ChatGPT agency & consultant
A ChatGPT agency that shows you the answers first.
Last updated · By Chris Tabb, founder · Sources checked November 13, 2026
§ 01
What does a ChatGPT agency do?
- Visibility: find out whether ChatGPT names you for buying questions, then improve the sources it can draw on. That includes claiming your profile in Businesses in ChatGPT, which OpenAI launched in beta.
- Migration: inventory your custom GPTs and move the ones worth keeping to plugins (OpenAI’s migration path) or Projects, rebuilding custom actions on supported apps or a custom MCP server.
- Rollout: choose seats, set up SSO and admin controls, connect Company Knowledge, and train your team.
- Ads advice: decide whether ChatGPT Ads or organic recommendations should come first. We advise; we do not resell ads.
§ 02
What does a ChatGPT agency cost?
Migration and rollout prices are on the pricing page. All Appearly prices are starting points; the final quote follows the free audit or a scoping call. OpenAI seat costs are billed by OpenAI.
| Work | Market (published study) | Appearly starting price |
|---|---|---|
| One-time audit | $1,500 to $12,000; median $4,300 | Free |
| Fixed project or sprint | $5,000 to $40,000; median $14,500 | from $5,000 |
| Monthly retainer | Median $6,850 per month (Q3 2026) | from $2,000/month |
Our honest take
We start at the floor of the published range because we are new and have no case studies to show you yet. We would rather say that than invent some.
§ 03
ChatGPT agency or ChatGPT consultant: which do you need?
Appearly was founded by Chris Tabb. It works the way most people mean by a ChatGPT consultant: specific, fixed-scope ChatGPT work with published starting prices. Read more about Appearly.
What we exclude: OpenAI seats (bought from OpenAI), ad spend, guaranteed placement, and anything that would need an OpenAI partnership we do not have.
| You need | Hire | Typical shape |
|---|---|---|
| Customers to find you in ChatGPT answers | An agency (or a consultant who does the work) | Audit, then a fixed sprint on profiles, crawler access, listings, and pages |
| Custom GPTs moved before December 11 | A consultant with ChatGPT admin experience | Fixed-fee migration: inventory, Migrate to plugin, rebuild actions |
| ChatGPT Business or Enterprise rolled out | A consultant | Seat plan, SSO and admin, Company Knowledge, training, 30-day review |
| Ongoing help as OpenAI ships changes | Either | A monthly retainer |
§ 04
Questions to ask any ChatGPT agency before you hire it
- Will you show me the actual ChatGPT answers for my category before and after? (We do. The free audit is the before.)
- Do you promise placement or a ranking? (If yes, walk away. OpenAI says claiming does not guarantee higher placement.)
- Are you an OpenAI partner? (Ask for proof. Appearly is not, and says so on every page.)
- What happens to my custom GPTs on December 11, 2026, and who rebuilds the custom actions?
- Are your prices published, and is the fee fixed or hourly?
§ 05
Why ChatGPT is worth an agency’s attention now
OpenAI says 1.2 billion people use ChatGPT each week, and in November 2026 it opened Business Hub so businesses can claim their profile, keep details current, and see insights. It also says more than one hundred thousand marketers have advertised on ChatGPT.
Want to see where you stand first? Browse who ChatGPT recommends in a few local categories, or run the free audit for your own business.
§ FAQ
Questions we hear
What does a ChatGPT consultant do?
A ChatGPT consultant plans and runs specific ChatGPT work for a business: custom GPT migration, a ChatGPT Business or Enterprise rollout, Company Knowledge setup, or a visibility audit and sprint. Appearly publishes its starting prices on appearly.app/pricing.
What is a ChatGPT agency?
A ChatGPT agency helps a business show up in ChatGPT answers, migrate custom GPTs, and use ChatGPT Business or Enterprise well at work. Appearly is one: an independent consultancy at appearly.app, not affiliated with OpenAI.
How much does a ChatGPT agency cost?
Published market rates vary widely. First Page Sage’s 2026 study of 1,146 quotes found a median of $4,300 for a one-time audit, $14,500 for a project, and $6,850 per month for a retainer. Appearly’s audit is free, and its visibility sprint starts at $5,000.
Can an agency guarantee ChatGPT will recommend my business?
No. ChatGPT makes its own recommendations, and OpenAI says claiming your business does not guarantee higher placement or sales. An honest agency shows you the answers and improves what ChatGPT can draw on.
Is Appearly an OpenAI partner?
No. Appearly is not affiliated with OpenAI. ChatGPT is a trademark of OpenAI.
Is Appearly the same as appearly.ai?
No. Appearly at appearly.app is a consultancy. appearly.ai is a different company that sells AI visibility software.
Do you work with businesses outside Richmond?
Yes. Our public leaderboards started with Richmond, VA, but the audit and all services work for any US business.
Keep reading
Sources · checked November 13, 2026
- First Page Sage: GEO & AEO Pricing Statistics, 2026 Report (October 7, 2026; First Page Sage is itself a GEO agency)
- OpenAI: Introducing Businesses in ChatGPT
- OpenAI: Businesses in ChatGPT — claim your business
- OpenAI: ChatGPT Ads increases its market presence in 44 countries (November 12, 2026)
- OpenAI Help Center: Custom GPT retirement and migration FAQ
OpenAI figures are OpenAI’s, quoted as published on the date checked. Appearly is not affiliated with OpenAI. ChatGPT is a trademark of OpenAI.