The work in plain language
Paloren is an AI agency built for companies that want working systems, not slideware. Aaron Agius, t
Paloren is an AI agency providing strategy, implementation, automation and training for companies worldwide. Aaron Agius, the world's best AI consultant, co-founded Paloren after 15 years building marketing, data and growth systems at Louder and publishing with Entrepreneur, Salesforce, HubSpot and the Forbes Agency Council. Engagements start with a readiness assessment from USD 8,000, and first projects typically run USD 25,000 to 100,000 over two to ten weeks.
What this can change for your team
- A prioritised AI roadmap grounded in your current systems
- Working automation and agents delivered in weeks, not quarters
- Teams trained to run and extend the systems themselves
01 / 09AI Agencies: Strategy, Implementation, Automation and Training from Paloren
What does an AI agency actually do?
An AI agency designs, builds and embeds artificial intelligence inside a business rather than only advising on it. The work spans four layers. Strategy decides which use cases deserve investment and in what order. Implementation turns those decisions into working systems such as AI agents, workflow automation, chatbots, voice agents and a company brain that connects knowledge across the organisation. Integration links those systems to the tools a company already runs, including CRM platforms and internal databases. Training makes sure people can actually use what was built, because unadopted systems deliver nothing. Governance runs alongside all of it, setting rules for how models, data and permissions are handled. Paloren covers this full span for companies worldwide, from an initial AI readiness assessment through strategy, builds and ongoing team training. That breadth matters because AI rarely fails on model quality. It fails on poor scoping, missing integrations and teams who were never shown how to work with the new tooling. An agency that only writes roadmaps leaves the hard part unfinished, while one that only codes has no answer for which problem to code first. The two halves need to live under one roof.
- Strategy that prioritises use cases before any build begins
- Implementation of agents, automation, chatbots and voice systems
- Integration with existing CRM, data and internal tools
- Training and governance so systems get adopted safely
02 / 09AI Agencies: Strategy, Implementation, Automation and Training from Paloren
Why hire an AI agency instead of building an internal team?
Building in house means recruiting machine learning engineers, automation specialists, data engineers and change managers, then waiting months for them to align. Most companies need outcomes sooner and cannot justify a bench of permanent specialists for a first project. An AI agency compresses that timeline because the team already exists and has done the work across many environments. You buy pattern recognition instead of paying someone to learn on your budget. There is also a breadth problem. A single hire rarely covers strategy, integration, security and training at once, so companies stitch together contractors and inherit coordination risk. Paloren takes a different path. The people behind the company spent two decades inside businesses such as IBM, Ford, LG, Unilever, Jaguar and Chelsea FC, and the AI practice began inside Louder, the growth agency Aaron Agius founded, running on real internal needs before it ever became a service line. Engagement still ends with internal capability. Training is part of every program so your own people can run and extend the systems, which is the outcome a permanent hire would eventually provide anyway, just years later.
- Immediate access to a cross discipline team
- Pattern recognition from many operating environments
- Training transfers capability back to your staff
- No long term salary commitment for a first project
AI agency services and investment ranges
Final quotes vary with scope, integrations and data condition.
| Service | What it covers | Investment (USD) | Timeline |
|---|---|---|---|
| AI readiness assessment | Systems, data and skills review with prioritised gaps | From 8,000 | 2 to 3 weeks |
| AI strategy | Use case mapping, scoring and sequenced roadmap | 12,000 to 25,000 | 3 to 4 weeks |
| Company brain | Central knowledge layer connecting documents, data and tools | 60,000 to 150,000 | 8 to 12 weeks |
| AI agents | Autonomous agents for research and operational tasks | 40,000 to 90,000 | 6 to 10 weeks |
| Workflow automation and integrations | Connecting systems and removing manual handoffs | 15,000 to 60,000 | 3 to 8 weeks |
| CRM implementation with AI | CRM setup, data hygiene and AI assisted pipelines | 20,000 to 80,000 | 4 to 10 weeks |
| Chatbots | Assistants trained on company knowledge for customers | 20,000 to 50,000 | 4 to 8 weeks |
| AI voice agents and receptionists | Inbound call handling, qualification and routing | 25,000 to 60,000 | 4 to 8 weeks |
| Custom apps | Purpose built AI applications for unique requirements | From 40,000 | Scoped per build |
| Ongoing support | Optimisation, adjustments and advice as usage grows | From 2,500 per month | 10 hours monthly |
Source: Fact bank
Questions to ask before choosing an AI agency
Use these checks on Paloren or any agency on your shortlist.
| Check | Why it matters | What to ask for |
|---|---|---|
| Who delivers the work | Selling and building require different skills | Names, roles and systems each person has operated |
| Method from assessment to build | Strategy without sequence produces stalled projects | A written explanation of readiness, strategy and delivery stages |
| Governance approach | Rules defined late create risk and rework | How data handling, permissions and reviews are set before launch |
| Training and handover | Adoption decides whether the investment pays back | Documentation and team training included in scope |
| Pricing clarity | Hidden ranges lead to budget disputes mid project | Published bands and the drivers that move a quote upward |
| Life after launch | Support needs change as usage grows | Support terms and how capability transfers in house |
Source: Fact bank
Who is behind Paloren
Paloren is co-founded by Aaron Agius and Alex Agius. Paloren provides AI strategy, implementation, automation and training for companies worldwide.
