DIY vs Consultant vs AI: The True Cost of Writing Bids
A typical £50k council contract bid takes 40+ hours to write properly. Here's what that really costs - and whether it's worth it.
Where the 40 Hours Go
The Three Options Compared
Option 1: Write It Yourself
£0 - £800"Free" in cash terms, but costs you 40+ hours. If you bill £50/hour for your trade, that's £2,000 in lost earnings - plus the stress of doing something you're not trained for.
Pros
- No upfront cost
- You know your business best
- Learn the process for future bids
Cons
- 40+ hours taken from billable work
- No expertise in what evaluators want
- Higher rejection rate (70% for first-time bidders)
Real cost: If your time is worth £50/hour, DIY costs you £2,000 in opportunity cost. If you lose and rebid, double it.
Option 2: Hire a Bid Consultant
£1,500 - £5,000Professional bid writers charge £75-125/hour. A full bid takes 20-40 hours of their time, plus your time briefing them. Quality varies enormously - some are ex-procurement, others are just copywriters.
Pros
- Professional quality responses
- Know what evaluators look for
- Higher win rates (typically 30-40%)
Cons
- £2,000+ per bid minimum
- Still need 10+ hours of your time for briefings
- Quality varies - hard to vet
- Long lead times (2-3 weeks)
Real cost: £2,000-5,000 per bid. Worth it for £200k+ contracts. Questionable economics for £50k contracts where your margin might be 10%.
Option 3: AI-Assisted (MyBidTeam)
£599AI generates professional responses based on your company profile. You review, edit, and submit. Takes 2-4 hours of your time instead of 40.
Pros
- £599 per bid or £999/year - no hidden costs
- Responses in hours, not weeks
- Trained on winning bid patterns
- You keep control - review before submitting
Cons
- Still need to review and personalise
- Won't write your pricing for you
- New technology - building track record
Real cost: £599 + 2-4 hours of your time (or £999/year unlimited). Bid 10 contracts for less than one consultant engagement.
At a Glance
| Factor | DIY | Consultant | AI (MyBidTeam) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cash cost per bid | £0 | £2,000+ | £599 |
| Your time required | 40+ hours | 10+ hours | 2-4 hours |
| Turnaround time | 1-2 weeks | 2-3 weeks | Same day |
| Typical win rate | 15-20% | 30-40% | Building data |
When To Use Each Option
Use DIY when...
You have spare time, want to learn the process, or the contract is low-value and low-risk.
Use a consultant when...
The contract is £200k+, highly strategic, or requires specialist framework knowledge.
Use AI when...
You want professional quality at SME-friendly prices. Ideal for £30k-£150k contracts where consultant fees eat your margin but DIY quality won't win.