Why We Priced Setup as a Flat Fee (And What It Actually Covers)

One of the most common questions we get before someone signs up is a fair one: "What am I actually paying for in the setup fee?" It's a good question because a lot of service industries hide vague labor behind flat numbers. We'd rather just show our work.

Why flat fee instead of hourly

Hourly billing creates a strange incentive — the slower the work goes, the more it costs the client. That's backwards. We priced setup as a flat fee, around $997 for the core CRM and automation build, and $1,500–$2,500 when video production is bundled in, so you know the full number before you commit to anything. No clock running, no surprise invoice for "additional configuration hours."

What's actually built during setup

The setup fee covers building your CRM pipeline structure from scratch around how your business actually sells — not a generic template. It includes writing and configuring your automated follow-up sequences for new leads, missed calls, and abandoned bookings. It includes setting up your appointment scheduling and reminder system so double-bookings and no-shows drop. And it includes connecting your existing channels — phone, email, forms — into one dashboard instead of four scattered tools.

When video is bundled in, setup also covers building out the initial creative direction, scripting framework, and production pipeline that your monthly batch of ads will run through going forward. That groundwork is what makes the ongoing monthly output possible without starting from scratch every time.

Why setup can't be free

A $0 setup fee sounds appealing until you realize what it usually means: either the build is a generic template nobody customized for your business, or the cost got quietly folded into a higher monthly rate you'll pay forever. We'd rather be upfront about a one-time number that reflects real, custom work, and keep the ongoing monthly cost lean because the heavy lifting is already done.

What happens after setup

Once the system is live, the monthly fee — starting at $397/month for automation, or around $600/month with video included — covers keeping everything running, maintained, and refined. You're not paying setup prices every month for work that's already finished.

If you want the exact breakdown for your business size and goals, the tiers are laid out clearly on /pricing, or you can reach out directly through /contact with specific questions.