How 10 MSP Clients Can Replace Your 9–5
The math behind building a $10K/month solo MSP — without staff, stress, or burnout.
Ever thought about starting your own MSP but worried the numbers wouldn’t add up?
You’re not alone.
For many skilled IT pros, the idea of going solo sounds like freedom–no boss, no politics, no bloated team to manage.
But then the doubts creep in:
Can I actually make enough to live on?
How many clients would I need?
What if I burn out?
Fair questions.
Today, we’ll answer one of the biggest:
Can you make real money on your own?
Because once you understand the economics, you'll realize:
You don’t need a big business to build a great life.
🎯 The Goal
Let’s start with a clear target:
$10,000/month in after-tax profit.
It’s a milestone that covers your lifestyle, builds cushion, and replaces most full-time salaries.
But remember–that’s after taxes and expenses.
To reach that point, you’ll need to reverse-engineer the revenue.
Here’s how the math works:
You’ll spend around $4,000/month on core tools: RMM, PSA, Security, Accounting, Hosting, and outsourcing.
To clear $10K after taxes (assuming a 25% effective rate), you’ll need $13,333/month in pre-tax profit.
Add it up, and your monthly revenue target becomes $17,333.
That number might feel big–until you realize how few clients it takes to get there.
🧑🏻💻 The Math
Most people overthink this part.
The truth?
It’s simple math–and it works.
The Solo MSP model isn’t about scale.
It’s about staying lean, running smart, and delivering high-margin services to a small group of clients who truly value what you do.
Here’s how different client counts stack up:
You get to decide.
Some prefer fewer, higher-paying clients.
Others opt for a slightly larger base at a lower rate.
Both paths work–the key is keeping costs fixed and value high.
This isn’t wishful thinking.
It’s straightforward math–and it works.
✅ The Takeaway
The Solo MSP model isn’t just doable.
It’s a smarter way to build.
Instead of chasing scale, you're designing for freedom.
Instead of managing people, you're managing margin.
And instead of building someone else’s business, you're building one that works for you.
With the right systems, pricing, and client fit, clearing $10K/month solo is often more profitable than running a traditional $1M MSP.
→ Fewer headaches.
→ More flexibility.
→ Real control.
You don’t need 100 clients, a downtown office, or a help desk team.
You need clarity, confidence–and 10 good clients.
But before you go out and try to land those clients…
You need something simple, valuable, and scalable to sell.
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