Build vs. Buy ROI Calculator

What It Does

The Build vs. Buy ROI Calculator models the total cost of owning 10DLC compliance. For the build path it estimates development, compliance expertise, infrastructure, maintenance and opportunity cost from your campaign count, brand count, launch timeline and rates. For the buy path it totals setup and subscription cost, then reports savings, ROI and payback period.

The web version presents a 3-year total cost of ownership and includes a TCPA risk reserve alongside developer hours and opportunity cost.

Who It Is For

• Operators deciding whether to build compliance tooling in-house
• Finance and procurement teams comparing vendors
• Agencies pricing compliance for many brands

Inputs

Outputs

• Build cost breakdown: development, compliance, infrastructure, maintenance, opportunity cost, developer hours, timeline
• Buy cost: setup, monthly, annual, total
• Savings, ROI, payback period and recommendation

Worked Example

From the MyTCRPlus API documentation. The request is sent to POST /v1/tools/roi-calculator; the web tool in the Compliance Suite takes the same inputs.

Request

{
  "campaignCount": 10,
  "brandCount": 2,
  "launchTimeline": 6,
  "devRate": 175,
  "complianceRate": 225,
  "annualRevenue": 1000000
}

Response (200 OK)

{
  "success": true,
  "tool": "roi-calculator",
  "tokenUsed": true,
  "results": {
    "build": {
      "total": 892500,
      "development": 420000,
      "compliance": 180000,
      "infrastructure": 72000,
      "maintenance": 120000,
      "opportunityCost": 100500,
      "devHours": 2400,
      "timeline": "12-18 months"
    },
    "buy": {
      "total": 47000,
      "setup": 5000,
      "monthly": 3500,
      "annual": 42000
    },
    "savings": 845500,
    "roi": 94.7,
    "paybackPeriod": "1.2 months",
    "recommendation": "Buy solution recommended"
  }
}

Cost

1 token per calculation. Tool tokens are bought once, work across all 16 web tools, and never expire, and a free token is added every day. Tool tokens cost $3.50 to $5.00 each, depending on pack size. Compliance API calls use separate API tokens ($0.50 to $0.90 each), and professional users and resellers can ask about an optional monthly token plan.

How to Run It

1. Open the Build vs. Buy ROI Calculator in the Compliance Suite and sign in, or create an account.
2. Enter the inputs listed above and run the tool. One token is deducted per run unless noted under Cost.
3. For automation, call POST /v1/tools/roi-calculator on https://api.mytcrplus.com/v1 with a JWT bearer token. See the API documentation.

FAQ

Are the figures in the example MyTCRPlus prices?

No. The example is the sample response in the API documentation, for an organization with 10 campaigns and 2 brands. Your result depends on the inputs you enter; see the pricing page for MyTCRPlus plans.

What does the build estimate include?

Development, compliance expertise, infrastructure, maintenance and opportunity cost, plus the developer hours and timeline behind them.

Can I change the hourly rates?

Yes. devRate and complianceRate default to 150 and 200 and can be set to your own rates.

How much does a calculation cost?

One token per calculation. Tokens are bought once, work across all MyTCRPlus tools, and do not expire.

Is there an API endpoint?

Yes. POST /v1/tools/roi-calculator on the MyTCRPlus REST API.

Related Guides

• The Hidden Cost of DIY TCR Compliance
• Build vs Buy Decision Framework
• TCR Compliance Budget Planning
• MyTCRPlus Pricing

Disclaimer

MyTCRPlus provides tools and templates to support compliance efforts but does not provide legal advice. MyTCRPlus is not a Campaign Service Provider and does not file registrations or send messages. Carrier approval, filtering and throughput remain at the discretion of TCR, the Direct Connect Aggregators and the carriers.

MYTCRPLUS.com is not affiliated with The Campaign Registry. TCR and The Campaign Registry are trademarks owned by The Campaign Registry. The use of TCR is nominative use only.