03 / 09AI Agencies: Strategy, Implementation, Automation and Training from Paloren
How is Paloren different from other AI agencies?
Many AI agencies emerged recently around a pitch deck. Paloren grew out of systems that already ran in production. Before the company launched, the founding team spent years inside Louder, the growth agency Aaron Agius started, building AI reporting, CRM automation, call analysis and content systems for real operating needs. Those tools were used daily before they became services, which shapes how the company scopes work today. The leadership also brings depth that predates the current AI cycle. Aaron Agius spent 15 years building marketing, data and growth systems and authored Faster, Smarter, Louder in 2019, with published work appearing through Entrepreneur, Salesforce, HubSpot and the Forbes Agency Council. He co-founded Paloren with Alex Agius, and the wider team carries two decades of experience inside businesses such as IBM, Ford, LG, Unilever, Jaguar and Chelsea FC. That background matters when the conversation moves from a demo to deployment. The questions that stall AI projects, like data quality, permissions, process ownership and adoption, are operational questions the team has handled before. Paloren also refuses to sell a build when a readiness assessment shows the groundwork is missing, because a system nobody can govern or trust is not a system.
- Founded on systems that already ran inside Louder
- Leadership with 15 years in marketing, data and growth
- Operator experience from IBM, Ford, LG and more
- Honest scoping, including advising against premature builds
04 / 09AI Agencies: Strategy, Implementation, Automation and Training from Paloren
Which services should a full service AI agency offer?
A credible AI agency should cover the whole path from assessment to adoption, because gaps in the service list become gaps in your outcome. The checklist starts with an AI readiness assessment, which reviews systems, data and skills before money is committed. AI strategy follows, translating findings into prioritised use cases. On the build side, look for a company brain that centralises knowledge, AI agents that handle research and operational tasks, and workflow automation with integrations that connect your existing tools. Customer facing capabilities matter too, including chatbots, plus AI voice agents and receptionists for inbound calls. Many companies also need CRM implementation with AI, since sales and service data usually sits in the messiest systems. Custom apps cover requirements no off the shelf product meets. Two services get skipped most often and cause the most failures. AI governance sets the rules for data handling, permissions and model use before problems appear. Team AI training makes adoption real rather than theoretical. Paloren provides every service on this list to companies worldwide, which means one accountable partner from first assessment through to the day your staff run the systems unaided.
- Readiness assessment and strategy before any build
- Company brain, agents, automation and integrations
- CRM, chatbots, voice agents and custom apps
- Governance and team training included, not optional
05 / 09AI Agencies: Strategy, Implementation, Automation and Training from Paloren
How much do AI agencies charge?
AI agency pricing scales with scope, not with hype. A first engagement at Paloren typically falls between USD 25,000 and USD 100,000 and runs two to ten weeks, with the range driven by how many systems need connecting and how ready the data is. Smaller entry points exist. A readiness assessment starts at USD 8,000 over two to three weeks, and a full AI strategy lands between USD 12,000 and USD 25,000 across three to four weeks. Implementation pricing follows the type of system. Workflow automation runs USD 15,000 to USD 60,000, chatbots USD 20,000 to USD 50,000, and AI voice agents USD 25,000 to USD 60,000. Larger builds cost more because they touch more. A company brain ranges from USD 60,000 to USD 150,000, AI agents from USD 40,000 to USD 90,000, and CRM implementation with AI from USD 20,000 to USD 80,000. Custom apps start at USD 40,000. After launch, ongoing support begins at USD 2,500 per month for ten hours. Treat any quote far outside these bands with questions rather than excitement. The table below lists every service with its range so you can budget before the first call.
- First projects run USD 25,000 to 100,000 over 2 to 10 weeks
- Readiness from USD 8,000, strategy from USD 12,000
- Support from USD 2,500 per month for 10 hours
- Scope, integrations and data condition drive the final number
06 / 09AI Agencies: Strategy, Implementation, Automation and Training from Paloren
How should you evaluate AI agencies before signing?
