Start with proof, not promises
Ask to see systems that run in real businesses, with specific numbers. Screenshots of demos are not proof.
For reference, AIOVIX points to Closeum, a sales platform with 13+ connected modules that tracked $99,500+ across 32 transactions, and Planroom, which was evaluated on 15 real bid packages including a 1,543-page specification.
Check how they start
Good agencies start small and prove value. Be careful with anyone who wants a six-month engagement or a large upfront fee before shipping anything.
A useful first step is either a free review of one workflow or a small, fixed-price build with a clear success definition.
Questions to ask every agency
Their answers will tell you more than their website.
- What will be live, and when?
- Which of our existing tools will it connect to?
- Where does a person approve before anything important happens?
- What happens when the AI is unsure?
- Who owns the code, prompts, and data?
- What does it cost to run after launch?
- Can we cancel ongoing support?
Red flags
Any one of these is worth a harder conversation.
- Guaranteed revenue or headcount claims without evidence
- No human approval step for money, clients, or compliance
- They keep ownership of prompts or workflows
- Long lock-in contracts for support
- Every problem gets the same solution
How AIOVIX answers these questions
Your first agent is live in one week for $1,000, with a written definition of success and a fix-or-refund guarantee. Important actions need human approval, uncertain cases go to a person, and you own everything we build.
Managed AI Operations is monthly with no lock-in, and larger systems start with a paid System Blueprint so the build quote is based on facts.