CRO Agency Comparison: In-House vs. Expert Partners
Choosing between building an in-house CRO team or hiring an agency will shape the growth path of your company. By understanding the differences, you can pick the best fit for your business.
In-House Teams vs. CRO Agencies
Hiring internally requires onboarding, training, and investing in tools. Execution can take 30 to 60 days, and expertise is limited to one brand’s context.
An agency arrives with tested tools, proven processes, and experience from hundreds of ecommerce stores. They deliver results quickly (often within two weeks)and offer a full team of strategists and developers.
Criteria |
In-House Hire |
CRO Agency (like Arctic Leaf) |
Speed to Execution |
30–60 days onboarding |
7–14 days |
Tools and Tech |
May require investment |
Already integrated and tested |
Cross-Site Experience |
Limited to one brand |
Hundreds of stores analyzed |
Cost |
$80–120k/year plus tools |
Flexible monthly packages |
Depth of Expertise |
1 or 2 generalists |
Team of strategists and developers |
When to Partner with a CRO Agency
If your internal teams are at capacity or you need fast, reliable results without hiring delays, an agency is the better choice. Agencies come equipped with proven strategies and tested technology to accelerate growth.
Questions to Consider Before Hiring In-House
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Do you have consistent, high traffic for valid testing?
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Can you hire and train quickly enough to meet business goals?
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Is your data tracking accurate and reliable?
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Can your development team support continuous experimentation?
What a CRO Agency Brings
CRO extends beyond simple A/B tests. Agencies analyze user behavior with heatmaps and session recordings, identify friction points, and test messaging and layouts based on real data. Their expertise and tools allow them to execute efficiently without slowing your internal teams.
Ready to improve conversions with expert support? Request a proposal today.