Why one person is not enough
Even a 60-hour week covers only ~36% of the calendar. The rest is silence when US fans are online. Night Messages often drive a large share of net — and that is what DIY without a rota loses.
Laurent · Tools
What it costs to run chat yourself
Answering fans yourself during the day is doable. Keeping Messages alive overnight for a US audience needs a roster. Arithmetic: 168 weekly hours ÷ 40 ≈ 4 managers before holiday cover. Laurent puts 4 people on 12-hour shifts and a 3/3 schedule — this calculator shows what you are comparing against.
Night replies for a US audience need a rota, not one person. 168 weekly hours ÷ 40 ≈ 4 people before holiday cover. Laurent covers that with 4 managers on 12-hour shifts and a 3/3 schedule.
“Buffer for QA & CRM” is cost on top of wages: chat QA, CRM tools, and cover for sick days. Without it, DIY looks cheaper on paper than it is.
Wage bill
$10,000
Fully loaded / mo
$12,000
Per page
$12,000
Compare this total with the Chatting package: the agency covers shifts without your HR and without night gaps in Messages.
What the calculator includes
Manager wages + a buffer for QA & CRM (chat review, tools, cover). Many people budget one wage and then hit burnout or unlock drop. More on our shifts — on the process page.
How this maps to Laurent
Chatting package = Messages coverage without your HR. Social Growth and Full add traffic and production. Compare monthly DIY cost with the package and with cases where Messages dominate revenue.
Topic FAQ
Who is this calculator for?
Models comparing “myself / my chatter” with an agency. Separate manager careers page — chatter careers.
Why 4 managers, not 2?
24/7 = 168 weekly hours. 168÷40 ≈ 4 roles before holiday cover. Two people cannot cover nights and weekends without gaps. Laurent assigns 4 per account, 12h shifts, 3/3.
What is the QA & CRM buffer?
A percent on top of wages: chat review, tools, sick cover. Without it DIY looks cheaper on paper than it is.
Is an agency cheaper than DIY?
Often yes for quality 24/7 — you are not building HR. Compare monthly total with Chatting (Chatting) and commission (commission calculator).
Why is “one person 24/7” a red flag?
Mathematically impossible without burnout or bots. See scam checklist and what is a manager.
How does this map to the Laurent Method?
The “team on shifts” phase in Laurent Method is exactly about a rota, not a hero. Client journey — How it works.
Are payroll taxes included?
No. Add local employment costs separately if you hire formally.
What do I do with the “per page” number?
It is your benchmark. If an agency quote looks more expensive without scope — ask why. If cheaper at the same coverage — price your time and DIY risk.