send it. Under section 49 of the Consumer Rights Act 2015 the job needed reasonable care and skill; if it lacked them, sections 55 and 56 let you ask for it redone or for a refund of part of the price.
STEP 2Use the make-it-right step on LocufyAny score below four stars opens the make-it-right step: the IT support technician hears about the problem first, and we follow it through before the review appears.
STEP 3Report it through the consumer helplineThere is no ombudsman for IT support technicians. Advisers at Citizens Advice (0808 223 1133, England and Wales), Advice Direct Scotland (0808 800 9060) or Consumerline (0300 123 6262, Northern Ireland) can explain your rights against the IT support technician and pass the case to Trading Standards.
STEP 4Go to small claimsA claim against the IT support technician can go, without a solicitor, to the small claims track in England and Wales (up to £10,000), simple procedure in Scotland (up to £5,000) or the small claims court in Northern Ireland (up to £5,000).

Hiring IT support: questions people ask

No. The work is unlicensed in every UK nation, with no register and no required qualification.

A voluntary government-backed scheme setting five basic technical controls against common cyber attacks. Many organisations ask their suppliers to hold it.

Yes, if you started the session with someone you booked, and it is closed afterwards. Never allow access from an unexpected caller.

Roughly £75–£150 per hour, typically £120. On-site visits, urgent or out-of-hours work and complex faults move the hourly rate. The IT support price guide shows what sits behind each figure; type your town above to find IT support technicians in your area.

For a household, a trader must use reasonable care and skill under the Consumer Rights Act 2015; ask for it to be put right.

Most ad-hoc jobs take one to three hours, often with a one-hour minimum.

MORE GUIDES

More hiring guides in marketing, design & tech

How to hire: Managed IT ServicesHow to hire: Network EngineerHow to hire: Computer Setup & InstallationHow to hire: Computer & Laptop RepairHow to hire: Cybersecurity ConsultantHow to hire: Data RecoveryHow to hire: Cloud ConsultantHow to hire: Virtual AssistantAll 701 hiring guides →

IT support technicians near you

IT support technicians in LondonIT support technicians in ManchesterIT support technicians in BirminghamIT support technicians in GlasgowIT support technicians in BelfastAll it support technicians on Locufy →

Sources — checked October 2026

  1. NCSC — Cyber Essentials overview
  2. gov.uk — data protection and your business
  3. Consumer Rights Act 2015, section 49 — reasonable care and skill
  4. Citizens Advice — more help with a consumer issue
  5. gov.uk — make a court claim for money: court fees
  6. VAT rates — VAT rates for goods and services: standard rate 20% on most goods and services
  7. GOV.UK — Register for VAT: when to register