Your IT budget doesn’t have to start with a blank spreadsheet and a round of educated guesses.
Your IT service provider already has insight into many of the costs that could be coming next, from equipment nearing replacement to upcoming renewals and technology approaching end of support.
Combine that with what you have planned for the business, and you can head into next year with fewer surprise expenses and a much clearer picture of where your IT dollars may need to go.
Here are five things your IT partner should help you forecast before the budget is finalized.
1. Which equipment is approaching replacement
Older hardware may start slowing down, needing more repairs or taking up more IT time.
Your IT provider should know the age and condition of your computers, servers, networking equipment and other critical technology. They should also know which equipment is causing problems and whether it’s still covered by a warranty. Ask them what will likely need replacing in the next 12 to 24 months and what can wait.
Keep an eye on devices that were bought around the same time and could be due for replacement in the same budget year.
2. What technology is approaching end of support
Software vendors eventually stop issuing updates and patches for older products. When that happens, the software doesn’t stop working. It just stops being maintained.
If a new vulnerability is discovered after support ends, there may be no fix coming from the vendor. That makes it easier for cybercriminals to access your systems, steal data or disrupt your business.
Your IT partner should know which products are approaching those dates and let you know early. Windows Server 2016, for example, reaches end of support in January 2027. Office 2021 reaches end of support in October 2026. If you rely on either, the cost of upgrading should already be part of your budget planning.
Something can be working perfectly well and still need to be part of next year’s budget.
3. Which renewals are coming
Technology spending goes beyond buying new equipment. Software subscriptions, licensing agreements, warranties and other recurring services all renew on different schedules, and the notices don’t always arrive with much lead time.
Your technology provider should help map those costs out ahead of time, including any known price increases. That gives you a chance to review what you’re paying for, what you still need and whether anything can be cut before you renew.
4. Where recurring problems could become bigger expenses
How often are you paying to fix the same problem? Maybe it’s the same computers behind repeated support calls, a system employees constantly complain is slow or a piece of equipment that seems to need another repair every few months.
If the same issues keep taking up time and money, there comes a point when fixing what you have is no longer the best use of either. Your IT provider should help you recognize when the math starts to favor replacement over repair. That gives you time to budget for the larger fix instead of being forced into it later.
5. How your business plans could change your technology needs
Your IT service provider understands your technology. What they can’t forecast on their own is where the business is headed.
Hiring five people, for example, could mean five new computers, additional software licenses, security protections and support costs. Opening another location could require new equipment, connectivity and infrastructure. The earlier those plans are shared, the more lead time your technology adviser has to factor the associated costs into your forecast.
Build a more confident IT budget
You shouldn’t have to figure out next year’s technology costs on your own.
We help businesses get a better handle on the technology costs coming their way. We’ll review what you have today, identify equipment that may need replacing, account for upcoming renewals and end-of-support dates, and factor your business plans into the budget.
Whether you’re finalizing next year’s numbers or just getting started, we can help you plan with fewer unknowns.
Schedule a 10-minute discovery call to get started and let’s take a look at what’s ahead.
