Comparison
In-House AI vs AI Agency: Build or Partner?
Hiring an AI developer costs £60,000–£90,000/year. Partnering with an AI agency gets you a working system in weeks for a fraction of the cost. Here's the full comparison.
Full Comparison
| Factor | In-House Team | AI Agency |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 cost | £80,000–£150,000 (salary + tools) | £8,000–£25,000 (project-based) |
| Time to first delivery | 3–6 months (hire + build) | 4–8 weeks |
| Expertise breadth | 1–2 specialists | Full team (AI, UX, ops) |
| Risk if it doesn't work | Sunk cost + redundancy | Defined scope, clear deliverables |
| Ongoing innovation | Depends on team learning | Agency stays current across clients |
| Scaling up | Hire more (expensive) | Scope more projects |
| IP ownership | You own everything | You own everything |
| Long-term flexibility | Full control | Contract flexibility |
When Each Approach Makes Sense
Choose in-house if: AI is your core product (you're building an AI SaaS), you have £200K+ annual budget for AI development, and you need full-time iteration on a single product.
Choose an agency if: You want AI to improve your operations (not sell it as a product), you need results in weeks not months, you want to test the ROI before committing to a full-time hire, or you don't have internal AI expertise.
The hybrid model: Many of our clients start with agency-built systems, prove the ROI, and then hire internal staff to maintain and extend what we've built. The agency relationship de-risks the initial investment.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do we own the code if an agency builds it?
With Creative Agent, yes — 100%. You own all code, data, and IP. No lock-in, no licensing fees.
What if we need changes after the project?
We offer ongoing support retainers, or your team can maintain the system. We document everything and provide full handover.
Can we transition from agency to in-house later?
Absolutely. Many clients use us to build the foundation, then hire internally to iterate. We support the transition.