SetupBots vs. Hiring an In-House AI Team: Cost Comparison

You've decided AI automation is right for your business. Now the question: build an in-house team or partner with specialists like SetupBots? Let's do the math.

The True Cost of In-House AI

Salary Costs

**AI/ML Engineer:** $150,000-250,000/year **Data Engineer:** $130,000-180,000/year **Project Manager:** $100,000-140,000/year **Total Salary:** $380,000-570,000/year And that's before benefits, which add 20-30% to total compensation.

Infrastructure & Tools

**Cloud computing:** $2,000-10,000/month **AI/ML platforms:** $1,000-5,000/month **Development tools:** $500-2,000/month **Data storage:** $500-2,000/month **Total Tools:** $48,000-228,000/year

Hidden Costs

**Recruiting:** $30,000-50,000 per hire **Training & ramp-up:** 3-6 months of reduced productivity **Management overhead:** Your time coordinating **Turnover risk:** AI talent has 25% annual turnover

Total In-House Cost

**Year 1:** $500,000-900,000 **Ongoing:** $450,000-750,000/year

The SetupBots Alternative

Setup Costs

**Comprehensive AI Audit:** Free **6-Pillar Implementation:** $7,500-15,000 one-time **Custom Integrations:** $2,500-10,000 one-time **Total Setup:** $10,000-25,000

Ongoing Costs

**AI Usage (pass-through):** $500-2,000/month **Optional Support Retainer:** $1,500-5,000/month **Total Ongoing:** $24,000-84,000/year

Total SetupBots Cost

**Year 1:** $34,000-109,000 **Ongoing:** $24,000-84,000/year

Side-by-Side Comparison

| Factor | In-House | SetupBots | |--------|----------|----------| | Year 1 Cost | $500K-900K | $34K-109K | | Ongoing Cost | $450K-750K/yr | $24K-84K/yr | | Time to Value | 6-12 months | 4-8 weeks | | Scalability | Limited by headcount | Unlimited | | Technology Updates | Your responsibility | Included | | Risk | High (turnover, failure) | Low (proven systems) |

When In-House Makes Sense

Building internal capabilities might be right if: - AI is your core competitive advantage - You need highly custom ML models - You have $1M+ annual AI budget - You can attract and retain top AI talent

When SetupBots Makes Sense

Partnering with SetupBots is right if: - You want results in weeks, not months - Your AI budget is under $500K/year - You prefer predictable costs - You want to focus on your core business

The Hybrid Option

Some clients use SetupBots for implementation and initial optimization, then gradually build internal capabilities for ongoing management. We support this transition with knowledge transfer and documentation.

See Your Specific Numbers

Our free AI audit includes a custom cost comparison showing exactly what automation would cost for your specific situation—both SetupBots and in-house estimates.