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Step 1: Assess Your Self-Hosting Readiness

The Readiness Assessment​

Before diving into self-hosting, follow this decision framework:

Before diving into self-hosting, answer these key questions:

  1. Cost Justification: Are you spending £500+/month on tools we can self-host?
  2. Technical Capability: Do you have (or can you access) basic server management skills?
  3. Long-Term Usage: Will you use these tools for 2+ years?
  4. Customization Needs: Do you need features beyond standard SaaS offerings?
  5. Data Control Requirements: Do you need complete control over your data?
  6. Maintenance Capacity: Can you commit 2-5 hours/month to maintenance?

Cost-Benefit Analysis​

Calculate Your Potential Savings:

Here's a real example:

Current SaaS Costs:

  • HubSpot CRM: £400/month (5 users)
  • Zapier: £75/month (2,000 tasks)
  • Mailchimp: £50/month (5,000 contacts)
  • Total: £525/month = £6,300/year

Self-Hosted Costs:

  • Server infrastructure: £100/month
  • Setup time: 40 hours @ £50/hour = £2,000 (one-time)
  • Maintenance: 3 hours/month @ £50/hour = £150/month
  • Year 1 Total: £2,000 + (£250/month × 12) = £5,000
  • Year 2+ Total: £250/month = £3,000/year

Savings:

  • Year 1: £1,300 (21% savings)
  • Year 2+: £3,300/year (52% savings)
  • 3-Year Total Savings: £8,600

Technical Capability Assessment​

Required Skills:

  • Basic Linux/server management
  • Docker knowledge (helpful but not required)
  • Database management basics
  • SSL certificate setup
  • Backup and security practices

Options if You Don't Have Skills:

  • Hire freelancer for setup (£1,000-2,000 one-time)
  • Use managed hosting services
  • Partner with technical agency
  • Learn basics (many resources available)

When Self-Hosting Makes Sense​

Strong Indicators:

  • Spending £500+/month on tools
  • Using tools long-term (2+ years)
  • Need customization beyond SaaS limits
  • Require data control for compliance
  • Technical capability available
  • Want to eliminate vendor lock-in

When to Avoid Self-Hosting:

  • Short-term tool usage (<6 months)
  • No technical capability and no budget for help
  • Need enterprise support and SLAs
  • Change tools frequently
  • Very small scale (<£200/month tool costs)

Readiness Checklist​

  • Current tool costs calculated
  • Potential savings calculated
  • Technical capability assessed
  • Hosting infrastructure planned
  • Budget allocated for setup
  • Maintenance plan created
  • Team training planned
  • Backup strategy defined

Next Step: Once you've assessed your readiness and determined self-hosting makes sense, proceed to Step 2: Self-Host Your CRM (Twenty).