Dorio vs an Agency
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TL;DR
Agencies are built for big budgets, layered teams, and long timelines. Dorio is built for owners who want a single accountable engineer, a fixed price agreed before work starts, and something live in 4–8 weeks. If you need a 6-month statement of work and 4 account managers, hire an agency. If you want it built and shipped, work with Dorio.
When to choose Dorio
- You want a fixed price written down before work starts.
- You want to talk to the engineer building it, not an account manager.
- You need it live in weeks, not quarters.
- Project budget is $3k–$60k, not $250k+.
When to choose an agency
- You need a 30-person team across design, brand, content, and engineering.
- You have a procurement process that requires a multi-tier vendor.
- Budget is large enough that overhead is a feature, not a problem.
Side-by-side comparison
| Dimension | Dorio | an Agency |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | Fixed price, agreed before work starts | Hourly, retainer, or estimate that drifts |
| Who you talk to | The engineer building your system | Account manager → PM → designer → dev |
| Typical timeline | 4–8 weeks to live | 3–6 months to live |
| Typical project size | $3k – $60k | $50k – $500k+ |
| Code & system ownership | Yours, fully documented at handover | Yours, often with retainer to maintain |
| Best for | Automation, AI features, focused product builds | Multi-discipline campaigns and platforms |
Frequently asked questions
Are you cheaper than an agency?
Usually yes, because there's no agency overhead. But the real difference isn't price. It's that you know the price before work starts and it doesn't move.
Can Dorio handle a large enterprise project?
We handle enterprise work, but only when it can be scoped into clear phases of 4–8 weeks each. If you need a single 12-month engagement with 20 people, an agency is the right call.
What about design?
We do product UX and UI design as part of the build. We don't do brand identity work, marketing campaigns, or pure visual design. Agencies are better for that.
Not sure which is right for you?
Book a free 30-minute call. If Dorio isn't the right fit, we'll say so and point you somewhere that is.