Marketing engineering is a young category with wide pricing variance. Builds run $15k–$60k, monthly stewardship $3k–$10k, and outliers exist on both sides. Here's what actually drives the range so you can benchmark any quote you receive.
What you're paying for in a build
Strategy and ICP work, buyer intent mapping, AEO foundations (entity, schema, technical), content production for the first cluster, automation configuration in your CRM, booking flow design and copy, analytics setup, and the documentation that lets you run the system after handover.
What drives the range
Three things. First, ICP complexity — a single-persona service business is cheaper than a multi-segment marketplace. Second, content depth — 8 pillar pages costs less than 40. Third, integration count — a standalone GoHighLevel build is cheaper than one that has to talk to Salesforce, NetSuite, and a custom data warehouse.
What ongoing stewardship covers
Monthly content (4–8 pieces), AEO tracking and iteration, automation tuning, conversion-rate work on the booking flow, and the executive reporting that ties activity to revenue.
- Content production cadence.
- AEO tracking + iteration.
- CRM and automation maintenance.
- CRO on the booking flow.
- Monthly executive reporting.
Frequently asked questions
Why is this more expensive than an agency retainer?
Different model. Agencies sell deliverables on a recurring contract; engineering firms build a system you own. The build is front-loaded, the stewardship is leaner.
Is there a payback period?
Most clients pay back the build within 4–9 months from incremental booked calls. We model this explicitly at the proposal stage.
Do you take equity or revenue share?
No. Cash only, fixed scope. We don't want misaligned incentives muddying delivery.