Engagement Model Comparison

AI Consultant vs. AI Agency:Which Delivers Better ROI?

Consultants provide strategy and fractional expertise. Agencies deliver execution with full teams. But which model actually costs less and delivers faster for service businesses implementing AI?

30-50%
Less expensive with consultants
2-4 weeks
Typical consultant implementation
8-16+ weeks
Typical agency timeline
Months
Notice period to end agency contracts
30-50%
Cost savings with specialized consultants
Agencies have higher overhead (account managers, project managers, sales teams) that you pay for
2-4 weeks
Average consultant implementation time
Specialized consultants move fast with pre-built solutions and industry expertise
8-16+ weeks
Average agency project timeline
Agencies have slower processes: discovery, scoping, resource allocation, development cycles

Pricing Comparison

See how our pricing stacks up against AI Agencies

Most Popular

Prestyj

Custom flat pricing
Predictable monthly cost, no agency overhead baked in
  • Done-for-you implementation
  • Industry-specialized expertise
  • Direct access to implementation team
  • Ongoing optimization included
  • No account manager layer
  • Flexible month-to-month options

AI Agencies

$8,000-25,000+/month
Retainer pricing for AI agency services
  • Full agency team access
    Project managers, designers, developers
  • Strategic consulting
  • Custom development
    Slower, more expensive
  • Account management
    Extra layer between you and implementers
  • Long-term contracts
    6-12 month commitments typical
  • Change orders for scope changes
    Additional fees for modifications

Feature Comparison

Compare PrestyJ with AI Agencies feature by feature

FeaturePrestyJAI Agencies
Cost Efficiency
Agencies charge for sales teams, account managers, project managers you don't need
30-50% less expensiveHigher overhead costs
Implementation Speed
Consultants use pre-built solutions. Agencies build from scratch or repurpose generalist code
2-4 weeks8-16+ weeks
Industry Expertise
Many agencies serve all industries. Look for home services specialization
Specialized in service businessesVaries widely
Flexibility
Agencies require long commitments to recoup business development costs
Month-to-month available6-12 month contracts
Direct Access
Agencies route communication through PMs, slowing feedback loops
Work directly with implementersAccount manager layer
Scope Changes
Agencies typically charge extra for modifications beyond original scope
Included in retainerChange orders required
Ongoing Support
Some agencies include support, others charge hourly for maintenance
IncludedVaries
Optimization
Agencies optimize when you pay for it. Consultants optimize as part of the service
ContinuousProject-dependent
Billing Model
Agencies often bill retainers plus hourly for scope creep
Predictable flat rateRetainer + hourly
Team Size
Agencies provide larger teams but slower communication and higher costs
Lean, specializedLarge, generalist

Why Service Businesses Choose Specialized Consultants Over Agencies

Agencies sound impressive—they'll show you org charts, case studies, and sleek presentations. But you're paying for that overhead.

You're Paying for Their Sales Team

Agencies spend 20-30% of revenue on business development, marketing, and sales. Those costs? Passed directly to you in monthly retainers. Consultants with specialized expertise have minimal overhead and pass those savings to you.

The Account Manager Bottleneck

Agencies route everything through account managers to protect their developers' time. You request a change → account manager documents it → project manager prioritizes it → developer implements it → QA tests it → account manager delivers it. Consultants work directly with you, cutting that loop from weeks to days.

Change Orders Equal Extra Revenue

Agencies make significant revenue on scope changes. Want to add SMS to your voice AI? That's a change order—typically $2,000-5,000 in extra fees. Prestyj includes workflow modifications as part of your flat-rate service.

Six-Month Minimums Are Standard

Agencies need 6-12 month commitments to make their economics work. They front resource acquisition costs and need time to recoup them. If the AI doesn't perform as expected, you're stuck paying for months. Prestyj offers month-to-month options because we're confident in results.

Related Resources

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Fractional AI Consultant vs Full-Time Employee

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Scope, timeline, and outcomes—what AI consultants should actually deliver.

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Need AI Implementation Without Agency Overhead?

Get industry-specialized AI expertise, done-for-you implementation, and ongoing optimization at 30-50% less than traditional AI agencies.

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