Hiring a contractor vs. SellableCRM

A contractor builds what you ask for. SellableCRM sets up and runs the whole lead-to-close system for every client, and keeps it working, under your brand.

Updated November 2026

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Side by side

Both can get your clients set up. The difference is what happens after the build.

 
Contractor
SellableCRM
What you pay for
Hours or a project quote. HighLevel job posts on Upwork listed about $10 to $100 an hour (November 2026).
$175 a month per live client, plus $300 one-time setup per client. No charge while a client is paused.
What gets built
Whatever you scope, client by client.
The same lead-to-close system for every client: six core features, add-ons and the everyday tools.
Texting approval
Often left to you, or quoted as extra work.
We register it with the carriers and fix anything they ask for.
After launch
Changes and fixes are new requests, on their schedule.
We check every account and handle your change requests. Tickets answered in 4 business hours.
If a lead source goes quiet
You notice first, usually when the client does.
We look into it as part of our account checks.
If they get busy or leave
Your clients' systems wait for one person.
A team, not one person.
Your time per client
Briefing, reviewing and managing the work.
About 40 minutes: a 10-minute form and a 30-minute setup call.
Whose brand
Yours, if they set it up that way.
Always yours. Texts, logins and reports carry your brand, and we never contact your clients.

Which one fits your agency

An honest answer, because the wrong choice costs you a client either way.

A contractor fits a one-off buildA single funnel, website or integration with a clear scope and an end date.
SellableCRM fits ongoing client workEvery client gets the whole lead-to-close system, and it keeps working month after month without you managing anyone.
Book a demo Meet our specialists

A whole team for less than one hire

What it costs each month to run lead-to-close for five clients.

Hire locally ~$5,500/month

One CRM specialist's base salary, at the US average of $66,146 a year.

  • Plus payroll taxes and benefits
  • Plus software to buy and learn
  • Plus your time managing them
Hire contractors or freelancers $10–100/hour

Typical rates in HighLevel job posts. Every build, fix and change is billed time.

  • Plus software you pay for
  • Support stops when the project ends
  • Your clients wait on one person
Lowest cost SellableCRM $875/month

Five live clients at $175 each. Plus $300 one-time setup per client and usage, typically $15–30 a month.

  • A dedicated team, setup and testing
  • Texting approval and support included
  • No hiring, no managing, no training
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Example for five clients. Local hire: PayScale, average US CRM specialist base salary, 2026. Contractors: HighLevel job posts on Upwork, November 2026. Your costs will differ.

Questions agencies ask

Is SellableCRM cheaper than hiring a contractor?
It depends on the contractor and the job. HighLevel job posts on Upwork listed hourly rates from about $10 to $100 in November 2026. SellableCRM is $175 a month per live client, plus $300 one-time setup per client, and that covers setup, texting approval and ongoing maintenance for that client.
When is a contractor the better choice?
For a one-off build, such as a single funnel or website, a contractor can be a good fit. SellableCRM is built for agencies that want the same lead-to-close system running for every client and kept working month after month.
Can SellableCRM do custom HighLevel work too?
Yes. Work beyond the standard system, such as third-party integrations, bespoke workflows, extra pages and funnels, or data migration from a previous CRM, is $40 an hour, quoted in advance.
Will my clients see SellableCRM?
No. Texts, logins and monthly reports carry your agency's brand, and we never contact your clients.

Start with one client.

Choose the client with the highest lead volume and the slowest response times. We’ll set everything up under your brand.

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