What's the cost difference between AI consulting and hiring in-house?

Hiring a full-time AI engineer costs $450K-$700K+ in year one including salary, equity, benefits, recruiting, and onboarding. AI consulting typically costs $240K-$570K for year one including assessment, implementation, and ongoing optimization. Consulting provides access to multiple experts versus one person's perspective.

When should startups hire an in-house AI team vs consulting?

Hire full-time if you're Series C+ with $40M+ ARR, AI is your product differentiation, and you need 3+ full-time people with a 12+ month timeline. Choose consulting if you're Series A-B with $5-40M ARR, need results in 90 days, and AI enhances operations but isn't the core product.

What is the hybrid approach to AI talent?

The hybrid approach involves starting with consultant-led implementation for 1-6 months to prove value, developing internal champions in months 7-12, hiring your first AI employee with consultant guidance in months 13-18, and transitioning to an internal team with advisory support after 19+ months. This delivers best ROI for most startups.

What ROI can startups expect from AI consulting vs hiring?

AI consulting typically delivers 8:1 ROI with results in 3 weeks at $380K year one cost. Full-time hiring delivers 3:1 ROI with results in 7 months at $1.4M year one cost. The hybrid approach achieves 9:1 ROI with results in 3 weeks at $910K over 18 months, providing the best balance of speed, cost, and results.

AI Consulting vs. Hiring an In-House AI Team: Which is Right for Your Startup?

This comprehensive guide provides the framework you need to make the right decision for your specific situation, complete with realistic cost comparisons, pros and cons, and clear decision criteria.

The Real Cost of Hiring In-House AI Talent

Full-Time AI Engineer/Specialist:

Senior AI/ML Engineer salary: $180K-$250K
Equity: 0.25-0.75% over 4 years
Benefits and overhead: $55K-$95K annually
Recruiting costs: $47K-$90K one-time
Onboarding and ramp: $40K-$70K

Total Year 1 Cost: $450K-$700K+ per person

The Real Cost of AI Consulting

Typical Engagement: Project + Retainer:

Phase 1: Assessment and implementation ($100K-$150K, 3-4 months)
Phase 2: Ongoing optimization retainer ($20K-$35K/month, 6-12 months)
Total Year 1: $240K-$570K

What's Included with Consulting

Unlike hiring where you get one person's time, consulting typically includes: strategic guidance, hands-on implementation, team enablement, and expertise from multiple engagements.

Decision Framework: When to Hire vs. When to Consult

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Hire Full-Time If:

You're Series C+ with $40M+ ARR
AI is your product differentiation
You need 3+ full-time people (120+ hours/week of AI work)
You're in an AI talent hub with competitive compensation
You have 12+ month timeline

Consult (Fractional) If:

You're Series A-B with $5-40M ARR
AI enhances operations but isn't product
You need results in 90 days
You have limited AI expertise internally
Your AI needs fluctuate
You want to build internal capability over time

The Hybrid Approach (Best for Most Startups)

The most successful startups follow a phased approach:

Phase 1: Consultant-Led (Months 1-6) - Prove value, build foundation
Phase 2: Consultant + Power Users (Months 7-12) - Develop internal champions
Phase 3: Consultant + First Hire (Months 13-18) - Hire with consultant's help
Phase 4: Internal Team + Advisor (Months 19+) - Full capability with backup

ROI Comparison: Real Examples

Company A: Hired Full-Time AI Team

Year 1 cost: $1.4M, Time to first result: 7 months, ROI: 3:1 over 18 months

Company B: Engaged AI Consultant

Year 1 cost: $380K, Time to first result: 3 weeks, ROI: 8:1 over 18 months

Company C: Hybrid Approach

18-month cost: $910K, Time to first result: 3 weeks, ROI: 9:1 over 18 months (Best of both worlds)

Ready to explore AI consulting for your startup?

Lighthouse AI provides fractional AI leadership and implementation for Series A-C tech companies. Schedule a consultation to discuss your specific situation and needs.

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Conclusion: Choose Based on Stage, Not Emotion

The AI consulting vs. hiring decision should be strategic, not emotional. For most Series A-B startups ($5-30M ARR), fractional AI consulting delivers better ROI, faster results, and lower risk.

For Series C+ companies ($40M+ ARR), building an internal AI team makes sense, but starting with a consultant to define strategy can still accelerate success.

The winning strategy for most: Start with consultant, prove value, build internal capability over time, hire when justified. This approach gives you fast results while building toward long-term internal strength.

The question isn't "consultant vs. hire" but "consultant first or hire first?" For most startups, the answer is clear: consultant first.