Income models

AI model development services

Level 3

Select and implement a model for a client's problem. The highest price band on this list, and the highest barrier — what sells is a research and engineering track record, not tool operation.

Difficulty
5/5
To first revenue
A single engagement runs about two weeks. How long until you win one is not something we estimate.
Startup cost
100,000~1,000,000
Coding
a lot
Sales
some
Automation
2/5

We have zero verified cases for this model, so no revenue range is shown. Publishing a figure without evidence is not something we do.

Who you sell to

  • Companies needing an AI capability
  • Research and prototype teams

How the money comes in

  • Project engagements
  • Surcharges by data type

Steps

  1. Write down the data types you have actually worked with — this route starts from experience
  2. Frame the portfolio as problem → chosen method → validation, not as output
  3. Fix scope and handover items (source, accounts, access) in the contract
  4. Buyers are companies, so get the invoicing requirements in place first

Risks

  • Lowest replicability here. Degrees and track record are effectively the product
  • Engagements are long, which makes running this alongside a job hard
  • Preparing training data eats most of the schedule — price it in or you lose money

Verified cases using this model

Do this today

  1. Write down the data types you have actually worked with
  2. List only the services in this category with a three-day turnaround or less
  3. In one sentence, write what separates the expensive listings from the cheap ones

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