Skip the $500K+ Strategy Engagement. Start Shipping in 90 Days.

Compare NSSG's implementation-first approach vs traditional consulting firms

Big firms sell you strategy decks for Fortune 500 prices. We deliver working AI for mid-market budgets. Same outcomes. 10X faster. 5X cheaper.

The Real Comparison

What you actually get for your money

McKinsey

Strategy consultants

Accenture

IT service giant

Freelance Developers

DIY approach

NSSG

Operator-led implementation

Typical Cost
$500K - $5M+
$1M - $10M+
$50K - $300K
$25K - $150K
Timeline
6-18 months (strategy only)
12-36 months
6-18 months
90 days to ROI
What You Get
Strategy PowerPoint + roadmap
Custom enterprise software
Code (if they finish)
Working AI + trained team + ROI tracking
Implementation
You hire someone else
Included (at enterprise scale/cost)
You manage it yourself
Included - we build & deploy
Team Training
Workshop + binder
Additional services fee
Not included
Full training + documentation included
ROI Guarantee
"Best effort"
SLA on uptime only
None
Money-back if no ROI in 90 days
Ongoing Support
Pay for follow-up engagements
Managed services contract
Hope they answer emails
Included for 90 days + support packages
Decision Maker
Board/CEO level only
CIO/CTO with board approval
Team lead can approve
C-suite or owner ($10M+ revenue)
Best For
Fortune 500 brand appeal
Enterprise IT transformations
Small single projects
Mid-market businesses ($10M-$500M)

What Clients Say

Real quotes from businesses who compared us to the alternatives

"McKinsey quoted us $800K for a 9-month AI strategy study. NSSG delivered working automation for $45K in 11 weeks. We're saving $73K monthly. The ROI isn't even close."

CFO, Manufacturing Company $85M annual revenue

"Accenture wanted $2.3M and 18 months for 'digital transformation.' NSSG focused on our biggest cost center - customer support - and cut it by 42% in 90 days for $68K total."

COO, Healthcare Services $120M annual revenue

"We tried hiring freelancers for 8 months. Burned $140K with nothing to show. NSSG came in, understood our business in week one, and delivered production AI by week six."

VP Operations, Financial Services $45M annual revenue

"The Big 4 gave us a beautiful strategy deck and left. NSSG gave us working software, trained our team, and still responds to Slack messages. That's the operator difference."

CEO, Distribution Company $62M annual revenue

Common Questions

Addressing the "why not McKinsey?" concerns

"Don't we need McKinsey's brand credibility for the board?"

You need results for the board, not logos. When you show 30-50% cost reduction in 90 days with documented savings, that's more credible than any consultant's slide deck. We help you present financial outcomes, not pedigrees.

"Can NSSG handle our complexity?"

We've transformed manufacturing operations, healthcare revenue cycles, and financial compliance workflows. Complex operations are exactly what we do. The difference: we simplify complexity into working automation, not 200-page process maps.

"What if we need ongoing enterprise support?"

We offer ongoing support packages and can scale support based on your needs. The difference from Accenture: we train your team to own it, not create dependency. You choose how much support you want, not what we force you to buy.

"How can you be 5X cheaper and still deliver quality?"

We don't have massive overhead, armies of junior consultants billing hours, or partner golf memberships to subsidize. We're operators who code. Small focused team, proven playbooks, no waste. Quality through efficiency, not through expense.

"What if our project is too small for the big firms?"

Perfect. That's exactly who we built NSSG for. $10M-$500M revenue businesses with real problems and reasonable budgets. You don't need a $500K+ strategy engagement. You need AI that cuts costs this quarter. That's our specialty.

"Can we start small and scale up?"

Absolutely. That's exactly our approach. Starter package ($25K-$50K) proves ROI with one high-impact automation. Then we scale what works. No $500K commitment to find out if AI works for you.

When to Choose Each Option

Honest guidance on who's the best fit for what

Choose McKinsey/BCG if:

  • You're Fortune 500 with board politics requiring brand names
  • You have $5M+ budget and 18+ months timeline
  • You want strategic consulting, not implementation
  • You need industry research reports and frameworks
  • Someone else will build what they recommend

Choose Accenture/Deloitte if:

  • You're enterprise ($500M+) with complex IT landscape
  • You need fully custom enterprise software platform
  • You have 2-3 year transformation timeline
  • You want managed services and SLA guarantees
  • Budget is $1M+ and timeline flexibility is high

Choose Freelancers if:

  • You have strong internal technical leadership
  • Project scope is very specific and well-defined
  • You can manage developers and own the outcome
  • Budget is under $50K for a single deliverable
  • You have time to iterate and course-correct

Choose NSSG if:

  • You're $10M-$500M revenue mid-market business
  • You need working AI, not strategy decks
  • You want 90-day implementation with ROI guarantees
  • Budget is $25K-$150K for measurable outcomes
  • You value speed, results, and operator expertise

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