How to start an AI agency without building the tech stack

A practical guide for one person starting from zero

Updated 9 October 2026 · by Igors Loginovs, founder of mimirdesk · this guide mentions our own product, and says where others fit better

Short answer: start with one service local businesses already understand — usually an AI assistant on their website that answers questions and captures enquiries. Pick one type of business in one city, research businesses there, show each interested owner a working demo, then deliver and support it under your own brand. You don't need to write code, but you do need tools for six jobs: finding businesses, outreach, demos, building the assistant, client paperwork and tracking.

What a new AI agency sells

AI website assistants. An assistant that answers visitors' questions from the business's own information and helps capture enquiries. It is the easiest service to demonstrate and to explain.
Phone answering. An AI that answers the business's number and takes messages. It needs more setup: a phone number routed to the platform and voice accounts.
Reports and recurring services. Website and local search audits, reputation reports, content drafts and weekly summaries, delivered alongside the assistant.

You agree the scope and the price with each client. A setup fee plus a monthly fee for updates and support is a common way to structure it.

The six jobs your tools have to do

Job	What it involves	In mimirdesk
1. Find businesses to approach	A niche and a city, each business's website and contact details, and something specific to say to it	Scout researches businesses by type and city and gives you a shortlist to review
2. Outreach	A personal first email, follow-ups, sending from your own mailbox, unsubscribe and suppression handling	Outreach drafts the emails; nothing is sent until you approve it
3. Show a demo	Something the owner can try before agreeing to anything	Builder makes a one-page preview site with the assistant embedded
4. Build and install	Configure the assistant from the business's information, test its answers, install it on the site and messaging channels	Support, plus Telegram, WhatsApp Business, Instagram and Messenger channels
5. Paperwork	Proposal, kickoff document, monthly report, invoice	Closer and Concierge draft them for your review
6. Track the business	Prospects, clients, deployments, recurring fees, AI usage	One workspace for all of it

Three ways to cover those jobs

Assemble separate tools — a lead source, a cold-email tool, a chatbot builder, a site builder, a CRM and document templates. The most flexible route: you choose every piece, set each one up and connect them yourself, and keep several subscriptions and logins.
Use a white-label agent platform or an agency CRM. Platforms such as Stammer are built for creating and reselling chat and voice agents under your brand; GoHighLevel is a broad CRM and marketing platform with funnels, SMS and client sub-accounts. They are strong at delivery and client management. How much they help you find and pitch your first clients varies — our comparison goes through it line by line.
Use one workspace built for starting from zero. mimirdesk covers all six jobs: research, approved outreach, preview sites, website assistants, proposals, reports and invoices. It is narrower than an agency CRM and has no client logins; your clients pay you directly.

If you already have clients and mainly need to build agents, the second route usually fits. If you enjoy setting up tools and want full control, the first. If you are starting with no clients and want research, outreach, demos and delivery in one place, the third.

A first-month plan

Week 1 — choose and set up. Pick one type of business and one city. Write your offer in one paragraph. Set your brand name and connect your mailbox. If you want AI calling, start the phone number setup now: activation usually takes about a week.
Week 2 — research and reach out. Research businesses in your market and keep only the ones you have something specific to say to. Approve personal first emails and schedule the follow-ups.
Week 3 — demo. For every owner who replies, prepare a preview site with an assistant that answers from their own business information, and offer a short call. Write down what they actually want handled.
Week 4 — agree and deliver. Send a proposal with your scope and price. Configure and test the assistant, install it, and set up the first monthly report.

This is an order of work, not a forecast. How many owners reply depends on your market, your offer and your follow-up. Our own test of this workflow, including the bad numbers, is on our numbers page.

What it costs to start with mimirdesk

Starter $99/month, Growth $299/month, Pro $999/month. Every plan has the same features; they differ only in the AI usage included each month — about $30, $120 or $400.
Starter can begin with a 7-day trial: card required, $7 of AI usage during the trial, then $99/month unless you cancel. 7-day money-back guarantee on your first payment.
Your email provider, and any voice and telephony accounts you connect, bill you directly.
There are no top-up packs: when the month's included usage is used up, managed AI actions pause until renewal or a plan change.

What you still do yourself

You choose the offer and the market, talk with owners, agree scope and price, configure and test what you deliver, and support your clients. mimirdesk researches, drafts and organises; it does not sell for you, and a researched business is not a client.

Mistakes that slow new AI agencies down

Selling "AI" instead of an outcome. Owners pay for answered questions and captured enquiries, not for a model.
Targeting everyone. One niche and one city make your research, your emails and your demo specific.
Pitching without a demo. Let the owner try an assistant that already knows their business.
Sending without basic controls. Say who you are, include a postal address and an unsubscribe option, and honour opt-outs.
Promising results. Agree what you will deliver, not what the client will earn.

See what Scout finds in your market See plans from $99/month

Questions

Do I need to know how to code to start an AI agency?

No. You need to configure and test the tools you use, talk with business owners and support what you deliver. Specialised client requests can still need extra technical work.

What should a new AI agency sell first?

An AI assistant for a business website is the simplest first offer: it is easy to demonstrate, easy for an owner to understand, and it can grow into phone answering, reports and other services later.

How much does it cost to start an AI agency with mimirdesk?

mimirdesk costs $99, $299 or $999 per month. Every plan has the same features and differs only in the AI usage included each month: about $30, $120 or $400. Starter can begin with a 7-day trial with a card, then $99/month unless you cancel. Your email provider and any voice or telephony accounts you connect bill you separately.

Can I start an AI agency with no clients?

Yes. mimirdesk is built for people starting with no clients: Scout researches businesses in the market you choose and Outreach drafts emails for your approval. You still hold the sales conversations, and a researched business is a prospect, not a client.

Can I sell under my own brand?

Yes. Branding settings cover the assistant, the voice identity and the workspace header. Your clients agree the scope and price with you and pay you directly. mimirdesk does not give your clients their own logins or bill them for you.

How do new AI agencies find their first clients?

Mostly through direct outreach to local businesses in one niche and city: research each business, send a short personal email with something specific to say, follow up, and show interested owners a demo that already knows their business. Our guide on finding your first clients covers each step.

Next: How to find your first clients for an AI agency · mimirdesk vs GoHighLevel vs Stammer vs Trillet

mimirdesk is our product. GoHighLevel (HighLevel) and Stammer are trademarks of their owners; mimirdesk is not affiliated with them. Spotted something out of date? Email igor@mimirdesk.com.

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