Done-for-You vs DIY: What It Takes to Set Up an AI Chief of Staff
DIY works if you enjoy tinkering and have spare evenings: you pick a model, connect accounts, write rules and fix what breaks. Done-for-you means someone builds it and tunes it with you. My setup is $5,000 one time over about 30 days, with a 60-minute kickoff and three weekly 30-minute check-ins.
What does a DIY setup actually involve?
Doing it yourself is completely possible. Here is the honest list of what it takes:
- Pick a model and plan. Choose Claude, ChatGPT, Gemini or Grok and pay for the top tier. See how to choose.
- Connect accounts. Email, calendar, files, maybe several Google or Microsoft accounts if you run more than one company.
- Write the rules. Who matters, what tone to use, what it may never do, when to ask you first.
- Build the routines. A morning brief, inbox triage, follow-up tracking, then any specialist work such as bills or contractors.
- Tune it for weeks. The first drafts will be off. Voice, priorities and schedules take several rounds to get right.
- Keep up. Models and features change monthly. Someone has to notice and adjust.
What does a done-for-you setup include?
With my setup, you get a Chief of Staff bot (daily brief, inbox, calendar, meeting follow-ups) plus two to four specialist bots you choose, built on your own accounts. It runs about 30 days: intake, about a week of build and testing, a 60-minute kickoff where we run real tasks together, then three weekly 30-minute check-ins to tune voice, rules and schedules. You finish with a handoff guide.
How do DIY and done-for-you compare?
| DIY | Done-for-you (my setup) | |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | Your AI subscription only | $5,000 one time, plus your AI subscription |
| Your time | Open-ended: setup, testing, fixing | About 2 hours: 60-minute kickoff, three 30-minute check-ins |
| Model choice | You research it | We decide together, on what you already use |
| Guardrails | You write them | Draft-and-approve rules set up from day one |
| Tuning | Trial and error | Three weekly check-ins over about 30 days |
| Risk | Your time | Full refund if you are not satisfied with the setup |
| After launch | You keep up with changes | Optional $500/month coaching retainer, cancel anytime |
When is DIY the right call?
- You like tinkering and have a few free evenings a week.
- You only want one or two simple routines, such as a morning brief.
- Your life runs on a single inbox and calendar.
When is done-for-you worth it?
- You run several companies or inboxes and need one view across them.
- You want specialist work handled, such as medical billing disputes, contractor follow-ups or contract review prep.
- You feel behind and would rather learn on a working system than build one from scratch.
- You want someone accountable for getting the guardrails right.
An owner with three businesses and a busy household asks for one brief across five inboxes, a contractor bot for a home project and a budgeting read on the family card. DIY would mean wiring up five accounts and writing three sets of rules. Done-for-you means a kickoff call and three check-ins.
What should you ask any setup provider?
- Does it run on accounts in my name, and can I revoke access anytime?
- Does anything get sent, paid or bought without my approval?
- What happens if I am not satisfied?
- Who keeps it current when models change?
- Do you promise savings or ROI? (A careful provider will not.)
Pricing details are on the pricing section. New to the idea? Start with what an AI Chief of Staff is.
Questions, answered
How much does a done-for-you AI Chief of Staff setup cost?
My setup is $5,000 one time, plus the AI subscription you pay the provider directly. An optional coaching retainer is $500 a month and can be cancelled anytime.
How long does a done-for-you setup take?
About 30 days. That includes a 60-minute kickoff and three weekly 30-minute check-ins, roughly 2 hours of your time and about 10 hours of hands-on work from me.
Can I set up an AI Chief of Staff myself?
Yes. You need a top-tier AI plan, connected accounts, written rules and a few weeks of tuning. It suits people who enjoy tinkering and have spare evenings.
What if I am not satisfied with the setup?
You get the full $5,000 back. The guarantee covers the setup itself.
How many clients do you take?
Two a month, so each setup gets real attention.