How much does an automation typically cost per month? Consider tool base cost, OpenAI API, third‑party APIs (e.g., Instantly, Appify). Also, what advice do you have for Belgian/Dutch SMBs looking to integrate automation?
For automation cost: base tool ~$32/month, OpenAI API $10‑$20, third‑party tools like Instantly $37‑$97/month, plus occasional Apify/Aiden tools—total around $150/month. For Belgian/Dutch SMBs, start with a scraper‑outreach close approach: first client pays while you learn more complex automations, showcase polished Airtable dashboards, then focus on outreach.
You should look for clients who have money and suffer from a costly problem that you can find via automated methods. Price using value‑based pricing, not monthly recurring right away. Start with a small, tightly scoped intro offer you can deliver quickly, then move to a recurring deal after proving value.
Essentially, anytime you need a dynamic front‑end that can’t be satisfied by a CRM, Google Sheet, or Looker Studio, you need an app. When a client requires a custom front‑end, the solution stops being a simple automation and becomes full‑stack app development. In practice, you build the back‑end flow with drag‑and‑drop, no‑code platforms rather than writing complex code. An average automation you can charge $1‑2K a month for is a backend flow that creates, for example, sales quotes or estimates, saving a team of five salespeople about five hours a month. If each hour is worth $100, that’s $500 saved per month per person, $2,500 total. Applying a typical value‑pricing multiplier of 20 % lets you charge roughly $500 a month, and with additional revenue impact the charge can rise to $1,000 a month. The key is to understand the value equation: the time saved plus any extra revenue the automation enables, then price accordingly.
I recommend picking a couple of niches and services at the start line, doing them all to gain broad experience with lead generation, delivery, and sales. This helps you understand business problems and builds experience. Scale to $5‑10k a month, and when you can’t meaningfully add another custom project, start productizing. In Maker School this usually happens after 30‑40 days.
I don't see the amounts as absurd. If you think you're charging an absurd amount, the prospect will doubt you. I deliver roughly $20,000 a month worth of value, so charging $6‑7k a month is rational. It’s comparable to a $850,000 a year salary, which is far more than a typical software engineering job.