Consulting Alternative

Ironback.ai vs. Big Consulting Firms

Enterprise consulting firms charge $150K–$500K for digital transformation projects. AI Staff delivers the same operational improvements for specialty service businesses at 1/20th the cost, with implementation included — not just a PowerPoint.

✓ Where Ironback.ai Wins

  • 1/20th the cost — $50K–$70K/year vs. $150K–$500K for a comparable consulting engagement
  • Implementation included in every engagement — big firms deliver a strategy deck, then charge separately to build it
  • Built specifically for $1M–$20M service businesses — not retrofitted enterprise frameworks
  • Deployed in weeks, not months — no 6-month discovery phase before anything gets built
  • ROI guarantee tied to measurable outcomes — not billable hours

Where Big Consulting Firms May Win

  • Deeper bench for large-scale enterprise transformation across multiple departments and geographies
  • Brand recognition that satisfies boards of directors and investor due diligence
  • Broader scope beyond AI — organizational restructuring, M&A integration, regulatory compliance

Best fit: Ironback.ai

Service businesses doing $1M–$20M/year that need AI-driven operational improvements without enterprise budgets or 12-month timelines. Owners who want results, not slide decks.

Best fit: Big Consulting Firms

Companies with $50M+ revenue that need organization-wide digital transformation, board-level reporting, or are navigating complex regulatory environments where big-firm credentials matter.

Real Cost Comparison

Year-one total cost of ownership — including setup, ongoing fees, and hidden management costs.

Ironback.ai

$7,500 assessment + $3,500–5,500/month implementation + $2,500–3,500/month ongoing. Year one: $49,500–85,500.

Big Consulting Firms

$150,000–$500,000 for a 6–12 month engagement. Strategy phase: $50K–150K. Implementation (separate SOW): $100K–350K. Ongoing support: billed hourly at $250–500/hour.

Year-One TCO Summary

AI Staff: $49,500–85,500 with strategy, implementation, and ongoing management. Big consulting: $150,000–500,000 for strategy + implementation, plus $50,000–100,000/year for periodic check-ins. You're paying 3–6x more and waiting 3–6x longer for results.

Common Questions

How can you deliver what a $300K consulting engagement delivers for $50K?

Two reasons. First, we're specialized — we don't need a 4-person team spending 3 months to understand your industry. We already know it. Second, our model includes implementation. Big firms separate strategy and build into different contracts. We do both because a strategy without implementation is just expensive shelf decoration.

We're considering Deloitte for a broader digital transformation. Should we still talk?

If your transformation is enterprise-wide and involves regulatory compliance, org restructuring, and multi-department change management — go with Deloitte. If your core need is automating operational workflows and phone handling for a service business, you'll get faster, cheaper, more targeted results with us.

Do you have the same depth of expertise as a McKinsey team?

In AI operations for service businesses? More. McKinsey assigns generalist consultants who learn your industry on your dime. We've built and managed AI operations for 20+ businesses in your specific vertical. In enterprise strategy, organizational change, and board-level advisory? No — that's not what we do, and we won't pretend otherwise.

See if Ironback.ai is the right fit for your business

Book a free 30-minute call. We'll ask about your situation and give you an honest answer — including if a different approach would serve you better.

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