An open-source AI assistant that runs 24/7 on dedicated infrastructure. It can triage email, schedule meetings, draft replies, monitor Slack, and automate workflows across your tools — proactively, without you asking. Think of it as a digital employee that never sleeps.

Do I need to be technical?

Not at all. We handle everything — you don't touch a terminal or write any code. Many of our customers are non-technical founders and executives. After setup, you talk to your bot through Telegram (or Slack/WhatsApp) just like texting an assistant.

Do I need to be in Australia?

No. Most customers are remote — we set everything up over a video call regardless of where you are. We have customers across Australia, India, Singapore, Dubai, Hong Kong, and beyond. In-person setup is available in Sydney, Mumbai, and Dubai.

Didn't OpenAI acquire OpenClaw?

Yes — and it validates the product. OpenClaw remains open-source, and the core innovations (always-on agents, heartbeats, cron jobs) are now table stakes that every major AI company is building toward. We'll continue supporting OpenClaw and any successor frameworks.

Can't I just set it up myself?

You can — it's open source. But every self-install we've seen has security gaps: exposed credentials, no audit trail, no sandbox. The installation is straightforward; the hardening is where most teams need help. If you've already set it up, we'll audit your security and fix what's missing.

What's included in implementation?

VPS or Mac Mini provisioning, security hardening (Docker sandbox, firewall, exec allowlists), Composio OAuth middleware setup, email and calendar integration, up to 3 workflows, documentation, and 14-day hypercare. You go live same day with a working bot you can message on Telegram.

What happens after I pay?

We reach out within 48 hours to schedule your kickoff call and create a dedicated Slack channel. The kickoff (20–45 min) covers your requirements. Then we do a live setup session (1–3 hrs) where your bot goes live. You're chatting with it the same day.

Is OpenClaw safe to run?

It's an AI with access to your email and calendar — so security is critical. We use Composio so the bot never sees your raw credentials, start with read-only permissions, configure Docker sandboxing, and give you an instant kill switch to revoke any integration.

What if the bot goes rogue?

We start with minimal permissions — read-only email, no send capability initially. The sandbox prevents arbitrary code execution. Composio gives you a kill switch: revoke any integration instantly from their dashboard. We expand access gradually as you build trust.

What about ongoing maintenance?

OAuth tokens expire, OpenClaw ships updates monthly, integrations break, workflows drift. Implementation includes 14-day hypercare. For ongoing monitoring, updates, and support, Managed Care keeps everything running so your team doesn't have to think about it.

Most customers use a cloud VPS ($5–10/mo) — more secure, easier to maintain, and we handle it remotely. Mac Mini is for teams that need iMessage integration or prefer owning the hardware (~$600 at cost).

Do you do multi-agent deployments?

Yes — this is the common case for 4–50 employee teams. We'll help decide which roles need their own agent vs shared workflows. Example: a CEO bot for email/calendar, a Sales bot for CRM and outreach, and a Finance bot for invoices and reporting.

How much does OpenClaw cost to set up?

OpenClaw itself is free and open-source. The main costs are: a VPS to host it ($5–10/month), your time to set it up (~3 hours if you're technical, much more if not), and optionally a professional setup service. Ralph charges from $2,000 USD for a fully managed, security-hardened deployment.

What does Ralph charge for OpenClaw setup?

Ralph charges from $2,000 USD for Hosted Setup (managed VPS, security hardening, Composio OAuth, 14-day hypercare). Mac Mini setup starts at $3,500 USD. In-person setup starts at $4,000 USD. Additional agents (CEO, Sales, Finance) start at $1,000 each. Regional pricing available.

Pricing

How much does OpenClaw setup cost?

OpenClaw is free. Setup takes time, expertise, and security care. Here's the full cost breakdown.

The short answer

DIY Self-Install

OpenClaw softwareFree (open source)

VPS hosting (cloud)$5–10/month

Your setup time3 hrs (technical) / 30+ hrs (non-technical)

Security hardeningOften skipped ⚠️

Total cash outlay~$10/month

Ralph Professional Setup

Exact pricing depends on your region. See our live pricing or book a call for a quote.

Hosted Setup (one-time)from $2,000 USD

Mac Mini Setupfrom $3,500 USD

Mac Mini In-Person (Sydney/Melbourne)from $4,000 USD

Additional agentsfrom $1,000 each

VPS hosting~$120/yr (your cost)

Includes14-day hypercare

What makes OpenClaw setup complex (and expensive to get right)

OpenClaw itself is free. But running it securely for a business requires several layers that most self-installs skip:

Security hardening

Docker sandboxing, firewall rules, exec allowlists. Every self-install we've audited was missing at least one of these. The default install is not production-ready.

Composio OAuth middleware

Without Composio, your OAuth tokens sit in a plain config file. Composio separates credentials from the agent, adds an audit trail, and gives you instant revoke capability.

Integration configuration

Connecting Gmail, Google Calendar, Slack, HubSpot, WhatsApp and getting them all to work together takes time. Each integration needs OAuth scopes configured correctly.

Workflow setup

Telling OpenClaw what to do (heartbeat cadence, email triage rules, meeting prep triggers, CRM update logic) requires knowing what's possible and how to express it.

Ongoing maintenance

OAuth tokens expire. OpenClaw ships updates. Integrations break. Without someone watching, your agent quietly stops working.

DIY vs. Ralph: the true cost

The DIY route looks cheap on paper, $10/month for a VPS. But consider your time:

→If your time is worth $200/hour, 3 hours of technical setup = $600

→If you're non-technical, multiply that by 5–10× (learning curve)

→Plus ongoing maintenance: ~2–4 hours/month for a self-managed install

→Plus security risk: one breach can cost far more than the setup fee

“I could have set it up myself, but every self-install I've seen has security gaps. The hardening alone was worth it.”

What's included in our setup fee

✓VPS or Mac Mini provisioning (we handle the server)

✓OpenClaw installation and configuration

✓Security hardening: Docker sandbox, firewall, exec allowlists

✓Composio OAuth middleware setup

✓Email, calendar, and up to 3 tool integrations

✓Workflow configuration (heartbeats, triage rules, meeting prep)

✓Telegram/Slack/WhatsApp pairing

✓Documentation of your setup

✓14-day hypercare: dedicated Slack channel, tuning, fixes

✓100% satisfaction guarantee, full refund if you're not happy

FAQ: OpenClaw setup cost

Can I set up OpenClaw for free?

Yes, it's open source. You'll need a VPS ($5–10/month) and technical time. The challenge is security hardening, OAuth configuration, and ongoing maintenance. Most teams underestimate how much this costs in engineer time.

Is there a monthly fee for Ralph?

No. Our setup fee is one-time. You pay for the VPS directly (~$5–10/month). If you want ongoing monitoring, updates, and support, we offer Managed Care. Ask us about pricing on the discovery call.

Do I pay for the VPS separately?

Yes. You pay the hosting provider directly (e.g., Vultr, Hetzner, DigitalOcean). This keeps you in control of your infrastructure. Most customers pay $5–10/month.

What if I already have OpenClaw installed?

We offer a security audit and hardening service at the same price. Many customers come to us with a working but insecure install, and we add Composio, Docker sandboxing, and proper firewall rules.

Is there a money-back guarantee?

Yes, 100% satisfaction guarantee. If you're not happy with the setup, we'll refund you in full, no questions asked.

Free 30-min discovery call. No commitment required.