Question 1

Is it cheaper to outsource outbound or hire an in-house SDR?

Accepted Answer

For most teams, outsourcing is cheaper to start. An in-house SDR costs $70K+ per year in salary before tools, plus weeks of ramp before the first meeting. Lumos starts at $397/mo with no contract and books first meetings in week one. In-house tends to win only once you have steady high volume and a manager to coach reps.

Question 2

What's the difference between an outbound agency and an AI SDR tool?

Accepted Answer

An AI SDR tool automates sending and replies with no human in the loop, so high volume damages domain reputation and AI replies get flagged as spam. A done-for-you agency like Lumos keeps humans accountable for every campaign: real people write and approve what goes out, and a dedicated account manager owns the outcome.

Question 3

When does hiring an in-house SDR make more sense than an agency?

Accepted Answer

Hire in-house when outbound is a long-term core function, you have a sales manager to train and hold reps accountable, and volume is steady enough to keep a full-time rep busy. If you need pipeline fast, want to stay flexible, or don't want fixed headcount, an agency gets you there sooner and cheaper.

Question 4

How fast can an agency start compared to building outbound in-house?

Accepted Answer

Lumos launches campaigns in 24-48 hours and books first meetings in week one. Building in-house means hiring, buying and learning software, warming domains, and writing sequences, which usually takes weeks to months before the first send.

Outbound agency vs in-house SDR vs AI tool.

How we stack up.

Lumos against five named agencies.

Common comparison questions.

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