| Criteria | ConnectLead | In-House SDR | Other Agency | DIY |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Time to first qualified meeting | 14 days average | 3 to 6 months (SDR ramp) | 4 to 12 weeks | Variable (usually longer) |
| Commercial model | Per result or managed retainer | Salary + benefits (fixed cost) | Monthly retainer regardless of output | Your time cost only |
| Contract length | Month-to-month. No lock-in. | Employment contract | Typically 3 to 12 month minimum | No contract |
| Infrastructure setup | 7 days. We handle everything. | Weeks to months | Often not included or billed separately | Weeks of self-learning |
| Channels activated | Email, LinkedIn, paid ads, SEO, RevOps | Usually 1 to 2 channels | Depends on specialisation | Whatever you can manage |
| Copy and creative production | Included in every programme | Requires separate hire or freelancer | Sometimes included, often extra cost | You write everything |
| Lead qualification | Every lead reviewed by a human against ICP | SDR qualification (variable quality) | Variable. Often volume-focused. | You qualify everything |
| Reporting frequency | Monday morning weekly report + live dashboard | Ad hoc | Monthly in most cases | None unless you build it |
| Asset ownership | You own every list, domain, copy, and creative | Company owns assets | Agency often retains ownership | You own everything |
| Scalability | Add channels or volume within days | Hire more staff (slow, expensive) | Limited by agency capacity | Limited by your time |
| Sector expertise | IT services, SaaS, and professional services depth | Depends on hire | Usually generalist | Your existing knowledge |
Building an in-house SDR team is the right long-term play for most scaling B2B companies. The problem is the ramp time, the cost, and the risk of a bad hire. ConnectLead gives you qualified pipeline from day 14 while you decide whether and when to hire internally.
Most generalist agencies charge monthly retainers regardless of output and measure success in activity rather than pipeline. We measure success in qualified meetings booked and pipeline generated. Our commercial models are designed around that.
Book a free 30-minute strategy call. ICP audit, channel recommendation, and campaign blueprint included.
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