You need AI automation. Should you hire someone full-time or work with a studio like us? Here's the real math — including when we're not the right choice.
We're biased — obviously. So we'll show the numbers and let you decide. Where hiring wins, we'll say so.
| Factor | Hiring a Developer | Working with Moshi |
|---|---|---|
| Upfront cost | $8k–$15k recruiting + onboarding High | $0 — pay per project Low |
| Monthly cost | $8k–$15k/mo salary + benefits Ongoing | $0 between projects As-needed |
| Time to first output | 4–8 weeks (hiring + ramp-up) Slow | 1–2 weeks Fast |
| AI/ML expertise | Varies — hard to assess in interviews Risk | Core competency, battle-tested Built-in |
| Scope flexibility | Can pivot freely Flexible | Fixed per engagement Scoped |
| Long-term capacity | Full-time, always available Dedicated | Project-based availability Shared |
| Institutional knowledge | Accumulates over time Grows | Documented in handoff Transferred |
| Risk if it doesn't work | $50k–$100k+ sunk before you know High | $2.5k–$7.5k for first project Low |
| Maintenance & support | Ongoing (their job) Included | 30-day support window, then retainer or handoff Defined |
| Breadth of skills | One person's stack Limited | Full AI/automation stack Broad |
For a typical AI automation project — one workflow automated, maintained, and iterated on for 12 months.
*Based on US market mid-level AI/ML developer salary. Moshi column assumes 3 workflow automations + ongoing support. Numbers will vary by market, complexity, and scope.
We'd rather lose a deal than give bad advice. Here's when hiring is genuinely the better move — and when it's not.
If AI is your product — not just a workflow tool — you need in-house talent who lives and breathes your codebase daily.
→ Hire a developerDiscrete, well-scoped automation projects with clear ROI. This is exactly what studios like Moshi are built for — fast, fixed-price, no overhead.
→ Work with MoshiIf you're exploring novel AI applications that require months of iteration and research, a full-time hire gives you dedicated capacity.
→ Hire a developerA discovery engagement helps you figure out the highest-leverage opportunity without committing to a $120k/year salary before you know what you need.
→ Start with MoshiStart with a studio to get quick wins and learn what good AI implementation looks like. Then hire with clarity about exactly what skills you need.
→ Moshi now, hire laterAt scale, a dedicated team makes sense. But even then, starting with a studio for the first 3–5 automations gives you proven patterns your hire can replicate.
→ Both (Moshi first, then hire)Tell us what you're trying to automate. We'll give you an honest recommendation — even if it's "you should hire someone instead of working with us."
Get honest advice → Run the ROI math first