The Real Cost of Colocation Is Never on the Quote Sheet

Initial shortlist delivery takes 24–48 hours from a complete requirements brief. From shortlist to signed contract typically runs 2–6 weeks depending on provider diligence requirements, legal review, and your internal approval process. We compress the provider identification and comparison phases, which are typically the longest and most frustrating parts of self-managed procurement.

In primary US markets, all-in MRC per full rack (40–42U, 5–8kW usable, 1Gbps unmetered bandwidth, cross-connects excluded) typically runs $900–$1,600/month depending on market. Add $200–$600/month per cross-connect in carrier-heavy markets. Secondary and regional markets typically run 20–35% lower. We provide market-specific estimates as part of your shortlist.

Consultants charge project fees — typically $10K–$50K+ for a full procurement engagement. We’re a matching platform: free to use, provider-funded through referral fees, and focused specifically on identifying and comparing providers rather than designing your full infrastructure architecture. If you need build-to-suit design or complex hybrid architecture work, a consultant makes sense. If you need the right colo for 2–40 racks with real pricing fast, we’re the better fit.

No. Providers share their existing sales commission with us, the same way they’d pay an in-house salesperson. You pay exactly what you’d pay going direct. Often less, because our relationships give us access to pre-negotiated pricing tiers and mid-tier providers who don’t list prices publicly.

The basics: target location(s), number of racks or rack units, kW per rack (or server wattage if you’re not sure), bandwidth requirements, any compliance needs, and your target timeline. If you don’t have all of this pinned down yet, we can help scope it during the intake process.

Yes. Multi-site is one of our core use cases, especially for teams needing consistent pricing and contract terms across markets where each provider quotes differently. We normalize the comparison matrix across all target metros so you’re making apples-to-apples decisions.

The most common surprises: (1) power billing on breaker rating vs. usable kW — a real 20–30% cost gap; (2) ‘unmetered’ bandwidth with fair-use clauses that cap throughput; (3) cross-connect fees not included in base quotes; (4) automatic renewal clauses with 90-day notice windows; (5) annual escalators buried in addenda; (6) remote hands rate cards not published upfront. We flag all of these in your comparison matrix before negotiation.

A carrier-neutral facility does not own or exclusively resell network services. It allows any carrier to bring fiber into the building, giving you choice and pricing leverage. Carrier-owned facilities can lock you into their network or charge premiums for external access. For teams with specific carrier, latency, or cloud on-ramp requirements, carrier neutrality is a key procurement filter. We note this for every shortlisted provider.