n8n Automation, Without the Agency Markup
n8n is a workflow automation tool, like Zapier or Make, that you can host yourself. That means no per-task pricing, your data staying on your own server if you want it to, and the option to drop into code when a no-code step is not enough.
We design, build and host n8n workflows for businesses: lead routing, CRM updates, invoice processing, reporting, and AI steps that read, classify and draft. Every workflow gets error handling and an alert when something fails, because a silent automation failure is worse than no automation at all.
This is for you if
- ✓Someone on your team copies data between apps every day
- ✓You built n8n workflows yourself and they break without telling anyone
- ✓You want AI in a workflow — sorting email, drafting replies, extracting data — without a black box
- ✓Your Zapier bill grows every month along with your task count
This is probably not for you if
- ✕You have one simple two-step zap that works — keep it; rebuilding it in n8n saves very little
We would rather tell you now than take the project and disappoint you.
Worth knowing: n8n's Sustainable Use License allows a business to run it for its own internal purposes, which is one reason we set it up in your account instead of running one shared server for many clients. You own the instance, the workflows and the credentials, and you can walk away with all of them.
What you get
Workflow design first
We map the process before building, including what should happen when an app is down or the data is wrong.
Built and tested
Workflows run against real examples, including the messy cases you will actually meet.
Error workflows and alerts
Failures caught by an error workflow and sent to Slack, email or WhatsApp with enough detail to fix them.
AI steps with guardrails
OpenAI, Anthropic or open models for classifying, extracting and drafting, with structured output and a human check where mistakes cost money.
Hosting in your account
Self-hosted n8n on a small server, with queue mode where volume needs it, or n8n Cloud if you would rather it be managed.
Documentation and backups
Each workflow described in plain language and exported to version control, with credentials kept out of the exports.
n8n, Zapier or Make?
| n8n | Zapier | Make | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Free to self-host, or Cloud plans priced by executions | Priced per task, so cost grows with volume | Priced by usage, usually cheaper than Zapier at volume |
| Where data goes | Your own server, if self-hosted | Through Zapier's cloud | Through Make's cloud |
| Custom logic | JavaScript or Python in any step | Code steps, with limits | Visual logic and functions |
| Best for | Volume, sensitive data, complex logic and AI agents | Simple automations set up fast | Visual multi-step flows at moderate volume |
If Zapier or Make already does the job at a sensible price, we will tell you to keep it.
Common n8n workflows worth building first
- Lead routing — Form and ad leads enriched, scored, added to the CRM and assigned, with a reply sent while the lead is still warm.
- Inbox triage — Email classified by an AI step and routed to the right person, with draft replies for the common questions.
- Invoice and document extraction — PDFs read, fields extracted, checked against rules, and posted to your accounting software.
- Morning reports — Numbers pulled from several tools into one summary in Slack or email before the day starts.
- Sync jobs — Customers, orders or stock kept consistent between systems that do not talk to each other.
What we work with
n8n at the center, ordinary code where a node is not enough.
n8n
Self-hosted with Docker or n8n Cloud, queue mode, error workflows
AI
AI agent nodes, OpenAI, Anthropic, open models
Apps
Google Workspace, Microsoft 365, Slack, HubSpot, Stripe, Shopify, Airtable
Code
JavaScript and Python nodes, webhooks, custom API calls
Not sure whether n8n is what you actually need? Send over what you are trying to fix and we will tell you straight — including if a smaller job would do it.
Ask us first →How it works
Map one process
We pick the workflow that wastes the most time and write down every step and exception.
Fixed quote
Priced per workflow or per bundle, so you know the total before we start.
Build and test with real data
Run against real examples, messy ones included, before it touches live systems.
Launch with monitoring
Live with error alerts switched on, and a two-week tuning window included.
Questions
How much does n8n automation cost?
A single well-built workflow starts at $1,200, including error handling and documentation. Bundles of related workflows usually cost $3,000–$8,000. Self-hosting n8n costs around $5–$20 a month for a small server, plus any AI usage billed to your own account.
Should we self-host n8n or use n8n Cloud?
Self-host for the lowest running cost, data on your own server, or very high volume, as long as someone owns the updates. Use n8n Cloud if you would rather pay n8n to run it. We set up either, and the workflows are the same.
Can n8n build AI agents?
Yes. n8n has AI agent nodes that can call tools, search your documents and follow instructions. They work best on narrow, well-defined jobs, with a human check on anything that moves money or messages customers.
What happens when a workflow fails?
It goes to an error workflow that alerts a person with the failed step and the data involved, and retries automatically where that is safe. Silent failure is the most common problem with home-made automations, so alerting is part of the build, not an extra.
Can you fix workflows someone else built?
Yes. We review what exists, fix the fragile parts and add error handling, or tell you if rebuilding would be quicker.
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