AI vendors range from excellent to opportunistic, and the pitch can sound the same. These questions separate them quickly.
On this page
Scope and accountability
- What exactly will be built, and what is not included? Get it in writing.
- Who is accountable if it breaks in month three? A name, not a team.
- Who tests the work, and how? Look for human review before anything goes live.
Data and ownership
- Where does my data go, and who can see it?
- Do I own the accounts, automations and data at the end? Can I export them?
- Which third-party tools are involved?
Money and commitment
- Is the quote fixed, hourly or open-ended?
- What is the contract term and how do I leave?
- Are there ongoing fees, and what do they cover?
Claims
- Can you show a real example of similar work? Be wary of guarantees about rankings, revenue or AI recommendations.
- How do you handle AI errors? A good answer mentions review, limits and escalation.
Our answers, for reference
Work is scoped and quoted in writing before it starts, one named operator is accountable, every build is reviewed and tested by a human, and you decide up front what you own. See how pricing works and agency vs fractional partner vs hiring.
Common questions
How many vendors should I compare?
Two or three is plenty. Compare scope and accountability, not just price.
What is the biggest red flag?
Guaranteed outcomes with no written scope.
Tell us what is slow, manual or missing
Free, plain-English conversation. We reply within one business day with a read and a scoped, written quote.
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