400% Lower Lead Costs +
Exponential Growth Platform
No plugins. No SaaS subscriptions bleeding you dry. We listened to the problem and built a complete custom platform with AI and pure code - a system that eliminates admin, automates everything, and gets better as AI improves.
This is what happens when you own your infrastructure instead of renting it.
The Challenge
Drowning in admin, bleeding money on leads, and trapped in SaaS subscription hell
Pink Slips NSW had steady leads coming in - 200-300 per week - but the cost per lead was killing their margins. Their existing campaigns were bleeding money with no clear path to optimization.
Worse, the owners were drowning in admin work. Every lead meant phone calls, manual scheduling, reminder texts, chasing payments, and endless paperwork. They were paying for multiple SaaS tools that barely talked to each other - CRM subscriptions, SMS platforms, email marketing, invoicing software.
The monthly SaaS bill alone was $680-1400/month - money going to platforms they didn't own, couldn't customize, and would lose access to if they stopped paying.
The Pain Points:
- High cost per lead eating into margins
- Hours spent on phone calls, scheduling, and admin
- Manual invoicing and payment chasing
- $680-1400/month in SaaS subscriptions
- No systems to scale the business
The Solution
We didn't search for plugins or recommend another SaaS stack. We listened to the business problem and built the solution with AI and pure code.
The result? A complete custom business platform - CRM, SMS automation, email sequences, payment processing, invoicing, review requests, and marketing integrations - all built from scratch, all owned by the client.
No monthly SaaS fees. Just usage-based costs (SMS at $0.03/message, email delivery). The platform pays for itself in the first month and saves $7,000-$15,700+ annually.
Project Overview
Key details at a glance
Technology Stack
What We Built
A complete custom business platform - no plugins, no SaaS dependencies, just pure code built for Pink Slips NSW
CRM & Data Management
Custom CRM
Built from scratch for their exact workflow
Form Submissions
Automated capture and processing
Backend Management
Full data control and reporting
Lead Tracking
Complete customer journey visibility
Communication Integrations
Twilio SMS
Direct integration at $0.03/message
Email Automation
Transactional + marketing sequences
Review Requests
Automated 5-star review collection
Confirmation System
Instant lead & booking confirmations
Payment & Invoicing
Stripe Integration
Seamless payment processing
Auto-Invoicing
Invoices sent automatically after job
Payment Receipts
Automatic receipt generation
Payment Tracking
Full visibility on all transactions
Marketing Integrations
Google Ads
Full conversion tracking
Facebook Ads
Pixel integration
GA4
Analytics dashboard
Search Console
SEO monitoring
GBP Management
Local SEO optimization
The Cost Comparison
See exactly how much custom platforms save vs SaaS subscriptions
SMS Cost Comparison (at 2,000 SMS/month)
| Service | Cost/SMS | Monthly Cost | Annual Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pink Slips (Custom Twilio) | $0.03 | $60 | $720 |
| Keap/Infusionsoft SMS | $0.08 | $160 | $1,920 |
| HubSpot SMS | $0.10 | $200 | $2,400 |
| ActiveCampaign SMS | $0.065 | $130 | $1,560 |
Full Platform Cost Comparison (Equivalent Functionality)
| What You Need | SaaS Alternative | SaaS Monthly Cost | Custom Platform |
|---|---|---|---|
| CRM (1000 leads/mo) | HubSpot/Keap | $150-500 | $0 (built-in) |
| SMS Automation | Platform SMS | $130-200 | $60 (Twilio direct) |
| Email Marketing | Mailchimp/SendGrid | $75-150 | $30 (SendGrid direct) |
| Form Builder | Typeform/JotForm | $50-100 | $0 (built-in) |
| Invoicing | FreshBooks/Xero | $25-50 | $0 (Stripe direct) |
| Review Automation | Birdeye/Podium | $250-400 | $0 (built-in) |
| TOTAL | Multiple Subscriptions | $680-1,400/mo | ~$90/mo |
Annual Savings
$7,000 - $15,700+
Own It Forever + Exponential Growth
This isn't SaaS you rent - it's infrastructure you own
Ownership Value
- No monthly SaaS fees (only usage-based: SMS, email delivery)
- No per-user licensing costs
- Full code ownership - yours forever
- No vendor lock-in or price hikes
- Modify or extend anytime you want
Exponential Growth Platform
Unlike static SaaS tools, this platform is built with JJM's AI development stack. As AI models improve, the platform upgrades automatically.
Think iPhone versions, but without hardware limitations - pure code that evolves with technology.
- Today's features become tomorrow's foundation
- AI-powered improvements rolled out continuously
- No migrations, no breaking changes
Development Timeline
Built in phases, each adding exponential value to the business
CRM & Forms
Custom CRM built from scratch, form submission handling, lead management system
SMS/Email Automation
Twilio integration, confirmation SMS, verification SMS, email sequences, automated follow-ups
Payment/Invoicing
Stripe integration, auto-invoicing after job completion, payment receipts, transaction tracking
Marketing Integrations
Google Ads, Facebook Ads, GA4, Search Console, Google Business Profile management
Review Automation
Automated review request messages, 5-star review collection system, reputation management
The Results
The transformation was exponential. Here's how the numbers progressed:
Monthly Performance
- 1,000+ leads processed monthly
- 2,000+ SMS sent automatically
- 4,000+ emails delivered seamlessly
- 0 hours admin time required
Cost Savings
- $7,000-15,700+ annual savings vs SaaS
- 400% lower cost per lead
- ~$90/month total platform cost
- 30 days payback period
"Jobs just show up on my calendar. Money hits my account. I haven't touched admin in months."
Calculate Your Savings
See exactly how much a custom platform could save your business
Your Numbers
Your Savings
Current Monthly Spend
$550
Custom Platform Cost
$90
SMS: $60 + Email: $30
Monthly Savings
$460
Annual Savings
$5,520
5-Year Savings (with SaaS inflation)
$31,740
Plus you own the platform forever
Services Used in This Project
A complete solution for automotive service business automation
Key Takeaways
Four lessons that drove this transformation
Own Your Infrastructure
Stop renting SaaS tools that bleed you every month. Custom platforms cost more upfront but pay for themselves in the first month and keep saving forever.
Custom Beats Cookie-Cutter
Generic tools force you to adapt to their workflow. Custom solutions adapt to how you actually work, eliminating friction and multiplying efficiency.
Automation = Time Freedom
Every hour spent on admin is an hour not spent growing the business. Full automation doesn't just save time - it gives you your life back.
Integration is Everything
Disconnected tools create data silos and manual work. A unified platform where everything talks to everything changes the game completely.
Future-Proof Your Business
With AI-First Marketing
No WordPress. No legacy systems. Get a free AI consultation and discover how exponentially improving technology can transform your results.