# The AI Transformation Retainer

> The AI Transformation Retainer: a 4-month partnership that builds, deploys, and optimises AI systems across your business. Two levels of involvement.

Canonical page (authoritative, may be newer than this text): https://www.ential.com/our-model

---

Our Model
A 4-month partnership that builds, deploys, and optimises AI systems across your business. Two levels of involvement. No ambiguity about what you get.
See the tiers

## Pick Your Level of Involvement

Both tiers get the same Month 1 build. The difference is who runs the systems from Month 2 onward.
TIER 01 · DONE WITH YOU
$3,500AUD/month
~$2,275 USD/month
4-month minimum. No setup fee.
You drive the day-to-day. We build the AI systems, train your team to use them, and coach you weekly so nothing stalls.
BEST FOR
Teams with an in-house operator who want to own the systems long-term and learn while building.
MOST CHOSEN
TIER 02 · DONE FOR YOU
$5,500AUD/month
~$3,575 USD/month
4-month minimum. No setup fee.
We run the AI strategy, build the systems, deploy the agents, and manage everything. You stay in your zone of genius and review weekly.
BEST FOR
Leaders whose time is worth more than the retainer and who want AI running without thinking about it.

## The Full Scope

### Month 1: Build

Both tiers receive everything below.
DELIVERABLE	TIER 1	TIER 2
AI strategy intensive (use cases, priorities, quick wins)
AI roadmap + 90-day implementation plan
Core automation builds (3-5 workflows in Make/n8n)
Custom GPT / Claude project library (5-10 role-specific)
AI-powered email/SMS sequences
AI adoption playbook + team training materials
AI performance dashboard (hours saved, tasks automated)
Handoff training + documentation

### Month 2+: Ongoing

This is where the tiers diverge.
DELIVERABLE	TIER 1	TIER 2
Full workspace access (SOPs, training hub, prompt library)
Async Slack/Loom support, ~24h response
Weekly 45-min strategy call
Quarterly AI audit + roadmap refresh
Monthly prompt library + workflow refresh
Daily AI system management + monitoring
Weekly AI use case development + testing
Workflow optimisation + ongoing A/B tests
New automation builds + agent deployment
Team adoption tracking + coaching
Weekly performance reports
Monthly ROI projections + scaling recommendations
OUT OF SCOPE

## What's Not Included

We are upfront about scope so there are no surprises.
Custom software development beyond automation builds
We build workflows and agents, not bespoke SaaS products. If you need a full application built, we will refer you to our development partners.
Content creation (copywriting, video production, graphic design)
We set up AI systems that help your team create content faster, but we do not write your blog posts or shoot your videos.
Sales call closing
We build the AI systems that qualify and route leads, but your team closes. Available as a commission add-on if needed.
Hardware or software licensing
API costs, tool subscriptions (Make, n8n, OpenAI, etc.) are paid directly by you. We advise on the right stack, you hold the accounts. Typical costs: $50-200/month.
Full system migrations
We build new AI-powered workflows alongside your current stack. Full CRM or system migrations are scoped separately.

## From Kickoff to Live

Week 1
Kickoff call
Onboarding intake
Access handover
AI strategy intensive: mapping every repeatable process in your business
Week 2
AI roadmap delivered
Automation wireframes
Custom GPT/Claude concepts approved
Tool stack confirmed
Week 3
Core automations built
AI prompt libraries written
Agent workflows deployed
Performance tracking installed
Week 4
Walkthrough call
Soft launch
Handoff training (Tier 1)
Full management begins (Tier 2)
From day 31 onward, we are in the weekly rhythm.

## Month 1 Is About Foundation, Not Volume

We start with the highest-impact automations so you see returns quickly. Once the foundation proves itself, we expand.
PHASE	FOCUS	WHAT'S HAPPENING
Month 1: Foundation	3-5 core workflows	Map processes, build quick-win automations, deploy first custom GPTs, establish baselines
Month 2: Optimisation	8-12 workflows	Scale winning automations, add AI agents for repetitive tasks, refine prompt libraries
Month 3: Integration	Cross-department AI	Connect systems end-to-end, deploy multi-step agent workflows, build team self-service tools
Month 4+: Compounding	Full AI operations	Organisation-wide adoption, advanced agents, predictive workflows, team runs AI independently
Our fee stays flat the entire time. As your AI maturity grows, the value compounds. By month 4, most clients report saving 20-40 hours per week across their team.
Scaling only happens when the results justify it. If month 1 automations are not delivering measurable value, we refine them before adding more. We will never push complexity your team is not ready for.

## See the Numbers

Team size
10 people
Hours/person/day on automatable tasks
2h
Average hourly cost per person
$75
AI efficiency gain
70%
HOURS SAVED / WEEK
70
HOURS SAVED / MONTH
303
MONTHLY VALUE
$23k
ANNUAL VALUE
$273k
ROI VS TIER 1
550%
ROI VS TIER 2
313%
Every input is editable. Defaults assume a 10-person team spending 2 hours per day on tasks AI could handle. Adjust to match your actual situation.
GUARANTEE

## Our Guarantee

If Month 1 deliverables are not shipped on time and to spec, we keep working at no additional cost until they are. No refund games, no finger-pointing. The risk of slippage is on us, not you.
After Month 1, you are locked into the 4-month term because that is how long it takes to know if an AI transformation is actually working. Anyone who promises results in 30 days is selling you a fantasy.

## The Honest Answers

Why a 4-month minimum?
What if we want to cancel after month 4?
Can we upgrade from Tier 1 to Tier 2 later?
Who owns the automations and IP?
How many clients do you take on?
What tools and platforms do you use?
Why is your fee flat instead of value-based?

## The Investment

TIER 1	TIER 2
Monthly fee	$3,500 AUD	$5,500 AUD
USD equivalent	~$2,275/mo	~$3,575/mo
4-month commitment	$14,000 AUD	$22,000 AUD
Typical tool costs (est.)	$100-300/mo	$100-300/mo
PAY UPFRONT, SAVE 10%
Tier 1: 4 months paid in full
$12,600 AUD
~$8,190 USD
Tier 2: 4 months paid in full
$19,800 AUD
~$12,870 USD
BEFORE YOU BOOK
We only take on clients we are confident we can win for. If after our call we did not think this would work for your business, we would not have sent you here. Let's build it.
Book a strategy call

## The Work Starts with a Conversation

Ready to see what a 4-month AI transformation looks like for your business?
Book a strategy call

---

Ential Pty Ltd (ABN 30 408 729 275) · hello@ential.com · https://www.ential.com