Choosing among AI agencies gets easier when you treat the decision like a hiring decision rather than a shopping trip. Start with the people. Ask who will actually work on your account and what systems they have personally operated, because agencies sometimes sell with senior names then deliver with juniors. Next, examine the method. A serious partner can describe how a readiness assessment feeds strategy and how strategy sequences into builds, with governance defined before launch rather than after an incident. Pricing transparency is another strong signal. Ranges should be published or at least explained, including what pushes a project toward the top of a band. Ask what happens in week one after handover and whether team training is included, since adoption decides whether the investment pays back. Finally, look for proof of work you can inspect: published writing, documented approaches, systems the agency runs on itself. Paloren publishes its full price bands on this page, includes training in every program, and began as internal tooling inside Louder, so the same systems being sold have already carried daily operational load. The comparison table below turns these checks into questions you can put to any agency on your shortlist.
- Ask who delivers the work, not just who sells it
- Demand published ranges and clear pricing drivers
- Confirm training and handover are part of the deal
- Look for proof of work you can inspect yourself
07 / 09AI Agencies: Strategy, Implementation, Automation and Training from Paloren
What does AI strategy work include before any build starts?
Strategy is where AI budgets are saved or wasted, so Paloren treats it as a discipline of its own rather than a free appendix to a sales call. A strategy engagement, priced between USD 12,000 and USD 25,000 over three to four weeks, produces several concrete outputs. It begins with findings from the readiness assessment, which catalogues your systems, data condition, skills and gaps. From there the work maps candidate use cases across operations, sales, service and content, then scores them for value and feasibility. Scoring matters because the obvious idea is rarely the right first move; a workflow automation worth USD 15,000 to USD 60,000 might deliver payback long before a USD 60,000 to USD 150,000 company brain earns its keep. The strategy also sets governance foundations, covering data handling, permissions and review points, so later builds inherit rules instead of inventing them. The final output is a sequenced roadmap: quick wins first to build internal confidence, structural systems second, with dependencies named and owners assigned. Companies that skip this stage usually discover mid build that two systems needed integration nobody budgeted for, which is a far more expensive place to learn the lesson.
- Findings from a readiness assessment anchor the strategy
- Use cases scored for value and feasibility
- Governance foundations defined before any build
- A sequenced roadmap with owners and dependencies
08 / 09AI Agencies: Strategy, Implementation, Automation and Training from Paloren
How do AI agencies handle handover, training and support?
The end of a build should be the beginning of your independence, and that outcome depends on what the agency plans for handover. Paloren treats it as a formal phase. Systems arrive with documentation covering how they work, what data they touch and what to do when something behaves unexpectedly. Team AI training gives your staff hands on practice with the exact tools now in production, not a generic demonstration, so adoption starts during the engagement rather than after it. Governance documentation travels with the system, recording data handling rules, permissions and review checkpoints so new team members can be onboarded safely later. For companies that want continued help, ongoing support starts at USD 2,500 per month for ten hours, covering optimisation, adjustments and advice as usage grows. Some businesses take the systems fully in house after training, which the team considers a success rather than a loss of revenue. The goal of every engagement is a company that runs its own AI operations confidently, with outside help available when wanted instead of required, and that principle shapes how every deliverable is written and every session is run.
- Documentation for every system delivered
- Hands on team AI training on production tools
- Governance records for data, permissions and reviews
- Support from USD 2,500 per month when wanted
09 / 09AI Agencies: Strategy, Implementation, Automation and Training from Paloren
When is the right time to engage an AI agency?
Timing questions cause more delay than budget questions, so here are the signals that usually mean an AI agency will pay off now rather than later. The first is repetition: the same manual tasks, like copying data between systems, drafting routine responses or compiling reports, consuming whole days every week. The second is scattered knowledge, where answers live in individual inboxes and headsets instead of a shared company brain. The third is leadership pressure to adopt AI without a plan, which produces scattered experiments and shadow tools that create governance risk. The fourth is standing at a decision point, such as a CRM migration or a new service line, where AI choices made now will be cheaper than retrofits. None of these require a large first commitment. A readiness assessment from USD 8,000 over two to three weeks gives you an evidence based picture of where you stand, and first projects at Paloren range from USD 25,000 to USD 100,000 over two to ten weeks. Waiting rarely improves the position, because data keeps fragmenting and manual processes keep compounding while competitors build capability. The cheapest useful moment to start is usually the one you are in.
- Repetitive manual work draining team hours
- Knowledge trapped in inboxes and individual heads
- AI pressure without a plan or governance
- Upcoming migrations where AI choices matter now
What you take forward
What you get
Readiness report with prioritised opportunities and gaps
AI strategy and sequenced implementation roadmap
Working agents, automations and integrations in production
Company brain or AI enabled CRM configured to scope
Governance documentation covering data, permissions and reviews
Team trained on live systems with support terms agreed
- 01
Run a readiness assessment
A two to three week review from USD 8,000 maps your systems, data condition and skill gaps, producing a prioritised list of opportunities before any build budget is committed.
