I'm running a co-working business and currently leasing Cisco Meraki gear through my ISP, Spectrum Enterprise. Our 3-year contract is ending soon, and I'm rethinking my options. The leased equipment costs us about $1000 a month, totaling around $36k over the contract, and we walk away with nothing at the end. I could buy the same or even updated equipment for about $20k, which saves us over $400 per month when amortized over three years, and we'd actually own it. I'm fairly tech-savvy, but not an expert. I do have a freelance IT guy I can call if I need help. Our network setup is pretty straightforward with vLANs, SSIDs, and basic security features. I've seldom needed to contact Spectrum support; if anything comes up, I usually just reach out to my IT guy. Given this, I'd love to hear your thoughts on whether purchasing outright would be a good idea or if I should stick with leasing?
4 Answers
I switched from Meraki to Ubiquiti after Cisco bought them, and it was a game changer. I manage several sites, and their equipment is reliable. You don’t need to be a network whiz to handle their systems either. For what you need, you could really save money by going with Ubiquiti while still having a good level of management and control.
Leasing can really keep you stuck with the ISP in the long run, plus if they go out of business, you lose your equipment too. Owning is definitely the way to go since you keep control. Have you thought about exploring Ubiquiti Unifi? They offer solid solutions at competitive prices and might be a better fit for your needs without the cloud tie-in headache.
Honestly, $36k for three years is a hefty price to pay for not much support. It sounds like Spectrum isn't really doing much for you anyway. If you're already handling things without calling them, why not just hire your own people to manage the network? Meraki’s pretty user-friendly for setups like yours, and you could save a lot by paying your engineer as needed for updates instead of leasing.
Before you make any decisions, make sure you're clear on the operational costs of owning versus leasing. If something fails, how long would it take for you to get a replacement? Spectrum probably has quicker turnaround times. But if you're okay diving into the management side, owning could save you money in the long run. Also, factor in if you’ll need to train your IT guy more or if you feel confident tackling things yourself.
Thanks for the insights! I did get a quote from a reseller for $16k, which feels more manageable. I’m not too worried about downtime since I believe I can handle most issues, or my IT guy can jump in. I appreciate the suggestions and will keep exploring Ubiquiti as an option!