Comparison
Four ways to get AI working in your business, and the honest case for each.
DIY fits one simple, low-stakes workflow in one tool. An in-house hire fits continuous, heavy AI work. A consultant or an agency fits multiple workflows with real stakes and no engineers on staff, and the label matters less than whether one accountable partner takes you from audit to working automation and training. Ask what is delivered and what happens in the first 21 days.
The four options
DIY
Best for a single low-stakes task in one tool. Cheapest, but your time is the cost, and nobody checks the design.
In-house
Best when AI work will be a full-time job. Most small businesses are not there, and a hire adds payroll.
Consultant
Strong on mapping workflows and choosing tools. Check whether they also build, or only advise.
Agency
Strong on execution. Check whether they start from your problem or from the product they sell.
Consultant vs agency
A consultant may only advise, and an agency may only build. What matters is whether one accountable partner takes you from audit through working automation and training. Our guide to what an AI consultant does lists the four deliverables to expect from anyone you hire, and the red flags to avoid.
We are a studio that does both: the audit, the build and the training, under a fixed scope. See our AI consulting services and AI automation pages for how that works in practice.
Not sure which route fits you?
Book a free strategy session →How to decide
Is it one workflow or several? One simple task suits DIY. Several suit outside help. Do you have engineers on staff? If not, in-house is a hire and not a shortcut. Is the work continuous? Only then does an in-house role pay off. How much risk is there? Where mistakes cost money, you want testing and human review designed in.
You can also start small. Try the time audit tool for a free preview of where your hours go, or read AI for small business if you run a smaller shop.
Where we stand
We are not the right fit for everyone. If you need one simple automation, DIY may serve you better, and we say so. If AI will be a full-time job for you, hire in-house. Our Workflow Audit starts at $1,000, so you can test the fit before committing to a build.
FAQ
Q1
Mostly packaging. A consultant may only advise and an agency may only build. What matters is whether one partner covers audit, build and training.
Q2
For a single low-stakes workflow in one tool. Start there if that is your situation.
Q3
When AI work will be a continuous, full-time job. Most small businesses are not at that point.
Q4
Ask for a fixed scope and price, ask to see real builds, and ask what happens in the first 21 days. Fuzzy answers are a warning sign.
Ready when you are
Free 30-minute strategy session. No pitch, and you leave with a plan whether you hire us or not.