AI Automation Agency Pricing: Setup Fees and Monthly Care Plans
Starting prices for every BX AI automation service, what the setup fee and care plan include, and how third-party costs such as call minutes and AI usage work. Final quotes depend on scope.
Who this is for
- Business owners who need a budget figure before booking a call
- Managers preparing an approval request for an AI receptionist, chatbot or automation project
- Teams comparing done-for-you agency pricing with self-serve AI software
- Agencies pricing a build partner for their clients
Problems we solve
- ✕You cannot get a starting price without a sales call
- ✕Quotes that do not say which costs are one-time, which are monthly and which go to third parties
- ✕Phone minutes and AI usage charges that appear after launch with no estimate
- ✕Unclear scope, so small changes turn into new invoices
What is included
Setup fee (one time)
Discovery and process mapping, scripts and knowledge base, the build in your accounts, calendar and CRM connections, test calls or chats, launch, a handover document listing every workflow and setting, and a training session for your team.
Monthly care plan
Review of calls and conversations, script and knowledge updates, booking and CRM checks, error fixes and a monthly report. Workflow packages also include one new or changed workflow each month.
Third-party costs, paid at cost
Phone numbers and call minutes, AI model usage and platform subscriptions such as GoHighLevel, HubSpot, n8n Cloud, Make or Zapier are paid by you directly or passed through at cost with no markup. We estimate them in your proposal from your call and lead volume.
Usage examples
As of October 2026, Retell AI lists pay-as-you-go voice agents at USD 0.07 to 0.31 per minute, HighLevel's Starter plan is USD 97 per month, and n8n offers a free self-hosted edition alongside paid cloud plans. Vendors change prices, so we confirm current rates when we quote.
What changes the price
The number of call flows or channels, how many tools need connecting, languages, call or chat volume, custom code, data migration from old systems and compliance needs such as healthcare data rules.
Hourly work
Changes outside a care plan are billed at USD 65 per hour, agreed in writing before work starts.
Philippine clients
Clients in the Philippines are quoted in PHP with 12% VAT added.
What you get from it
Prices published up front
Every service has a starting setup fee and care plan price on this page, so you can budget before a call.
No markup on usage
Call minutes, AI usage and software subscriptions are billed at cost or paid by you directly, so the care plan is the only recurring BX fee.
Bundle pricing
The AI front office bundle costs USD 1,090 less to set up and USD 140 less per month than buying the receptionist, chatbot and CRM follow-up separately.
Care only where it is needed
A single workflow can run without a care plan. Systems that talk to customers, such as receptionists and chatbots, come with care plans because their scripts and answers need regular review.
How we work
Short scoping call
We confirm which service you need, your tools, your call or lead volume and any compliance requirements.
Written proposal
You receive a fixed setup price, the care plan price, an estimate of third-party costs and the terms, all in one document.
Approval and build
Work starts once you approve the proposal and process map. Setup is invoiced as set out in the proposal.
Care plan billing
The care plan starts at launch and is billed monthly. Any extra work is quoted first and billed at the hourly rate.
| Service | One-time setup | Monthly care plan | What the care plan covers |
|---|---|---|---|
| AI receptionist: answers inbound calls, qualifies, books and sends to the CRM | from USD 990 | from USD 290/mo | Script and knowledge updates, call review, booking and CRM checks, monthly report |
| AI voice agents: inbound and outbound, several call flows, CRM and calendar connected | from USD 1,900 | from USD 450/mo | As above for each flow, plus outbound list and follow-up tuning |
| AI chatbot: website, trained on your content, lead capture to the CRM | from USD 790 | from USD 190/mo | Content updates, conversation review, lead routing checks |
| AI chatbot, multi-channel: website plus WhatsApp, Messenger and Instagram DMs | from USD 1,490 | from USD 290/mo | As above across all channels |
| Workflow automation, single workflow (n8n, Make or Zapier) | from USD 450 | optional, from USD 150/mo | Monitoring, error fixes, small changes |
| Workflow automation package: up to 5 connected workflows | from USD 1,800 | from USD 250/mo | Monitoring, error fixes, one new or changed workflow per month |
| AI consulting: AI readiness audit and roadmap | USD 750 fixed | n/a | Process review, tool and use-case shortlist, costed roadmap |
| AI consulting: ongoing advisory and implementation lead | n/a | from USD 1,200/mo | Monthly planning, vendor and tool selection, team training, build oversight |
| AI front office bundle: AI receptionist, website chatbot and CRM follow-up | from USD 2,490 | from USD 590/mo | Combined care across the three systems |
| Hourly work: changes outside a plan | USD 65/hr | n/a | Quoted and agreed before work starts |
All prices are starting prices in USD. AI receptionist from USD 990 setup and USD 290 per month. AI voice agents from USD 1,900 setup and USD 450 per month. Website AI chatbot from USD 790 setup and USD 190 per month. Multi-channel chatbot from USD 1,490 setup and USD 290 per month. Single workflow from USD 450, with optional care from USD 150 per month. Workflow package of up to 5 workflows from USD 1,800 setup and USD 250 per month. AI readiness audit USD 750 fixed. Advisory and implementation lead from USD 1,200 per month. AI front office bundle from USD 2,490 setup and USD 590 per month. Hourly work USD 65 per hour. Third-party costs are paid by you directly or passed through at cost with no markup. Philippine clients are quoted in PHP plus 12% VAT.
Get a scoped quoteRelated CRM and lead-handling work by BX. A US online private school's CRM leads grew from 258 in January 2026 to 870 in August after BX rebuilt its Google Ads, passed campaign tags into the CRM and added a website chat that feeds it. A US commercial solar installer's CRM now holds 5,428 contacts after BX moved 52 pages onto one CRM form and imported 5,292 past leads. Client names are withheld and results vary by business.
Frequently asked questions
Why is there a setup fee and a monthly fee?
The setup fee pays for mapping, building, connecting and testing the system once. The monthly care plan pays for the ongoing work: reviewing calls and chats, updating scripts and knowledge, fixing errors and reporting.
Are phone minutes, AI usage and software subscriptions included?
No. They are paid by you directly to the vendor or passed through at cost with no markup. Your proposal includes an estimate based on your expected call and lead volume.
How much will call minutes and AI usage cost each month?
It depends on volume and platform. As an example, Retell AI listed pay-as-you-go voice agents at USD 0.07 to 0.31 per minute in October 2026. We calculate an estimate from your call numbers and the platform we recommend.
Is a care plan required?
For a single workflow it is optional. For AI receptionists, voice agents and chatbots we include a care plan in the proposal because systems that speak to customers need their answers reviewed and updated. The proposal states the plan's term and notice period.
How much do I save with the AI front office bundle?
Bought separately, the receptionist, website chatbot and CRM follow-up workflows start at USD 3,580 setup and USD 730 per month. The bundle starts at USD 2,490 setup and USD 590 per month, a saving of USD 1,090 upfront and USD 140 each month.
Why might my quote be higher than the starting price?
Quotes rise with more call flows or channels, extra integrations, additional languages, high call or chat volume, custom code, data migration or compliance requirements. Your proposal lists each item that changes the price.
How are Philippine clients billed?
Philippine clients are quoted in PHP with 12% VAT added. International clients are quoted in USD.
Can I pay for changes without a care plan?
Yes. Work outside a plan is billed at USD 65 per hour, and we confirm the estimate with you before starting.
Get a scoped plan from BX
Tell us about your market, goals and current setup. We will come back with a scoped plan.