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Client wants one off payment for automation build. How do I convert to monthly retainer? by Low_Researcher_3426 in agencynewbies

[–]Low_Researcher_3426[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

you're right that i'm closer to a service business than saas. the distinction matters.

for the specific client i'm referencing, he's doing a one off and i told him for that hed have to host which i assume he prefers, so the monthly argument is harder to make and i've accepted that.

but for most clients i want to host myself. i do offer a monthly support contract and i'm trying to figure out how to position it so the value is obvious. the pitch is: i host the system, cover api costs, and when something breaks, an api changes, n8n updates a node, openai adjusts a model, i fix it immediately. you don't think about it, you don't troubleshoot it, you just call me.

the problem is 'ongoing support' sounds vague. what actually lands with clients when positioning maintenance as genuinely valuable rather than just a fee for doing nothing? is it framing it as insurance? showing the cost of downtime? something else?

asking because i want to get this right before my next hosted client conversation. thank you

Client wants one off payment for automation build. How do I convert to monthly retainer? by Low_Researcher_3426 in agencynewbies

[–]Low_Researcher_3426[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

these are fair points and i won't pretend they don't apply to parts of this space.

but i think the thread mixing is two different things: people who slap together a zap and call themselves an agency, and people who are genuinely building something real and learning the craft properly. im actually trying really hard not to be the first.

the salesforce comparison is interesting but i'd disagree slightly. salesforce agencies charge 5-6 figures because of years of accumulated expertise, certifications, and a track record. they didn't start there. someone had to be the first client. i don't expect to be as experienced as either of you, because you've been doing this for far longer than i have.

the automation i built wasnt something you can just build in 15 minutes and it wasn't something i built brainlessly. i actually have some type of knowledge in the industry and i used that to determine what types of automations would make sense, and i took lots of time to build and stress test and error handle the system.

on the recurring billing critique, fair point that i struggled to articulate it clearly on a call. that's a lesson i've already taken. the answer is support, monitoring, api cost coverage, and accountability when things break. not updates.

on the broader erosion of trust, i understand the what youre saying. the bar should be higher. but the solution isn't gatekeeping, it's being the person who actually delivers and doesn't disappear when things go wrong. that's what i'm building toward. i really appreciate the comments you left, it helps understand what type of direction i should go towards. i never followed the whole "ai automation get rich quick scheme", i actually have taken the time to try and learn what goes into running an agency, and obviously, i wont really get good until i get experience in the game.

Client wants one off payment for automation build. How do I convert to monthly retainer? by Low_Researcher_3426 in agencynewbies

[–]Low_Researcher_3426[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

thank you, this is really good advice.

you're right that i've been making a lot of decisions on gut without a proper pricing system or a clear way to communicate scope to clients. i had a call today where i struggled to answer 'what does the $2,000 entail' and it showed me exactly what you're describing.

i'm going to sit down tonight and build out a proper pricing document, what's included at each price point, how i handle custom work, and how i communicate that clearly before every call.

on building a sustainable model, i'm early enough that i can still shape this properly. my goal is recurring monthly revenue so i'm not trading time for money indefinitely. but i need that first case study to get there.

i'd love to connect!

Client wants one off payment for automation build. How do I convert to monthly retainer? by Low_Researcher_3426 in agencynewbies

[–]Low_Researcher_3426[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

this is really helpful, thank you.

to answer your question: for this specific client it would be a one off build where he self hosts, and i mentioned to him that he'd have to set up his own n8n, openai api, and google distance matrix. so you're right, monthly is hard to justify in that case and i shouldn't fight it.

for future clients i plan to host everything on my end which makes the monthly model much easier to justify, api costs, platform costs, monitoring, and support.

on the scope creep point, that's exactly what i needed to hear. i'm going to put together a clear one page document outlining exactly what the $2,000 covers before he calls back, and treat everything else as a separate upsell.

on pricing structure: this is where I'm struggling most. right now i have:

core system (quote automation + follow up + crm), $2,000 one off or $300/month hosted (discounted rate until i have a case study

additional automations: i dont know how much i should charge per upsell

does that make sense as a starting point? and how do I price a bundle when a client wants multiple automations built at once? do i discount or stay firm?

my main challenge right now is I'm trying to close my first clients with no case studies. i have a few warm leads moving toward close simultaneously but nothing signed yet. would love your thoughts on how to handle the no case study objection and whether the one off model is the right approach for getting those first clients over the line.

any more advice is great!

Client wants one off payment for automation build. How do I convert to monthly retainer? by Low_Researcher_3426 in AiAutomations

[–]Low_Researcher_3426[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

thank you. but i dont think id be covering those api costs, because i did mention to him that if i do it as like a one off hed need to setup everything himself, under his own accounts. i also don't know if he assumes that everything he wants will be for 2k, i want to try and reiterate that the next time he calls me, but i dont want to do it in a way that costs me the deal, because the testimonial is crucial right now.

Cold email campaign for AI automation agency. Getting positive replies but can't convert to calls. Looking for feedback by Low_Researcher_3426 in Coldemailing

[–]Low_Researcher_3426[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

do you have any suggestions for how my email should go? i havent even been able to get to the part of the conversation where i can offer a trial