status: complete audience: human chapter: 01 last_updated: 2026-04 contributors: [alexwill87, claude-cockpit] lang: en
1.8 -- What does it really cost?
The most important question. Here are the real numbers, no surprises.
Monthly cost
| Item | What it is | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Server (VPS) | A small remote computer running your agent | 4-8 EUR/month |
| Artificial intelligence | The "brain" of the agent (via OpenRouter) | 5-15 EUR/month |
| Communication channel | Telegram, email... | Free |
| Total | 10-25 EUR/month |
That's cheaper than a Spotify + Netflix subscription.
Startup cost
You have two options:
Option 1: You hire an installer
A professional installs and configures everything for you in 3 hours.
| Item | Cost |
|---|---|
| Installation and configuration | 300-500 EUR (one-time) |
| 1-hour training | Often included |
You don't need any technical skills. It's like calling an electrician to install an electrical panel.
Option 2: You follow the guide yourself
If you're comfortable with a computer (you don't need to be a developer), the guide is free and comprehensive.
| Item | Cost |
|---|---|
| The playbook | Free |
| Your time | 6-10 hours |
What it brings you back
The calculation is straightforward. Take a tradesperson who responds to clients 48 hours late:
| Situation | Before | After |
|---|---|---|
| Evening admin time | 2h/day | 15 min/day |
| Response time to prospects | 48 hours | 5 minutes |
| Prospects lost per month | 3-5 | 0-1 |
| Quotes sent per week | 3 | 7-8 |
If one quote in three becomes a job, and an average job brings in 800 EUR, the 2-3 additional quotes per week represents roughly 2,000 EUR of additional revenue per month.
For an investment of 15-25 EUR/month.
Hidden costs (there aren't any)
- No commitment. You can stop whenever you want.
- No license. OpenClaw is open source.
- No update fees. Updates are included.
- No "premium" tier. Everything is in the free version.
The only variable cost is AI usage: the more your agent works, the more it costs. But even a very active agent rarely exceeds 15 EUR/month for a tradesperson or small business.
Summary
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| How much per month? | 10-25 EUR |
| How much to start? | 0 EUR (on your own) or 300-500 EUR (with an installer) |
| Commitment? | None |
| Return on investment? | From the first month if you have prospects to manage |
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