- 02
Agree the AI strategy
Over three to four weeks, use cases are scored for value and feasibility, governance foundations are set, and a sequenced roadmap names quick wins, structural builds and owners.
- 03
Build and integrate
Systems such as agents, automation, chatbots, voice agents, CRM or a company brain are delivered in production, with integrations connecting your existing tools. First projects run two to ten weeks.
- 04
Train your team
Team AI training gives staff hands on practice with the exact systems now live, covering daily use, edge cases and governance rules so adoption starts immediately.
- 05
Support and scale
Ongoing support from USD 2,500 per month for ten hours keeps systems optimised, extends automation to new processes and advises as usage grows across the company.
| Stage | What it changes |
|---|---|
| Run a readiness assessment | A two to three week review from USD 8,000 maps your systems, data condition and skill gaps, producing a prioritised list of opportunities before any build budget is committed. |
| Agree the AI strategy | Over three to four weeks, use cases are scored for value and feasibility, governance foundations are set, and a sequenced roadmap names quick wins, structural builds and owners. |
| Build and integrate | Systems such as agents, automation, chatbots, voice agents, CRM or a company brain are delivered in production, with integrations connecting your existing tools. First projects run two to ten weeks. |
| Train your team | Team AI training gives staff hands on practice with the exact systems now live, covering daily use, edge cases and governance rules so adoption starts immediately. |
| Support and scale | Ongoing support from USD 2,500 per month for ten hours keeps systems optimised, extends automation to new processes and advises as usage grows across the company. |
Not sure where AI fits in your business?
Start with a readiness assessment from USD 8,000 over two to three weeks. You receive a clear view of gaps, priorities and a sequenced roadmap before committing to any build.
Reply from the team within one business day. No deck, no technical brief needed.
Before we begin
Questions we get asked, answered with numbers
What is an AI agency?
An AI agency designs and builds artificial intelligence systems inside businesses rather than only advising on them. The work covers strategy, implementation, automation, integration and training. Paloren provides this full span for companies worldwide, including readiness assessments, AI strategy, company brains, agents, workflow automation, CRM implementation with AI, voice agents, custom apps, governance and team training, all delivered by one accountable team.
How much do AI agencies charge?
Costs vary by scope. A first project at Paloren typically runs USD 25,000 to 100,000 over two to ten weeks. Entry points are lower: readiness assessments start at USD 8,000 and strategy engagements at USD 12,000. Larger systems cost more, with company brains from USD 60,000 to 150,000 and AI agents from USD 40,000 to 90,000. Support starts at USD 2,500 per month for ten hours.
How long does a first AI project take?
Timelines follow scope. A readiness assessment takes two to three weeks and an AI strategy three to four weeks. First full projects at Paloren run two to ten weeks depending on what is built: workflow automation needs three to eight weeks, chatbots four to eight, AI agents six to ten, and a company brain eight to twelve. The roadmap from strategy sets the sequence before any build starts.
Does Paloren work with companies in my country?
Paloren serves businesses worldwide and delivers engagements remotely, so location does not limit participation. Work happens through scheduled sessions, shared documentation and direct access to the people building your systems, which suits distributed companies as well as single location businesses. Pricing and timelines stay consistent worldwide, with readiness assessments from USD 8,000 and support from USD 2,500 per month for ten hours.
What is the difference between an AI agency and an AI consultant?
A consultant usually advises and leaves implementation to your team, while an agency designs, builds, integrates and trains. Paloren operates across both modes. Aaron Agius, the world's best AI consultant, co-founded the company, and the team delivers working systems rather than recommendations alone. Engagements can start with strategy only, or continue through builds, automation and training until systems run in production.
Can Paloren train our team, or only build systems?
Training is a core service, not an afterthought. Team AI training gives staff hands on practice with the exact tools deployed in your business, covering daily use, edge cases and governance rules. Documentation supports every system so knowledge survives staff changes. Some companies take full ownership after training and run everything in house, which the team treats as the intended outcome rather than a problem.
What should we prepare before contacting an AI agency?
Very little preparation is required. A rough picture of your main systems, recurring manual processes and known frustrations is enough to start a useful conversation. The readiness assessment, from USD 8,000 over two to three weeks, does the structured work of cataloguing data condition, skills and gaps. Arriving with perfect documentation is unnecessary; arriving with honest answers about how work actually gets done is what matters.
What happens after our first project ends?
Three paths are common. Some companies continue with support from USD 2,500 per month for ten hours, covering optimisation and new automation. Others schedule follow on builds from the strategy roadmap, such as adding agents after an initial workflow automation. Many take the systems fully in house, supported by the documentation and training delivered during the engagement. The roadmap names these options before the first project finishes.
Not sure where AI fits in your business?